Germany, Wehrmacht. An Infantry Assault Badge, Bronze Grade, Attributed to Generalleutnant Friedrich Stahl

(Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze). Constructed of bronzed zink, the obverse consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, topped by a Heer-style German national eagle clutching a mobile swastika, diagonally across the badge is a Karabiner 98k rifle with the bayonet attached and the carrying sling hanging from the rifle, the reverse with a crimped hinge and vertical pinback meeting a round wire catch emanating from a crimped base, marked with a number “20” but demonstrating the characteristics of a variant manufactured by an unknown maker as examined in “The Infantry Assault Badges”, Sascha Weber, 2008, pages 188-189, also carefully engraved with a recipient name of “GENLT. F. STAHL” for Generalleutnant Friedrich Stahl, measuring 47.07 mm (w) x 61.60 mm (h), weighing 23.2 grams, demonstrating near-total loss of bronze finish, in better than very fine condition.

Footnote: Albert Gottfried Friedrich Stahl was born on 14 June 1889 in Darmstadt, Germany. He participated in the First World War, and later served as a Regimentskommandeur during the invasion of Poland at the outbreak of the Second World War. He was later appointed to the Staff of 16. Armee during the Battle of France. In June 1942, Stahl was promoted to Commander of Infanterie-Division 714, overseeing anti-Partisan operations in the Balkans. Notably, he led the Kozara Offensive, which was a highly-successful Axis operation which, in conjunction with Chetnik forces, inflicted heavy casualties on Partisans near the city of Prijador. Stahl was taken into custody by the US Army in 1945, and subsequently called as a witness in the Nuremberg Trials. He died in Karlsruhe on 19 December 1979.