{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-luftwaffe-ground-assault-badge-unmarked-erdkampfabzeichen-der-luftwaffe-3","title":"Original German WWII Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge - Unmarked - Erdkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Items: Only One Available. This is a very good condition war time production German WWII Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge badge in zinc, which is one solid cast piece. The earliest examples had the eagle riveted on, while later examples had a soldered eagle, or were simply a one piece casting like this example. These were usually produced with silver plating overall, and then the clouds and lightning bolts were then oxidized dark, while the wreath and eagle were kept bright. It looks like most of the original plating is present, but the badge is now overall dark and tarnished. The details are still very well retained on the badge, showing only light wear, though for some reason there is a brass pin through the middle of the eagle that goes through to the reverse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComes complete with a functional round wire steel pin back attachment, with a barrel hinge at the top and a bent round wire catch at the bottom. There is no maker mark on the back, which was not uncommon for these badges. It may be possible to identify the maker based on the style of construction and the pinback hardware, however we were unable to find any exactly like this example in our records.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA very nice example, ready to display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe (German: \u003cem\u003eErdkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe\u003c\/em\u003e) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to Luftwaffe personnel for achievement in ground combat. It was instituted on 31 March 1942 by the commander-in-chief (\u003cem\u003eOberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe\u003c\/em\u003e) Hermann Göring.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe badge, designed by the graphic and textile artist Sigmund von Weech (1888-1982), features an oak leaf wreath with at its apex a Luftwaffe eagle, grasping a swas, flying above a storm cloud, from which a lightning bolt strikes rough ground. The general criteria for its presentation was the participation in three separate combat operations on separate days. Luftwaffe soldiers who had already been awarded medals or orders of the Heer such as Assault Badge or the Infantry Assault Badge, were required to exchange their badges for the Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the war progressed it became necessary to further distinguish those soldiers who had already exceeded the awarding criteria. To accomplish this distinction four numbered grades were introduced on 10 November 1944 based on the number of combat operations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1st grade (I. Stufe) for between 3-24 eligible operations\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e2nd grade (II. Stufe) for 25 eligible operations\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e3rd grade (III. Stufe) for 50 eligible operations\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e4th grade (IV. Stufe) for 75 eligible operations\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e5th grade (V. Stufe) for 100 eligible operations\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43492718903365,"sku":"ONSV25WSO049","price":375.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV25WSO049__01.jpg?v=1756847224","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-luftwaffe-ground-assault-badge-unmarked-erdkampfabzeichen-der-luftwaffe-3","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}