Description

***SOLD***

Offered is an exceptional condition German Close Combat Bar in silver. The bar measures 100mm wide, is slightly vaulted and is an early Tombak variety, with the majority of the silver wash present. The badge features a central square panel with a recessed background field with an embossed national eagle with out-stretched wings, clutching a canted swastika in it’s talons, positioned above a crossed bayonet and stick grenade, flanked by four oak-leaves and dual acorns, superimposed on a ribbed, horizontal outward, pointing base. The clasp has a blued finished, magnetic sheet metal backing plate positioned behind the eagle, bayonet and stick grenade motif that is held in place by two vertical crimped side tabs on the reverse. The backing plate shows little wear and no surface rusting. The reverse has a molded, integral, hinge, a broad ‘crimped to fit’ horizontal pin and a soldered catch on a circular base plate inset into a circular recess. The makers initials of F & B. L. are shown to reverse. A fine example & as shown original matching example in Detlev Niemann’s Orders, Decorations, Award Documents 2008 book, page 719.

The Close Combat Clasp was 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. The criteria for award of one of the clasps was slightly relaxed for personnel wounded in combat and there was also a prescribed, combat to time served ratio, enabling long serving personnel to be eligible for award of a clasp. Of Note: Hitler considered the Close Combat Clasp in gold as the “highest infantry decoration”, of the German Armed Forces and as a result on March 26th 1944 he reserved the right to bestow the award to any recipients personally.