BACKGROUND: The Close Combat Clasp series of awards were introduced on November 25^TH 1942 for award to personnel who fought in hand-to-hand combat situations unsupported by armour. The Clasp was issued in three grades, of Bronze, Silver and Gold with each successive grade signifying more days spent in hand-to-hand or close combat. Criteria for award of the clasps consisted of fifteen days of hand-to-hand combat for bestowal of the Bronze clasp, thirty days of hand-to-hand combat for bestowal of the Silver clasp and fifty days of hand-to-hand combat for bestowal of the Gold clasp. There was also a prescribed, combat to time served ratio, enabling long serving personnel to be eligible for award of a clasp.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nicely detailed, die struck alloy construction clasp with a bronze washed finish. The clasp features a central square panel with a recessed background field with an embossed national eagle with out-stretched wings, clutching a canted swastika in its talons, positioned above a crossed bayonet and grenade, flanked by four oak-leaves and dual acorns superimpose on a ribbed, horizontal outward, pointing base. The age dulled, bronze washed finish is retained about 75% with small spots of moderate oxidization spotting and wear to the base alloy. The recessed, central, square panel has a blued, magnetic sheet metal, backing plate positioned behind the eagle, bayonet and grenade motif which is held in place by crimped side tabs on the reverse. The backing plate only retains about 45% of its blued finish with moderate surface spotting, primarily to the reverse. The solid reverse has a solid, soldered, hinge inset into a rectangular recess with raised lips, a broad, tapering, horizontal pin and a heavy soldered catch on a circular base plate inset into a circular recess with raised lips all intact. The reverse is well marked with the embossed designer’s name and location, "F. E. C. W. E. Peekhaus Berlin", and the manufacturer’s embossed initials within a rectangular border, "JFS", indicating manufacture by Josef Feix Söhne of Gablonz.

GRADE ***1/4                             PRICE $595.00