40th Contemporary History Auction

Bidding on 1479 lots has ended on 15th November 2020. 92% of all lots sold

0558 |

Fw. Heerdt - cut-out Tank Assault Badge "AS" + photo proof

Fw. Heerdt - cut-out Tank Assault Badge "AS" + photo proof

LOT 50-0558
SOLD
Auction ended        14th November 2020  |  08:11 pm CET
RESULT
1.310,00
EXCL. BUYER’S PREMIUM: 22,50 %

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DESCRIPTion, DETaILS & Photos
SAVE FOR LATER
PERIOD 1918 — 1945
COUNTRY Deutschland
MATERIAL
DIMENSIONS
MAKER Adolf Scholze
WEIGHT
LOT 50-0558
EAN 2000000490069
LOT 50-0558
PERIOD 1918 — 1945
COUNTRY Deutschland
EAN 2000000490069
MATERIAL
DIMENSIONS
MAKER Adolf Scholze
WEIGHT
PERIOD 1918 — 1945
COUNTRY Deutschland
LOT 50-0558
MATERIAL
DIMENSIONS
EAN 2000000490069
MAKER Adolf Scholze
WEIGHT
Germany 1918 - 1945


Description

Untouched grouping available on the market for the first time. Please see other lots to Hans Heerdt listed in this catalogue.

Hans Heerdt, born in 1918,  was promoted a Feldwebel on 1.1.1945 serving with Panzer-Ersatz-Abteilung 500 in Paderborn. Before, he was serving in the field with Panzer-Regiment 27 awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class, the Tank Assault Badge, the East Medal and the Wound Badge in black. 

His unit in Paderborn used Tiger and Panther tanks which are shown inside his photo album. Heerdt had a small wound behind his right ear. A photo inside his album shows him being bandaged. This personal visor cap comes with a blood stain to the sweat-band caused by the same wound! In addition, he wears exactly that visor cap on a period time photo!

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Tank Assault Badge in bronze with portrait photo to Feldwebel Hans Heerdt. He served with Panzer-Werkstattzug I./Panzer-Regiment 27 and Panzer-Ersatz-Abteilung 500 Paderborn (Tiger). 

Very rare Tank Assault Badge in bronze. A so-called "cut-out" type. Made by Adolf Scholze. "AS" maker marked to the back. Zinc example. Bronzed. The catch was period time repaired.

Excellent portrait photo of Fw Heerdt in his black service tunic "wrapper". He wears exactly this Tank Assault Badge! Postcard format. The photo was taken in Düsseldorf.

A beautiful set as well as extremely hard to find.

 

 


Condition
2
Historical information

NAME

Panzer Assault Badge Bronze

(Panzer-Kampf–Abzeichen Bronze)

DATE OF INSTITUTION

6 months after the institution of the Silver Grade PAB the Bronze Grade was instituted. On June 1st, 1940,  the supreme commander of the Army, Generaloberst von Brauchitsch, founded the Bronze Grade of the Panzer Assault Badge. 

It was also at this date that the official name of the award was changed from Panzerkampfwagenabzeichen (Panzer Assault Vehicle Award) to Panzerkampfabzeichen (Panzer Assault Badge).

The Higher grades II to IV were instituted on January 31st, 1943

AWARD CRITERIA

The Bronze Grade was awarded to officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted men of the Schützenregimenter (Panzer Grenadier Regiments), the Kradschützenbataillone (motorcycle rifle battalions) of the Panzer divisions, as well as to Panzerspäh-Einheiten (armoured reconnaissance units) who fulfilled the same criteria that applied to award of the Silver Grade to tank crews. To be awarded the grade I soldiers had to take part in 3 Armoured assaults on three different days

GRADES

Grade I awarded after 3 combat days

Grade II Awarded after 25 combat days

Grade III Awarded after 50 combat days

Grade IV Awarded after 75 and again after 100 combat days.

For the higher grades, it should be noted that for battle-hardened veterans retroactive service was taken into account. Also, war-wounded were credited with extra combat days.

MANUFACTURING SPECIFICATION

Apart from one exception, all early Panzer Assault Badges were made in hollow form. Materials used were Nickle Silver and Tombak (Buntmetall). Both yellow and on rare occasions also white Tombak was used.

In an effort to save precious materials, by the middle of 1941, the switch was made to Hollow Zinc and, on rare occasions Cupal. Production By the end of 1941 the order was given only to produce Combat Awards in solid form. This also affected the Panzer Assault Badge that from then on was only produced in Zinc both in Solid and semi-hollow form. As the war progressed the quality of the zinc used would steadily deteriorate. All higher grades were only made from Zinc both in Solid and Semi-Hollow form.

The same goes for the finishes used. Where early badges show high-quality plated finish, later awards will receive electroplated or galvanized finishes and the last will only receive a cheap wash finish.

For civil use first a 16mm, later only a 9mm miniature was produced.

PRESENTATION

The Panzer Assault Badge had to be worn on the left breast side of the uniform. In a central position if worn as a single decoration, below and to the right if in combination with higher valor awards such as the EK I.

The recipient would receive an A4 or A3-sized award document.

No presentation case did ever exist. The awards either came in paper and cellophane envelopes or in a generic cardboard box.

MANUFACTURERS & NUMBER OF SILVER GRADE PANZER ASSAULT BADGES AWARDED

So far 37 Grade one makers were identified. Three makers were responsible for the production of the Higher Grade PABs.

The number of Panzer Assault Badges actually awarded will forever remain unknown but several hundred thousand for sure were produced.

 

For more information on the Panzer Assault Badge, we gladly refer the interested collector to the collector's guide  “The German Panzer Assault Badge of WWII “ written by Philippe De Bock.

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