{"product_id":"original-german-post-wwii-condor-legion-panzer-badge-attributed-to-rudolf-souval-of-vienna","title":"Original German Post-WWII Condor Legion Panzer Badge Attributed to Rudolf Souval of Vienna","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a post-WWII production Condor Legion Panzer Badge attributed to Rudolf Souval of Vienna. It is constructed from stamped brass with a silver colored electroplated finish and features the traditional oak leaf wreath, skull and crossbones, and Panzer I tank design associated with the wartime award.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Condor Legion Panzer Badge, known in German as the \u003cem\u003ePanzertruppenabzeichen der Legion Condor\u003c\/em\u003e, was originally created for German armored personnel who served in Spain during the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example is not a wartime-issued badge. It was produced after WWII as a collector or replacement piece and should be understood and valued accordingly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe badge is made from stamped brass with a high quality silver colored electroplated finish. Most of the original silvering remains intact and has developed mellow, even toning. Light wear to the raised details exposes the golden brass base metal beneath. The design remains sharply defined, with no major loss to the oak leaves, skull, crossed bones, or Panzer I tank. The reverse is hollow and unmarked.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis unmarked hollow brass variation has been attributed by collectors to Rudolf Souval of Vienna, a firm known for producing both wartime decorations and postwar replacement or collector badges. Because no maker mark is present, the Souval attribution should be regarded as pattern based rather than conclusively documented for this individual badge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse retains a round wire attachment pin, which remains functional and closes securely into a bent flat wire catch. Solder is visible around both the hinge and catch. It is not known whether this represents original postwar assembly or a later repair.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Condor Legion was formed in 1936 to support Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War. Its German contingent included Luftwaffe personnel as well as armored and support troops. The tank element operated Panzer I light tanks under the command of Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original Panzer badge was created in September 1936 and later received formal German state recognition in July 1939. It was intended for qualifying members of the Condor Legion’s armored units. The design consists of an oval oak leaf wreath surrounding a skull and crossbones above a Panzer I tank. The skull motif was associated with the headgear insignia worn by Condor Legion armored personnel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriginal period badges were worn on the left breast and were produced in several finishes. A special gold example was presented to von Thoma following the conclusion of the Spanish Civil War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis postwar example remains in very good overall condition. The silver colored finish is substantially retained, the brass construction is sound, and the attachment hardware functions correctly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its desirable Condor Legion Panzer design, hollow stamped brass construction, attractive silvered finish, functional pin, and collector attribution to Rudolf Souval of Vienna, this is a well-presented postwar representation of a rare German armored award. The postwar manufacture, unmarked reverse, exposed brass at the high points, visible solder, and uncertain originality of the hinge and catch assembly are fully disclosed. It would display particularly well in a postwar German medal, Rudolf Souval, Condor Legion, Spanish Civil War, or Panzer badge collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45493463711813,"sku":"ONSV26EMC138","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV26EMC138__01.jpg?v=1786028825","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-post-wwii-condor-legion-panzer-badge-attributed-to-rudolf-souval-of-vienna","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}