The Infantry Assault Badge

• 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.