Silver Infantry Assault Badge – W.H.

Product Description: This Silver Infantry Assault Badge has nice original finish and charming character. It’s made of fine zinc. On the front, about 75 percent of the original silver finish is still present. Light, honest wear exposes the gray color of the base metal on the rifle and the high points of the eagle and wreath. A lot of fine detail is still evident on this piece. The back of this badge is flat and smooth, with great luster to the original silvering which is almost completely intact. It’s maker marked under the catch, with the initials “W.H.” indicating manufacture by the firm of Wilhelm Hobacher. The soldered sheet metal hinge and round wire “question mark” catch are intact, with no repairs. The original round wire pin still functions fine. This Silver Infantry Assault Badge is a desirable, maker marked piece, with a great look. The condition rates as excellent.

Historical Description: The Infantry Assault Badge (Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen) was instituted on December 20, 1939, by German Army commander Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch. The design of the badge featured the iconic K98 rifle, the standard German Infantry weapon of WWII, surrounded by oak leaves and surmounted by a German Army eagle and swastika emblem. The creation of this design has been attributed to the C.E. Juncker firm in Berlin. The badge could be awarded to members of the Heer and SS-VT (later the Waffen-SS) who participate in ground combat as infantry. To earn this award, soldiers had to participate in three or more assaults, counterattacks, or reconnaissance missions, or to have participated in hand to hand combat in an assault, or to have participated in three days of reestablishing combat positions. These actions had to take place on separate days to meet the award criteria. On June 1, 1940, a Bronze grade of this award was instituted, for motorized infantry. The criteria for the award were the same, only for motorized units. The earliest versions of the Infantry Assault Badge were made of Tombak or other high-quality alloys, with a plated finish. Later production awards were generally zinc alloy, with a bronze or silver wash that often faded with wear and time.

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