General Assault Badge

Last updated

General Assault Badge
Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen
General Assault Badge.jpg
design by Wilhelm Ernst Peekhaus
Type Badge
Awarded forparticipation/support in infantry attacks that did not qualify for the Infantry Assault Badge
Presented by Nazi Germany
EligibilityMilitary personnel
Campaign(s) World War II
StatusObsolete
Established1 June 1940
Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-219-0597-10, Josef Niemitz.jpg .
Hauptfeldwebel Josef Niemitz, a Wehrmacht Knight's Cross Recipient and non-commissioned officer wearing the General Assault Badge.

The General Assault Badge (German : Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen) was a military decoration awarded during World War II to personnel of the German Army, Waffen-SS and Ordnungspolizei (order police) who supported an infantry attack but were not part of specific infantry units and therefore did not qualify for the Infantry Assault Badge. It was instituted by General Walther von Brauchitsch on 1 June 1940. [1]

Contents

Design

The decoration, designed by the Berlin-based firm of Wilhelm Ernst Peekhaus, was an oval disk that measured 5.3 cm (2.1 in) by 4.2 cm (1.7 in), with a depth of .6 cm (0.2 in). A wreath of five oak leaves runs around the circumference on each side of the medal with a pair of acorns at the base. Inside the wreath is a large Wehrmacht-style eagle with folded wings grasping a swastika which itself surmounts a crossed bayonet and stick grenade. The medal was held in place on the uniform with a pin and catch, [2] and was worn on the left chest pocket. [3]

From 22 June 1943, further classes were created, these bearing a small plate at the base with either 25, 50, 75 or 100 to recognise those soldiers who had taken part in numerous attacks. These were known as grades II through V, accordingly. On the Class IV and Class V badges the oak leaves which run around the circumference on each side of the medal, along with the bayonet and hand grenade, were larger in size – 5.7 cm (2.2 in) by 4.8 cm (1.9 in). Further the wreath was gold in color. [2] Only one badge, the highest level received, was worn. [3]

Nazi-era awards were initially banned by the post-war Federal Republic of Germany. In 1957 many World War II military decorations, including the General Assault Badge, were reauthorised for wear by qualifying veterans. With display of Nazi symbols banned, the badge was re-designed by removing the swastika, with members of the Bundeswehr wearing the badge on the ribbon bar, represented by a small replica of the award on a field grey ribbon. [4]

Criteria for award

The medal was originally designed for presentation to combat engineers, as well as members of the artillery, anti-aircraft and anti-tank who supported infantry units in combat. It could also be awarded to medical personnel attending to battlefield casualties in "close combat conditions". [1] Prior to the introduction of the Tank Destruction Badge in March 1942, the General Assault Badge could be conferred for the single-handed destruction of tanks or armoured vehicles. [5]

Other determining factors for award: [1]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Angolia 1987, p. 92.
  2. 1 2 Angolia 1987, pp. 92–93.
  3. 1 2 Littlejohn & Dodkins 1968, pp. 152–153.
  4. Littlejohn & Dodkins 1968, pp. 224–226.
  5. Angolia 1987, p. 96.

Related Research Articles

Awards and decorations of Nazi Germany were military, political, and civilian decorations that were bestowed between 1923 and 1945, first by the Nazi Party and later the state of Nazi Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">German Cross</span> Military award of Nazi Germany

The War Order of the German Cross, normally abbreviated to the German Cross or Deutsches Kreuz, was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 28 September 1941. It was awarded in two divisions: in gold for repeated acts of bravery or military leadership; and in silver for distinguished non-combat war service. The German Cross in Gold ranked higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, while the German Cross in Silver ranked higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demyansk Shield</span> WW2 German military decoration

Demyansk Shield was a World War II German military decoration awarded to Wehrmacht personnel who fought in the Demyansk pocket on the Eastern Front in the early months of 1942. The pocket of German troops had been encircled and cut off by the Red Army around Demyansk (Demjansk), south of Leningrad, and was successfully defended with the aid of an airbridge. The shield was instituted on 25 April 1943 by Adolf Hitler and was not bestowed after 1 July 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuban Shield</span> WW2 German military decoration

The Kuban Shield was a World War II military decoration of Nazi Germany. It was awarded to Wehrmacht forces who fought at the Kuban bridgehead in the Soviet Union from February 1943 until it was abandoned in October 1943. The award was instituted on 21 September 1943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narvik Shield</span> Award

