Panzer Assault Badge, in Bronze, by Unknown Maker: Seven Wheels
CATEGORY: Version
SKU: 01.GTR.0603.105.03.001
Estimated market value:
Estimated market value:
An example of a second war German bronze grade Tank Badge “Panzerkampfabzeichen”; seven wheel variant; semi-hollow; oval shaped bronzed zink; the obverse with a border of oak leaves with a tie at the base and a Panzerkampfwagen IV superimposed in the centre on grassy ground, with its left tank track extending over the edge of the badge - of note are the seven wheels of the tank track that protrudes past the wreath; the reverse plain with a vertical needle style pin, sheet metal hinge, and a round wire catch; measuring 42.01 mm (w) x 59.91 mm (h); weighing 14.5 grams; with nearly all of its original bronze finish worn off, but with enough remaining to positively identify this as a bronze grade tank badge.
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.
The “seven wheels” Panzer Assault Badge by one or multiple makers that have yet to be identified has been named after its seven wheels on the right track of the tank, compared to the usual five or six wheels shown on the badges of other makers.
Badges by this maker can be found as hollow varieties made of tombac as well as zinc, or in semi-hollow or solid zinc. The ones in tombac are among the rarest of all Panzer Assault Badges. Badges by this maker are highly sought after due to the unusually large number of wheels, as well as the fact that among them are the only known badge varieties with a cut-out swastika.
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