Original German WWII Close Combat Clasp in Bronze by Josef Feix & Söhne of Gablonz

Original Item: Only One Available. Known in German as a Nahkampfspange (Melee Clasp) in Bronze, this fine award is constructed of bronzed slightly vaulted zinc. The front side has a Reichsadler (national eagle) over a crossed bayonet and hand grenade in the centerpiece. There are sun rays emanating from the center of the left and right sides, with with four oak leaves and two acorns on each side. The reverse is plain, with a square magnetic backing plate with a horizontal pin and barrel hinge, which is still fully functional, held in place by a bent round wire catch.

The back is marked on the right with badge designer F.E.C. W. E. / PEEKHAUS / BERLIN. on the left, as usually seen on these awards. "F.E.C." is short for "FECIT", Latin for "He Made it", indicating Peekhaus designed the badge. The left side is maker marked with JFS in a Rectangle, the logo of Josef Feix & Söhne of Gablonz. This city was part of the so-called "Sudetenland" during WWII. Today it is known as Jablonec nad Nisou in the Czech Rebublic.

The clasp measures 3.85 inches (97.85 mm) W x 1.04 inches (26.50 mm) H. Offered in overall very good condition. The original bronzing is partly intact in the recessed areas on the front and rear, with exposed areas of the base metal oxidized to a lovely patina. The blued steel square in the middle shows very little oxidation on the front, while the reverse shows a bit more.

A very good example with a great aged look, ready to display!

The Close Combat Clasp (Nahkampfspange) is a German military award instituted on 25 November 1942 for achievement in hand-to-hand fighting in close quarters. The Close Combat Clasp was worn above the upper left uniform pocket. The clasp was die-cast and made of either tombac or later zinc, with a slightly curved centerpiece consisting of the national emblem surmounting a crossed bayonet and hand grenade.

The award was bestowed in three classes: Bronze for 15 close combat battles; Silver for 25 battles; and Gold for 50+ battles. The Gold Close Combat Clasp was often regarded in higher esteem than the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by the German infantry. Of the roughly 18–20 million soldiers of the German Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS, 36,400 received the Bronze Class, 9,500 the Silver Class and 631 the Gold Class.