Germany, Third Reich. A Mixed Lot of Badges for Military and Sports Distinction

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

1. An Infantry Assault Badge, Silver Grade, constructed of silvered 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 narrow crimped hinge emanating from a crimped base and a vertical pinback meeting a round wire catch, unmarked but demonstrating the characteristics of a documented variant produced by an unknown manufacturer (speculated to be Rudolf Karneth, Gablonz, or Eugen Schmidhäussler, Pforzheim), measuring 46.88 mm (w) x 63.10 mm (h), weighing 21.1 grams, demonstrating total loss of silver finish to the base metal, in 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 with a crimped hinge and tapering vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch emanating from a circular plate, unmarked but demonstrating the characteristics of manufacture by Wilhelm Deumer, Lüdenscheid, using the firm’s Variation 4 design, measuring 43.70 mm (w) x 53.98 mm (h), weighing 26.1 grams, demonstrating near-total loss of finish, in very fine condition.

3. A DRL Sports Badge, Silver Grade, constructed of silvered zink, the obverse consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by a ribbon overlaid by a mobile swastika, surrounding central stylized initials “DRL”, the reverse with a barrel hinge and vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch, maker marked “WERNSTEIN, JENA”, measuring 38.82 mm (w) x 47.80 mm (h), weighing 14.2 grams, demonstrating total loss of finish to the base metal, a late-war example in very fine condition.