BACKGROUND: The Panzer Assault Badge in bronze was introduced by Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch on June 1ST 1940 for award to Panzer-Grenadier, medical, and armored car personnel who participated in three different armored assaults on three different days. The design of the badge was identical to the earlier instituted Panzer Assault Badge in silver for Panzer personnel except for the coloration. Of Note: By June 1943 it was realized that the Panzer Assault Badge didn’t sufficiently recognize the number of assaults participated in by armored personnel, which resulted in the introduction of the numbered Special Grade of the Panzer Assault Badge in both silver and bronze versions on June 22ND 1943. The numbered Special Grade of the Panzer Assault Badge were awarded with the numerals, 25, 50, 75 and 100. The numbered badges followed the basic design of their un-numbered predecessors but were larger and had the addition of an inset rectangular plate with a numeral to the bottom of the wreath.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Die struck alloy construction, partially scooped backed, Panzer Assault Badge with a bronze washed finish. The badge is in the form of a vertically oval oak-leaf wreath with a Wehrmacht style eagle with down-swept wings, superimpose to the top center, encompassing the cut-out, forward profile of a tank. The bronze washed finish is retained about 40% with small spots of wear to the base alloy at the highlights. The reverse of the badge has scooped depressions to the tank barrel and body. The reverse has a ball hinge inset into a rectangular recess with raised, crimped, outer retaining lips, a thin round vertical pin and a soldered catch on a circular base plate inset into a circular recess all intact. The reverse is well marked with the embossed manufacturers initials, "A. S.", indicating manufacture by Adolf Schloze of Grünwald. Hard example to find.