Close Combat Clasp found on the Battlefield.

Close Combat Clasp found on the Battlefield.
Close Combat Clasp in Bronze (Nahkampfspange in Bronze)

The Close Combat Clasp series of awards were introduced on November 25th 1942 for award to personnel who fought in hand-to-hand combat situations unsupported by armour.
The Clasp was issued in three grades, of Bronze, Silver and Gold with each successive grade signifying more days spent in hand-to-hand or close combat.
Criteria for award of the clasps consisted of fifteen days of hand-to-hand combat for bestowal of the Bronze clasp, thirty days of hand-to-hand combat for bestowal of the Silver clasp and fifty days of hand-to-hand combat for bestowal of the Gold clasp.
There was also a prescribed, combat to time served ratio, enabling long serving personnel to be eligible for award of a clasp.

Struck zink construction clasp. The clasp features a central square panel with a recessed background field with an embossed national eagle with out-stretched wings, positioned above a crossed bayonet and grenade, flanked by four oak-leaves and dual acorns superimpose on a ribbed, horizontal outward, pointing base.
The recessed central square is missing its backing plate. The reverse has a solid, soldered, hinge inset into a rectangular recess with raised outer edges, a broad, tapering, horizontal pin and catch inset into an oval recess with raised outer edges all intact.
Marking on the reverse in the form of letters F&B.L. , known producer: Funcke und Brunninghaus Ludenscheid

Material / type of production: zinc / solid embossing
Height: 25 mm
Width: 97 mm
Weight: 29,74 g

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