Germany, Wehrmacht. A Mixed Lot of Service Badges

(Abzeichen). A mixed lot of service badges, including:

1. A General Assault Badge, constructed of silvered zink, the obverse consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, surrounding a central Heer-style German national eagle clutching a mobile swastika, situated above a crossed bayonet and stick grenade, the reverse with a crimped hinge and vertical pinback, unmarked, measuring 44.33 mm (w) x 53.70 mm (h), weighing 31.5 grams, demonstrating the loss of its catch formerly emanating from a crimped base, a scarce variant in better than very fine condition.

2. A Minesweeper War Badge, constructed of gilded and silvered zink, the obverse consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, topped by a Kriegsmarine eagle clutching a mobile swastika, surrounding a central depiction of an exploding sea mine, the reverse designer marked “OTTO PLACZEK, BERLIN” and maker marked “SCHWERIN, BERLIN”, measuring 43.30 mm (w) x 53.91 mm (h), weighing 24.0 grams, demonstrating the loss of its entire pinback apparatus, in addition to loss of finish to the base metal, in fair condition.

3. A second Minesweeper War Badge, constructed of gilded and silvered zink, the obverse consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, topped by a Kriegsmarine eagle, surrounding a central depiction of an exploding sea mine, unmarked but demonstrating the characteristics of a variant produced by an unidentified manufacture as examined in “The Kriegsmarine Awards: Volume 1”, Sascha Weber and Gerhard R. Skora, 2011, pages 284-285, measuring 44.18 mm (w) x 54.71 mm (h), weighing 22.2 grams, demonstrating the loss of its entire pinback apparatus, in addition to loss of finish the base metal, and deliberate etching out of the swastika to accommodate post-war wear or display, in fair condition.