Silver Panzer Assault Badge – Frank & Reif

Product Description: This Silver Panzer Assault Badge is in incredible condition. It’s a zinc badge; these are typically found with faded finish. This one remains absolutely in near mint condition, with all of the original thick silver plating still present on the obverse. The finish retains all of the bright original luster, and has an almost chrome-like look, just as it did when it left the factory before 1945! All of the original detail is still present, with virtually zero sign of any wear. The reverse of this Silver Panzer Assault Badge is flat and smooth, with nearly all of the original silvering. There is no manufacturer marking, but this badge variant was made by the firm of Frank & Reif in Stuttgart. The hardware setup is textbook for this maker, with a sheet metal hinge, round wire pin, and catch with soldered catch plate. The hardware is functional and has never been repaired or messed with in any way. It is extremely hard to find any badge (especially zinc badges) in this state of preservation. This one has tremendous eye appeal and would be almost impossible to upgrade.

Historical Description: The Panzer Assault Badge was instituted on December 20^th, 1939.    It was awarded in the silver grade to Panzer crewman who met the combat requirements. On June 1^st, 1940, following the start of the blitzkrieg against France, the bronze grade was introduced to award armoured reconnaissance, motorcycle riflemen, and panzer-grenadier units.  The requirements for both versions were the same, the soldier must have participated in three combat assaults on three separate days to be eligible.       

 The design of the Standard Panzer Assault Badge consists of an oakleaf wreath surrounding a Panzer (Tank) with the German National Eagle positioned at the top clutching a swastika.  The Standard Panzer Assault Badges can still be a common occurrence at local gun and military shows even now.  The German Army had tens of thousands of Panzer crewmen who became eligible for the award as the war progressed.  Because of the large number of soldiers who had fulfilled the requirements to wear the award, a high demand for producing of the Panzer Assault Badge was needed.  In response to this, approximately 35 manufacturers were authorized to produce the award between 1939 and 1945.  Many of these manufacturers created their own version of the badge by artistically designing their own version of the eagles, wreath’s, and tanks on the badge.  The design of one Panzer badge may not be identical to the next one encountered.  This makes the collecting of the different manufacturers and their variants its own niche in the hobby.

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