Germany. A Bronze Grade Tank Badge By Wilhelm Deumer Of Lüdenscheid

An extremely well preserved example of a second war German bronze grade “Panzerkampfabzeichen”; oval shaped bronzed zink; 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 soldered onto a rectangular plate, and a flat catch soldered onto a small round plate; an unmarked example, but displaying typical manufacturing characteristics of Wilhelm Deumer, such as the signature dark chocolate brown bronze finish; measuring 41.18 mm (w) x 40.12 mm (h); weighing 20.3 grams; a gently worn example in overall better extremely fine condition. Rare in this condition by this maker.

Footnote: This close combat clasp stems from the personal collection of predominant historian Thomas Durante, and is depicted on page 138 in his book, “The German Close Combat Clasp of World War II - A Collectors Guide to the German Close Combat Clasp of World War II”.