Awards of
World War IIThe Luftwaffe Ground Combat Badge was established on March 31, 1942, on the initiative of Hermann Goering, as an award for Air Force personnel who had to engage in combat on the ground.
Initially, the badge was intended to be awarded only to Luftwaffe flight crews, but on January 28, 1943, amendments were made to the award regulations, according to which the service and medical services of the Air Force also received the right to award the badge.
The main criteria for the award were as follows:
- direct participation in ground combat operations for at least three days;
- receiving a wound while participating in Ground combat;
- receiving a badge for a general assault or tank attack.
Initially, the award was established in only one class, but as the war progressed, the need arose to reward soldiers who took part in multiple attacks. This led to the appearance of awards with numbers at the bottom indicating the number of battles, such as "25," "50," "75," and "100."
Although it is reliably known that badges with numbers were officially instituted and awarded, no reliable information has survived regarding the names of those awarded or their number.
The design of the award was developed by Sigmund von Witsch. The award is in the form of a wreath of oak leaves, entwined at the bottom with a ribbon. In the center of the wreath is a lightning bolt striking from the clouds to the ground, executed in blackened ink. At the top of the wreath is a soaring eagle holding a swastika in its talons. For awards with numerals, the ribbon encircling the wreath at the bottom is covered by a bar with the corresponding numerals "25," "50," "75," and "100."
The reverse of the award features a vertical pin for attaching to clothing and possibly a manufacturer's mark.
The wreath measures 56 x 43 mm, the width is 7 to 7.5 mm, the eagle's wingspan is 41.5 m, and the height of the eagle, including the swastika, is 21 mm.
A woven version of the award was also available for wear on field uniforms.
The Luftwaffe Ground Combat Badge is worn, like other similar awards, on the left breast pocket of the tunic, and is located below the Iron Cross First Class. A total of 13,450 people were awarded this badge.