Original Item: Only One Available.This is an interesting German WWII-period Silver Grade Panzer Assault Badge, or Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber, displaying the distinctive Vienna-pattern design generally associated with Austrian manufacturers and, in this configuration, most closely associated with Rudolf Souval of Vienna. Of particular collector interest is the reverse hardware, which features the desirable broad or wide vertical pin configuration encountered on known Souval Panzer Assault Badges.

The badge appears to be constructed from zinc and originally carried a silvered finish. Much of that finish has faded or worn away with age. Despite the finish loss, the obverse detail remains quite good. The central armored vehicle is clearly defined, including the turret, gun, road wheels, and tracks, with the left track extending outside the surrounding wreath in the characteristic manner.Surrounding the tank is an oval oak-leaf wreath tied at the bottom. At the top is the German military national eagle with its wings extending downward over the wreath.

The reverse retains a broad flat vertical pin, mounted through a sheet-metal hinge at the upper reverse. At the bottom is a round-wire catch mounted to a circular base plate. This broad-pin hardware arrangement is documented on recognized Rudolf Souval Panzer Assault Badges.

Also visible on the reverse is a substantially darkened area behind the central tank. This appears to be an old surface coating or other treatment, although we have not disturbed it and cannot determine its exact nature. Importantly, no R.S. maker mark is presently visible. Such a mark is normally encountered on attributed Rudolf Souval Panzer Assault Badges and would generally be expected in this central reverse area.

Because Rudolf Souval continued manufacturing decorations after the end of WWII, distinguishing wartime production from early postwar manufacture can sometimes be difficult, particularly when markings are absent or obscured. The die characteristics and broad-pin reverse hardware of this badge are consistent with known Souval wartime-pattern examples, but because an R.S. marking cannot presently be confirmed, we prefer to describe the badge conservatively as attributed to Rudolf Souval.

The Silver Grade Panzer Assault Badge was instituted on December 20, 1939, by Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch for members of German armored units. Qualification generally required service as a member of a tank crew in at least three qualifying combat engagements on three separate days, with the crew actively participating in the fighting. The regulations became effective beginning January 1, 1940. A bronze version was subsequently introduced on June 1, 1940, for personnel of Panzergrenadier, armored reconnaissance, and related formations. The badge design is attributed to Berlin designer Ernst Peekhaus and became one of the most recognizable German armored-force combat awards of the Second World War.