Original German WWII Close Combat Clasp in Bronze with Crimped Edge by Arbeit Gemeinschaft Metal und Kunstoff

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, which in this case is crimped in place, with two tabs on each side. It features a horizontal pin back with a cast hinge, however the catch has unfortunately broken off.

The back is marked with badge designer FEC. W. E. / PEEKHAUS / BERLIN. on the left and maker AUSF. / A.G.M.u.K. / GABLONZ. on the right. "FEC" is short for "FECIT", Latin for "He Made it", indicating Peekhaus designed the badge. "Ausf." is short for Ausführung, meaning "execution" or "made by", so this is example was made by A.G.M.u.K. (Arbeit Gemeinschaft Metal und Kunstoff - Working Community Metal & Plastic) in of Gablonz, 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 almost completely intact on the front, and rear, with just a bit of loss on the raised areas. The blued square steel insert has minor oxidation on the reverse, while the front looks to have had dust collect in the recessed area above it, so we cannot see what condition it is in.

A very nice example, 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.