The Infantry Assault Badge (Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen) ranks among the most significant decorations of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. This combat award was instituted on December 20, 1939 by Adolf Hitler and was intended to recognize the special achievements of infantrymen in direct combat operations. The present example was manufactured by the renowned maker Juncker of Berlin and was produced in nickel using hollow construction.

The firm Gebr. Juncker GmbH Berlin was among the highest quality manufacturers of military decorations during the Nazi era. Founded in 1866, the company had its headquarters on Invalidenstraße in Berlin and possessed extensive experience in producing orders and badges. Juncker pieces were characterized by precise workmanship and fine details, which makes them particularly sought after by collectors to this day.

The award criteria for the Infantry Assault Badge were clearly defined: an infantryman had to participate in at least three infantry attacks on different days; alternatively, it could be awarded for wounds received during an attack or for special bravery. The decoration thus documented the harshest and most dangerous operations a soldier could experience - the direct assault on enemy positions.

The badge itself displays an oval oak leaf wreath with the Reich eagle in the upper section and a crossed bayonet and hand grenade in the lower part. The execution in hollow construction means that the reverse side was not solid but hollowed out. This production method allowed material savings, which became increasingly important as the war progressed, without compromising the external quality.

The use of nickel as material was typical for early to mid-production phases. Nickel offered a silvery appearance and good durability. As the war continued, other alloys and zinc were increasingly used due to material shortages. Juncker examples in nickel with hollow construction typically date from the period between 1940 and 1942.

The wearing regulations were precisely prescribed: the badge was worn on the left breast of the uniform, below any medal bars and above the breast pocket. It could only be worn on the field tunic and dress tunic. Attachment was accomplished by means of a horizontally mounted pin on the reverse.

In terms of production techniques, Juncker pieces show characteristic features: details are sharply defined, the eagle feathers carefully designed, and the oak leaves display naturalistic modeling. The hollow construction is recognizable on the reverse, where the contours of the obverse appear as depressions. Juncker also used specific pin constructions that facilitate identification.

In historical context, the Infantry Assault Badge must be viewed with differentiation. On one hand, it documents the extreme stresses and dangers to which infantrymen were exposed during World War II. The assault attack was considered the deadliest form of combat with correspondingly high casualty rates. On the other hand, it was part of a decoration system that served the motivation and warfare of a criminal regime.

After the war ended in 1945, the wearing of all Nazi decorations was prohibited in Germany. Only through the Law on Titles, Orders and Decorations of 1957 was the wearing of Wehrmacht decorations permitted again, but only in modified form without Nazi symbols such as the swastika and Reich eagle.

For collectors and historians, original pieces by manufacturers such as Juncker are today important military-historical documents. They provide insights into production techniques, material properties, and wearing customs of the period. At the same time, they require responsible engagement with the history of National Socialism and World War II.