The Narvik Shield was a World War II German military decoration awarded to all German forces that took part in the battles of Narvik between 9 April and 8 June 1940. It was instituted on 19 August 1940 by Adolf Hitler. The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) published the order the same day. It was bestowed by General Eduard Dietl, the commander of Army Group Narvik.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Medal</span> German campaign medal

The Eastern Medal, officially the Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal, was a military award of the Wehrmacht which was created by ordinance of Adolf Hitler on 26 May 1942.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sudetenland Medal</span> Decoration of Nazi Germany awarded in the interwar period

The 1 October 1938 Commemorative Medal was commonly known as the Sudetenland Medal. It was a decoration of Nazi Germany awarded during the interwar period, and the second in a series of Occupation Medals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Close Combat Clasp</span> Award

The Close Combat Clasp was a World War II German military award instituted on 25 November 1942 for participation in hand-to-hand fighting at close quarters. Intended primarily for infantry, other Wehrmacht, Waffen-SS, ground Luftwaffe units and paratroopers were also eligible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memel Medal</span> Medal awarded during interwar period in Nazi Germany

The Return of Memel Commemorative Medal was a decoration of Nazi Germany awarded during the interwar period, the last in a series of Occupation Medals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panzer Badge</span> Award

The Panzer Badge was a World War II military decoration of Nazi Germany awarded to troops in armoured divisions. Before 1 June 1940 it was known as the Panzerkampfwagenabzeichen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crimea Shield</span> WW2 German military decoration

The Crimea Shield was a World War II German military decoration. It was awarded to military personnel under the command of Field Marshal von Manstein, including supporting naval and air force units, who fought against Soviet Red Army forces between 21 September 1941 and 4 July 1942 and who captured the Crimea region. It was instituted on 25 July 1942. It was the most widely distributed of the various German campaign shields, with approximately 250,000 awarded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Wall Medal</span> WW2 German military and civilian decoration

The West Wall Medal was a decoration of Nazi Germany. It was instituted on 2 August 1939 and was given to those who designed and built the fortifications on Germany's western borders, known as the Westwall or, in English, the Siegfried Line, between 15 June 1938 to 31 March 1939. On 13 November 1939 eligibility was extended to include servicemen of the Wehrmacht who served on the Westwall for at least ten weeks. In all 622,064 medals were awarded until 31 January 1941, when awards of the medal ceased.

The Honour Roll Clasp was a decoration of Nazi Germany during World War II. There were different versions for the Army (Heer), Air Force (Luftwaffe) and Navy (Kriegsmarine).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clasp to the Iron Cross</span> Award

The Clasp to the Iron Cross was a white metal medal clasp displayed on the uniforms of German Wehrmacht personnel who had been awarded the Iron Cross in World War I, and who again qualified for the decoration in World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wehrmacht Long Service Award</span> Military award in Nazi Germany

The Wehrmacht Long Service Award was a military service decoration of Nazi Germany issued for satisfactory completion of a number of years in military service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cholm Shield</span> WW2 German military decoration

The Cholm Shield was a World War II German military decoration awarded to those who fought in the Cholm Pocket on the Eastern Front between 21 January and 5 May 1942. It was instituted on 1 July 1942 and is the rarest of the German combat shields, with approximately 5,500 recipients. Awards ceased to be bestowed on 1 April 1943.

Campaign shields, also known as campaign arm shields, were badges of differing design awarded to members of the German Wehrmacht for participation in specific battles or campaigns during World War II. Each shield was worn on the left upper arm of the uniform jacket. If a recipient received more than one shield, the earlier was worn above any later awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crete Cuff Title</span> German World War II campaign award

The Crete Cuff Title, or Crete Cuff Band, was a World War II German military decoration awarded to Wehrmacht servicemen who took part in the battle of Crete between 20 and 27 May 1941.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courland Cuff Title</span> German World War II campaign award

The Courland Cuff Title, or Courland Cuff Band, was a World War II German military decoration awarded to Wehrmacht servicemen of Army Group Courland who served in the Courland Pocket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Driver Proficiency Badge (Wehrmacht)</span> German World War II service badge

The Driver Proficiency Badge was a German military badge awarded to drivers of military transport vehicles during World War II.

References