Set of German Combat Decorations (2)

Set of German Combat Decorations (2)
Set of German Combat Decorations

1.) Close Combat Clasp in Bronze (Nahkampfspange in Bronze)
The Close Combat Clasp series of awards were introduced on November 25th 1942 for award to personnel who fought in hand-to-hand combat situations unsupported by armour.
The Clasp was issued in three grades, of Bronze, Silver and Gold with each successive grade signifying more days spent in hand-to-hand or close combat.
Criteria for award of the clasps consisted of fifteen days of hand-to-hand combat for bestowal of the Bronze clasp, thirty days of hand-to-hand combat for bestowal of the Silver clasp and fifty days of hand-to-hand combat for bestowal of the Gold clasp. There was also a prescribed, combat to time served ratio, enabling long serving personnel to be eligible for award of a clasp.
Marked : "JFS - F.EC.W.E.PEEKHAUS BERLIN". Fine zinc, magnetic needle and plate.

2.) General Assault Badge (Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen).
The General Assault badge was introduced on June 1st 1940, by Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch, for award to support personnel who were ineligible for the Infantry or Panzer Assault badges. Criteria for award of the badge was basically the same as the criteria for award of the Infantry and Panzer Assault badges with the main qualification being participation in three separate assaults in a supporting role.
On its introduction the badge was only intended for award to combat engineers and was designated, Pionier-Sturmabzeichen, (Engineer's Assault Badge). Shortly afterwards award of the badge was extended to other support personnel including artillery and assault gun personnel, anti-tank and anti-aircraft personnel and medical personnel.
Before the introduction of the Tank Destruction Strip in March 1942, personnel who had single handedly destroyed an enemy tank with Infantry weapons were awarded the General Assault Badge.

Die struck, solid backed, alloy construction award with a silver finish. The badge features a cut-out, high relief Wehrmacht styled eagle with down-swept wings positioned above a crossed bayonet and stick grenade, and encompassed by an embossed, vertically oval, oak-leaf wreath.
Manufacturer unknown. Fine zinc, non-magnetic, no hinge, needle and catch.

3.) Iron Cross 1st Class, 1939. "65". (Eisernes Kreuz I Klasse )
On March 10th 1813, Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III established the Iron Cross as a temporary award for bestowal during times of war. Originally the Iron Cross was introduced in three grades with a Grand Cross intended for award to Senior Commanders for successfully leading troops in combat and the First and Second classes for award to all ranks for bravery or merit in action. The Iron Crosses were reinstituted by King Wilhelm I on July 19th 1870 for award during the Franco-Prussian War and again on August 5th 1914, by King Wilhelm II for award during WWI. On September 1st 1939 Hitler once more re-instituted the Iron Cross series of awards in the First and Second Classes and established the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The first class medal was for award to personnel who performed three to five acts of bravery in combat, and had already been awarded the Iron Cross second class.

1939 pattern, die struck, three piece, iron and alloy construction Pattée style cross with a single piece iron core and two piece alloy frame. The obverse of the award features an embossed, central, canted, swastika with re-institution date, "1939", to the bottom arm. The swastika is in nice high relief while the date is somewhat lower. The plain reverse of the award has a solid hinge, a broad, thick, tapered, vertical pin and catch all intact. The pin is well marked with the embossed manufacturers code "65", indicating manufacture by Klein & Quenzer A.G. Idar-Oberstein a.d. Nahe.
The cross is magnetic. Hinge, pin and catch are non-magnetic.