Luftwaffe Erdkampfabzeichen

[Adrian Stevenson]

This badge was instituted on 31st March 1942 in order to decorate members of the Luftwaffe engaged in ground combat. The award was given for:

Taking part in three engagements on three different days.

Being wounded in one of those engagements.

Being awarded any bravery decoration in one of those engagements.

A Luftwaffe man being KIA in ground combat was automatically awarded the badge.

Prior to this date Luftwaffe men fighting as ground comabt troops had been awarded Heer decorations, such as the Infantry assault, General assault or Panzer assault badges. These badges were to be given in and exchanged for the new Luftwaffe badge.

The badge is made of zinc. The example illustrated is from my collection. It is not maker marked. Other higher quality versions exist with separatly applied eagles. Known makers were:

MuK5
GH Osang
GB
RK
GWL
Arno Wallpach

Please be aware of numbered versions of this badge for 25, 50, 75 or 100 engagements. Instituted on paper on 10th November 1944. These badges were never produced in WW2 and any offered for sale must be regarded as fakes.

Cheers, Ade.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Here is the typical paper packet in which this award was issued. Made from cheap poor quailty paper with a lot of wood pulp fibre in evidence.

Cheers, Ade

[scott powell]

I love luft badges, here is my Luft Ground Combat Badge.

[sscrooge]

great badges guys :thumbup:

[Dietrich Maerz]

Hi Ade,

that particular example is made by Arno Wallpach. May I add that C.E. Juncker also made the LW Ground Combat Badge.

Dietrich

[mark m]

Greetings friends. First post on this newly 'stumbled upon' site.

The Luft GAB is one of the best Luft designs, in my book. Some specimans are posted below.

Regards,
Mark

[George Stimson]

Nice examples, Mark!
(And speaking of books, there is one coming out on this very badge in the near future from B&D Publishing, so stay tuned!)

[mark m]

Hi George,

My, how we 'get around'! Well, speaking of books, I am aware of another book coming out, that will feature the Luft GAB, and ALL Luft awards, too.

Lots of good books these days. This (long overdo) second generation of 3R books are a far cry from the Angolia books of the 70s. The artwork and technology has merged with the collecting field.

Regards,
Mark

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Dietrich, sorry I missed you post about the maker. What a result. :thumbup:

Hi Mark, nice to see you here too!

Cheers, Ade.

[scott powell]

excellent badges mark,!

[Allan Pilch]

Here's another.

[tdurante]

Ah, I would recognize those beautiful badges with black background anywhere! Glad to see you over here Mark!

Beautiful badges guys!

Tom

[mark m]

Ade, Scott, Allan, & Tom,

Good to see you all here, and the badges thank you for the kind words. ;)

Yes, the black background has its 'roots' that go way back. The old scanner with the cover open trick - instant black background.

But the thought of phographing an entire collection w/5 'angles' each? ..... maybe tomorrow.

Glad to be here!

Mark