H023595 BRONZE CLOSE COMBAT CLASP AWARD DOCUMENT. (Urkunde für Nahkampfspange in Bronze)

BACKGROUND: The bestowal of all awards during the Third Reich was regulated by the Statutes of Titles, Orders and Decorations which was originally revised on January 30TH 1934, with numerous additional revisions as new awards and decorations were introduced. The regulations prescribed the criteria for bestowal and the specific form of wearing the award. Although the Statutes of Titles, Orders and Decorations held the ultimate decision in all matters of awards the Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces), was given control over the bestowal regulations of all military awards as long as they conformed to the appropriate statute. When bestowed the awards were usually accompanied by a "Vorläufiges Besitzzeugnis", (Preliminary Possession Certificate), followed by the official award presentation document. Depending on the specific award, bestowal authorization could be initiated by the commander of a divisional or smaller unit and the appropriate award information was entered into the recipients Soldbuch, (Pay Book), and his permanent Wehrstammbuch, (Military Service Book), which remained in the possession of the issuing recruitment authority. This example is for bestowal of a Close Combat Clasp in Bronze. The Close Combat Clasp was introduced on November 25TH 1942 for award to personnel who fought in hand to hand combat situations unsupported by armor. 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: Light weight paper, "Besitzzeugnis", (Possession Certificate), document with black printed Latin script and typed particulars. The printed and typed script indicates that an, "Obergefreiten", serving with, "7./Gren. Regt. 188" was awarded a Close Combat Claps in bronze on, "2. 7. 1944". The document was issued, "Im Felde", (In the Field), and has the authorizing signature of an, "Oberstlt. u. Rgt. Kdr", with the unit inkstamp. The document is in overall very good condition with minor age yellowing and light to moderate vertical and horizontal fold creases.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $299.00

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