Description
Rare German 25 Engagement Panzer Assault Badge in Silver (Panzerkampfabzeichen mit Einsatzzahl 25)
Offered here is an original and highly sought-after World War II German Panzer Assault Badge in Silver with the “25” engagement numeral, officially designated the Panzerkampfabzeichen mit Einsatzzahl 25. This award represents a significant level of frontline combat experience and stands as one of the more prestigious decorations bestowed upon armored troops of the Wehrmacht.
The Panzer Assault Badge was originally introduced in 1939 to recognize tank crews and armored personnel who participated in armored assaults. In its silver grade, it was awarded to members of Panzer units, including tank commanders, gunners, loaders, drivers, and supporting armored vehicle crews. As the war progressed and combat intensified, higher numbered grades were instituted in 1943—specifically the 25, 50, 75, and 100 engagement badges—to acknowledge extraordinary and sustained combat service beyond the original award criteria.
The numeral “25” signifies that the recipient took part in twenty-five separate armored combat engagements on twenty-five different days, an achievement reflecting extensive frontline service under hazardous conditions. Personnel eligible for this award were often seasoned veterans of prolonged campaigns on the Eastern or Western Fronts, making these numbered badges especially evocative of the hard-fought armored battles of the war.
The badge was designed by Ernst Peekhaus of Berlin and features the classic Panzer Assault Badge motif: a Wehrmacht eagle clutching a swastika positioned above a forward-moving tank, all encircled by a detailed oak leaf wreath. The silver finish denotes award to tank troops, as opposed to the bronze grade issued to other armored support units. The centrally affixed “25” engagement plaque is prominently displayed at the base of the wreath, immediately identifying this as one of the advanced combat grades.
Numbered Panzer Assault Badges were produced in significantly smaller quantities than the standard unnumbered versions, and many were lost or heavily worn due to frontline use. As a result, original examples of the 25 engagement badge are increasingly scarce and highly desirable among collectors.
This badge represents not only an important piece of German military insignia but also a tangible artifact of armored warfare history, embodying the experience, endurance, and combat exposure of Panzer troops during World War II.
