An Early Squadron Clasp for Bomber Pilots; Silver Grade

A second war German “Panzerkampfabzeichen”; oval shaped silvered feinzink; the obverse with a border of oak leaves with a tie at the base and a Panzerkampfwagen IV superimposed in the centre on grassy ground, with the left tank track extending over the edge of the badge; the reverse plain with a vertical needle style pin, sheet metal hinge, and a round wire catch; unmarked, but displaying typical characteristics of “Ferdinand Wiedmann, Frankfurt am Main” on the reverse; measuring 60.98 mm x 41.66 mm; weighing 29.1 grams; with nearly all of its original silver finish intact; in virtually mint condition.

With a silver frame, with iron core, magnetic, unmarked, measuring 44 mm, vertical pinback, extremely fine.

Includes a German Social Welfare Honour Cross 2nd Class, two crosses without centrepieces, a Bulgarian Merit Order centrepiece, two other centrepieces and an insignia, in bronze, three with white enamels. Fire damaged, fair. Footnote: Zimmermann was a well known German manufacturer of a great variety of awards, German and International, and was destroyed in an allied bombing raid in the early 1940's on Pforzheim, Germany. Sometime in 1990, during construction on the site, a quantity of medals was discovered (about 50 kilos) and bought by eMedals. Some were in good condition, but most of the pieces exhibited fire damage, or were rusted and damaged. Hundreds of pieces were partially finished, and some items were just medal parts, as one would expect to be found in the factory.

A fine German Eagle Order (Verdienstmedaille vom Deutschen Adler); Type II with Gothic script; in silver (impressed with the national crescent moon hallmark and marked “835” for silver content); maker marked “Pr. Münze, Berlin” on the edge; on loop for suspension; with its period-original ribbon with a horizontal pinback sewn into the ribbon; measuring 38.07 mm in diameter; weighing 23.2 grams; attractive dark patina from age; better than very fine condition.