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Condition: Excellent
Maker: AS in Triangle
Base Material: Zinc
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Product Description: This Silver Panzer Badge is a very attractive example. It’s likely a later wartime piece, and is struck from fine zinc. The obverse of this badge retains about 80 percent of the original thin silver finish, which is outstanding for a zinc badge. Some slight fading reveals the color of the base metal here and there. There does not appear to be any actual surface wear, and all of the original detail is intact. It has an appealing, original look, with a slight age patina. The reverse of the badge is a semi-hollow type. Nearly all of the original finish is still present. It’s maker marked behind the swastika, with a stylized “AS” within a triangle, in raised lettering. The identity of this maker is as yet unknown. The hardware setup is textbook for this maker, with a crimped ball hinge and sheet metal catch. The round wire attachment pin is functional. There is no damage, and there are no repairs. Overall, this charming Silver Panzer Badge remains in excellent condition.
Historical Description: The Panzer Assault Badge was instituted on December 20th, 1939. It was awarded in the silver grade to Panzer crewman who met the combat requirements. On June 1st, 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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