Category: WW2 Medals

• Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
• Institution: 8 July 1944
• Country: Germany

The The Balloon Observer’s Badge (Ballonbeobachterabzeichen in German) is a war badge awarded to officers and men who risked their lives flying 300–500 ft above the ground in a gas balloons. These balloons were easy targets for Allied pilots.

Due to the late introduction of this badge, only a very small number were awarded. It existed in three grades, awarded on a point-basis for different conditions such as transportation or control of heavy weaponry and artillery:

• Bronze: 20 Points awarded.
• Silver: 45 Points awarded.
• Gold: 75 Points awarded.

The Balloon Observer’s Badge Design

The badge was designed by Elmar Lang, although it was never put into production. Lang’s claim to having the prototype design has shed doubt about the originality of badges appearing on the collector’s market.

• Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
• Institution: 30 January 1944
• Country: Germany

The Anti-Partisan Guerrilla Warfare Badge (Bandenkampfabzeichen in German) is a war badge awarded to Heer, Luftwaffe, and Waffen-SS personnel during World War II. It was instituted on 30 January 1944 and referred to as “Bandenkampf-Abzeichen”, because Heinrich Himmler decided the term Banden was better than the term “partisans” – as to not give credence to the guerrillas that were active in almost Germany-occupied countries during WW2.

While many of these resistance movements were initially small and disorganized, a lot coalesced into larger, more powerful bands of fighters. For example, in Greece, Russia and the Yugoslavian states, the partisans had become large enough to require increasing German manpower and resources.

The Anti-Partisan Guerrilla Warfare Badge was created to recognize the soldiers of the Axis that were involved in these behind-the-lines battles. There were three grades for this badge:

• Bronze: For 20 days in combat.
• Silver: For 50 days in combat. And
• Gold: For 100 days in combat. 

For the Luftwaffe, the criteria was based on sorties instead of days in action. 

The Anti-Partisan Guerrilla Warfare Badge Design

The design of the badge is a wreath with a sword placed vertically in the center. The handle has a sun wheel swastika, representing the Nordic and auxiliary forces. The sword plunges into a Hydra, or multi-headed sea serpent representing the Partisans.

The Hydra was a mythical Greek creature, considered almost impossible to destroy because its heads would grow again after being cut off – alluding to the ever-growing presence of Partisan activities.

• Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
• Institution: 1 June 1940
• Country: Germany

The General Assault Badge (or Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen in German) is a war badge instituted on 1 June 1940 and awarded to personnel of the German Army, Waffen-SS and Ordnungspolizei that were neither in unmotorized rifle, Gebirgsjäger or tank units. The badge was given to engineers, motorized infantry and troops who had supported infantry and armor units in combat. Artillery, anti-tank (PaK) and anti-aircraft (Flak) units and some medics were also included. 

The General Assault Badge only existed in a silver class and was awarded to persons participating in:

• Three infantry assaults;
• In the first line;
• Breaking through with weapon at hands;
• On three different days after 1 January 1940; 
• Not being eligible for the Infantry Assault Badge or Panzer Badge. 

The General Assault Badge Design

The badge features an eagle clutching a swastika. The design is set over a simple crossed bayonet and grenade and surrounded by an oval of oak leaves. 

• Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
• Institution: 20 December 1939
• Country: Germany

The Infantry Assault Badge (Infanterie Sturmabzeichen in German) is a war badge awarded to Waffen SS and Wehrmacht Heer soldiers during World War II. It was instituted on December 20, 1939 and could be awarded to members of non-motorized Infantry units and units of the Gebirgsjäger that had participated in Infantry assaults (as long as they had spent least three days of battle in the front line January 1, 1940).

The Infantry Assault Badge was awarded in two classes:

• Silver: Instituted on December 20, 1939, it was awarded to infantry soldiers who had taken part in three or more infantry assaults, counter-attacks, armed reconnaissance operations, hand-to-hand combat in an assault position, or in the restitution of combat positions.
• Bronze: Instituted on June 1, 1940, it was awarded to motorized Panzer troops who had taken part in three or more motorized infantry assaults, motorized infantry counter-attacks, motorized armed reconnaissance operations, hand-to-hand combat in motorized assault positions, or in the restitution of a motorized combat position.

The Infantry Assault Badge Design

Designed by C. E. Junker of Berlin, the badge is oval in shape and has four oak leaves on each side. On the top there is an eagle standing on a swastika. The front shows a rifle placed across the badge.

The reverse is plain and has a pin attachment.

A de-nazified version of this decorations exists. It’s also available in Silver and Bronze but without the eagle and the Swastika.