BACKGROUND: The General Assault badge was introduced on June 1^ST 1940, by Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch, for award to support personnel who were ineligible for the Infantry or Panzer Assault badges. Criteria for award of the badge was basically the same as the criteria for award of the Infantry and Panzer Assault badges with the main qualification being participation in three separate assaults in a supporting role. On its introduction the badge was only intended for award to combat engineers and was designated, Pionier-Sturmabzeichen, (Engineer’s Assault Badge). Shortly afterwards award of the badge was extended to other support personnel including artillery and assault gun personnel, anti-tank and anti-aircraft personnel and medical personnel. Of Note: Before the introduction of the Tank Destruction Strip in March 1942, personnel who had single handedly destroyed an enemy tank with Infantry weapons were awarded the General Assault Badge.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Die struck, solid backed, alloy construction award with a silver wash features a cut-out, high relief, Wehrmacht styled eagle with down-swept wings, clutching a canted swastika in its talons, positioned above a crossed bayonet and stick grenade, and encompassed by an embossed, vertically oval, oak-leaf wreath. The badge retains about 95% of its original, silver wash and is still quite bright. The solid reverse has a crimped, soldered hinge, on a small base plate, a thin round vertical pin and a soldered catch on a circular base plate all intact. The reverse is well marked with five, small, impressed dots positioned above a stylized, "W", all within a circular border indicating manufacture by Hermann Wernstein of Jena-Löbstedt. Of Note: In Frank Heukemes’s book, A Definitive Guide to German Awards of World War II, volume 1, The General Assault Badge, the author has uncovered information which raises valid doubts as to weather this mark was actually utilized by the Wernstein firm during the war. It may be Wernstien, or by another maker. Either, beautiful untouched original badge.

Added March 14th 2008

Mystery on this marking has finally been solved. The actual maker is E. FERD. Wiedmann/Frankfurt. The little dots above the uu stand for e ferd

Rob, thank you for the new info.

Peter

GRADE ****                             PRICE $185.00