Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very attractive German WWII General Assault Badge (Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen), the standard silver-finished form of this well-known German Army combat award. This example appears to be of later-war zinc construction and features an openwork reverse with a conventional vertical pinback attachment.

The obverse remains quite well defined, with the central German national eagle above the crossed bayonet and stick grenade, all surrounded by the oval oak-leaf wreath. The details remain clear although the original finish has mellowed considerably, leaving a gray-toned appearance with brighter traces remaining in protected and raised areas.

The reverse shows the openwork construction particularly well. The badge is unmarked, with no manufacturer code or maker's name visible. The vertical pin remains present and functional, secured by a barrel-style hinge at the upper reverse. The lower catch is also present. The attachment area around the catch has a somewhat rough soldered appearance and may represent an old repair or reinforcement, though this cannot be confirmed from photographs alone. The pin itself is complete and closes into the catch as intended.

The General Assault Badge, German Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen, was instituted on 1 June 1940 by Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch for German Army personnel who participated directly in assaults but did not qualify for the more specialized Infantry Assault Badge or Panzer Assault Badge.

Designed by Berlin artist and military decoration designer Wilhelm Ernst Peekhaus, the badge featured an oval oak-leaf wreath surrounding the German national eagle, with a crossed bayonet and stick grenade below. The design reflected the broad range of troops eligible for the decoration.

The award was particularly associated with personnel such as combat engineers, artillerymen, anti-tank crews, and other supporting troops who took an active part in ground assaults. Qualification generally required participation in three qualifying assaults on three separate days, although additional regulations covered particular combat circumstances.

As the war progressed, higher numbered versions of the General Assault Badge were introduced on 22 June 1943 for soldiers credited with substantially greater numbers of qualifying assault actions. These were designated 25, 50, 75, and 100, with progressively more elaborate construction and finish than the standard unnumbered badge.