Bidspirit auction | Close Combat Clasp found on

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 VERY IMPORTANT !!! Shiping from our office in Europe