GERMAN WWII GENERAL ASSAULT BADGE, HOLLOW BACK (ALLGEMEINES STURMABZEICHEN)

This German General Assault badge is Zinc with die stamped construction and is the early war hollow back version.   It still has  traces of the original silver wash remaining.  Nice old dark patina finish overall.

Original era manufacturer.

The front of the General Assault Badge has an oval oak leaf wreath, with a central Heer-style German national eagle clutching a mobile swastika, above a crossed bayonet and stick grenade

The back of the General Assault Medal has a crimped barrel hinge and vertical pinback meeting a round wire catch.

This medal is unmarked and measures 42.48 mm wide x 52.02 mm high and weighing 8.9 grams.

The General Assault Badge was instituted on June 1,1940, under the same regulations as the Infantry Combat Badge. The Commander-in-Chief of the Army created a special combat badge for other soldiers.  Other soldiers who included those troops of the assault artillery who, along with other infantry or armored units as well as their own units, may qualify for the Infantry Combat Badge, they were awarded the General Assault Badge. The award criteria for the General Assault Badge is the same as for the Infantry Combat Badge.