Panzer Assault Badge, in Silver, by B. H. Mayer
CATEGORY: Version
SKU: 01.GTR.0603.105.01.000
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(Panzerkampfabzeichen). Instituted on 20 December 1939. Design Type IV. (Issued 1939-1940). A possible BH Mayer Design, Hollow Tombak “Die 1” of a later date, constructed of oval shaped silvered tombak, the obverse featuring a border of oak leaves with a tie at the base and a Panzerkampfwagen IV superimposed in the centre over grassy ground, with the left tank track extending over the edge of the badge, the reverse plain and hollow with a vertical needle style pin and a distinctive “C” shaped flat wire catch, unmarked, measuring 41.89 mm (w) x 59.68 mm (h), weighing 14.9 grams, the fragile white top coating has worn off to a duller silver appearance, and in overall extremely fine condition.
The Panzer Assault Badge in Silver was founded under the order of Colonel General Walther von Brauchitsch on December 20, 1939, and was conferred upon members of the Armoured Panzer Division who participated in three engagements with the enemy on three separate days.
The badge was originally only conferred upon tank crews, and was silver in colour, but on June 1, 1940, the crews of other Armoured Vehicle Divisions and the personnel of the Panzer-Grenadier Divisions became eligible to receive the award in a bronze-coloured version.
On June 22, 1943, the design of the badge was modified, and the numbers 25, 50, 75, or 100 could be added to the base of the award to denote the number of engagements a recipient had participated in. These are called the Higher Grades of the Panzer Assault Badge, while the original one was defined as Grade I. The badges in silver awarded for 25 and 50 tank engagements feature a silvered tank in a silvered wreath; the badges for 75 and 100 tank engagements are larger, and feature a gilt tank in a gilt wreath.
The badges in bronze for 25 and 50 tank engagements are all over bronze, and the badges for 75 and 100 engagements are bronze with gilt wreaths.
The decoration was designed by graphic designer Ernst Peekhaus from Berlin.
The first badges were made from nickel silver. Due to material shortages during the mid and late wartime period, makers eventually changed to zinc. However, other materials like tombac or cupal are also known to have been used. Badges feature either a hollow, a semi-hollow, or even a solid reverse.
Panzer Assault Badges are grouped into several different overall design types. This is due to similarities between some makers creating their dies based on a single shared example.
Type IV badges can be distinguished from other designs by having the most rounded features to their eagles and tanks.
There is evidence that badges attributed to B. H. Mayer could also have been produced by one or even several other makers. It is also possible that these badges, even those marked with Mayer’s LDO number, could have been made by a different maker and were merely distributed by Mayer.
Mayer badges are common. They are hollow and were first made of tombac, then of zinc. Very few silver grade examples made of white metal can be encountered.
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