Description
World War II German General Assault Badge (Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen) with “25” Engagement Clasp
Presented here is an is a post war manufactured World War II German General Assault Badge (Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen) with the rare “25” engagement clasp Rudolf Souval. This decoration was awarded to non-infantry personnel who took part in direct ground assaults in support of infantry operations but were not eligible for the Infantry Assault Badge.
The General Assault Badge was instituted on 1 June 1940 by Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch and was designed by Wilhelm Ernst Peekhaus of Berlin. It recognized repeated participation in combat actions by troops such as combat engineers, artillery crews, anti-tank units, and certain medical personnel operating under fire. To qualify, recipients were required to have taken part in at least three separate assaults; higher-grade clasps denoted increased levels of combat participation.
This example features the Wehrmacht-style eagle clutching a swastika, positioned above a crossed bayonet and stick grenade, all enclosed within an oak leaf wreath. The “25” clasp signifies participation in twenty-five or more combat engagements, placing it among the more advanced and less commonly encountered grades of the award.
The badge is of typical post war zinc construction with traces of the original silver wash, much of which has worn away as expected due to the nature of the material and age. Badges with numbered engagement clasps, particularly the “25,” are increasingly scarce and represent a higher level of frontline experience.
This is a post war manufactured badge by Rudolf Souval.
