Austria, Imperial. A First War Austro-Hungarian Storm-Trooper's Badge

Badge of the Assault Battalion 106, in die struck blackened bronze, 45mm x 62mm, it weighs 11.6 grams, marked on reverse "Braun, Wien", worn badge, in very fine condition, rare.

Footnote: When the Austro-Hungarian (AH) Army High Command (AOK - Armeeoberkommando) decided to raise Assault units and squads, it was first planned (following the comments in the first assault unit manual) to introduce special collar badges for storm troopers similar to the insignia of infantry-gun crews, soldiers of the radio service etc. The AOK thought, like the German army, that these badges could motivate soldiers to attend assault courses and join the different assault formations as volunteers. By and by, when it became a fact, that it was generally planned to train the whole infantry in special trench warfare, no further efforts were made on this subject.