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When the Austrian Army High Command (AOK - Armeeoberkommando) decided to create Assault Squads
in 1916, many units proposed special collar badges for storm troops similar to other military
occupation specialty badges designed in 1915. When new assault battalions were created on the
divisional level in 1917, the idea of assault insignia was considered. A new Assault badge was
planned to be awarded for special skills or bravery during an assault mission. The AOK on
August 30, 1917 asked all k.u.k. army groups for suggestions concerning the following assault
badge questions:
Conditions of award: all storm troopers who completed assault training should be
awarded the badge or only members of the assault battalions?
How many badges should be awarded (in what percentage of every assault unit)?
Which rank or position for badge qualification should soldiers be placed for award of the badge?
Many army groups were asked to make suggestions on the Assault Badge design.
The k.u.k. XXIVth corps concluded (29th September 1917), that only soldiers,
who had passed the assault course successfully and were incorporated in an
assault-battalion, company or squad should receive the badge. The award conditions
were proposed to include excellent marksmanship with the carbine and pistol,
throwing hand-grenades and physical ability. A special committee was created
to examine the qualifications of every soldier who wanted to join an assault
unit.
Their were several proposals to change the unit designation of assault troops
to "grenadiers." On October 10, 1917 the army group headquarters "GO v. Boroeviæ"
combined many assault troop proposals in a statement, which was sent to the AOK.
The High Command decided that in addition to excellent weapons handling, physical
fitness and assault tactics, at least one mission against the enemy was mandatory
to receive the assault badge. The soldier should be selected by the assault unit
commander, the badge was to be awarded by the divisional commander. There was a
proposal for a special assault badge for all trained storm troopers as a distinctive
unit badge. It was suggested that the assault badge should not be worn in the front
lines or during missions.
The k.u.k. War Ministry / 5th Department (Kriegsministerium (KM) / 5. Abteilung,
(department 5 was responsible for the creation of new insignia) also worked on the
design of the assault badges. On December 10, 1917 the AOK asked for the KM´s for
the proposals sent from the active front line commands. The AOK definitely rejected
the proposal of an assault badge for all storm troopers, as this would be unfair
towards the typical soldier, doing standard service and effect moral. The proposed
new designation as "grenadiers" was also abandoned.
After fifteen months the assault badge design applications and approval process had
stalled and was still in dispute. The soldiers of assault units started to create
their own special unit insignias: some assault troops wore red based cap badges,
red cap buttons, or red based Italian stars on their bayonet frogs.
The AOK confirmed the award conditions of the planned assault badge and modified
the number of missions for the award of the assault badge to at least two successful
assault missions. The design of the assault badge conformed in style to the pilot's
badge with an oval wreath and eagle, worn on the right breast. On May 3, 1918 the
AOK sent a prototype badge to the KM and the Military Cabinet of the Emperor
(Militärkanzlei des Kaisers und Königs). The proposed badge demonstrating a lion
trampling a wire entanglement with his paw. Three proposals were submitted for
award of the assault badge:
No special badge is authorized or assault units, but a badge for meritorious
service with the Assault Troops.
Concerning the conditions of award, the KM agrees to the AOK´s conditions,
but also provides that the assault troop training is successfully completed
and at least three missions should be completed successfully before award
of the badge.
The assault troop badge should be similar in design to the pilot's badge to
symbolize the elite character of the assault units. In lieu of a charging
soldier or human skulls, a lion should be the main design, perhaps shown in
front of obstacles. A green enameled wreath with a golden shield and a black
central logo should be employed.
Because of production problems with enamel and war time economy measures the
War Ministry proposes to produce the assault badges in stamped metal with a
black, gray, or bronze (the bronze colored version was estimated as the most
practical) finish. On September 27, 1918 the War Ministry was forced to state
a clear warning that unofficial assault troop insignia was not to be used and
promised a special assault badge for award to the qualified unit and applicant.
The proposed award conditions were laid down on October 29, 1918 by the AOK and
should be approved by the War Ministry as follows:
The badge should be awarded to every officer or soldier, who passed the assault
course, showed above average skills and had at least three successful assault
missions.
The legal right to award the badge should be with the division commander
(or commander of an independent brigade).
The division commander decides if a mission is estimated as a special assault mission.
The operational commander has to name all men participating in a special assault,
showing bravery and skills to qualify for the assault badge.
All men must be certificated for assault missions, even if they had already been
awarded the assault badge.
The badges are awarded by careful examination only, so the badge isn't reduced to
a simple qualification badge.
The awarding of other decorations and orders is not influenced by the creation
of the assault badge.
The date for these statutes should come into force retroactively from March 1, 1917.
The AOK and KM, strictly forbade the use of any badges concerning storm troops.
Although the listed assault badge conditions were proposed by the AOK, prior to
the cease-fire of November 3, 1918 neither the KM nor the Military Cabinet of
the Emperor (Militärkanzlei des Kaisers und Königs) authorized statutes for
assault badges or issued any official badges. Many different k.u.k. badges and
insignia exist in present collections, which in some way deal with the subject
of assault units and are entirely unofficial and produced by the individual
units at their own expense.
In 1915, many soldiers started to create special badges often showing symbols
of the regiment or simply unit numbers. Many military units lost their pre-war
identification i.e. collar tab colors. Soldiers wanted to identify themselves
as members of certain units or branches of service, hence they designed different
unit badges for their caps. Many unofficial badges or insignias were sold to the
public and the revenue was given to regimental charitable institutions.
The wearing of unofficial unit badges was generally allowed by the KM in
November 1916 and the badges should be worn only on the right side of the cap.
When AOK refused to authorize assault badges, many assault units created their
own unofficial badges. Two different types of insignia can be found: the smaller
"Sturmtruppen" badge sometimes included a unit number designation and the second
type of unofficial assault badges can be found with the designation "Sturmtrupp."
The second type of assault badge usually employs a skull as the main logo to the
center of the badge and are much larger then the cap badges.
Many photos confirm that Austro-Hungarian soldiers and officers wore assault
badges during the First World War. The symbols displayed on these badges: hand
grenades, wire cutters, helmets and skulls were not authorized by the AOK and
the KM. Many theories have arisen as to why the k.u.k. assault forces employed
the skull on their unit badges, many believe it was due to German army influence.
The German army employed a skull on many of their assault, cavalry and tank badges,
an ancient symbol for courage.
Copies
General grading guidelines for W.W.I Austro-Hungarian Assault badges. All Storm
Troop badges although unofficially produced by the unit should be of the highest
standards and craftsmanship. Many try to qualify a number of copy assault badges
by stating that they are unofficial and crudely made. The storm troop badges are
the most popular and the most widely copied badges of the German and Austrian
forces in the First World War.
I suspect that I am typical of many collectors in that there have been numerous
occasions when I have stumbled upon an intriguing item, one that caught my fancy
but that was outside my expertise. Often I have queried the seller about the item,
and his response seemed entirely satisfactory, even knowledgeable. Then I have
turned to the network of contacts that I have developed during twenty years of
collecting insignia and related artifacts, and I have sought an expert's opinion.
I have learned that what I found so attractive was misrepresented, a reproduction,
or over-priced. What I have learned time and time again is that, invariably, one
is at risk when one ventures beyond one's expertise.
All of the original W.W.I k.u.k. assault badges that I have encountered have had a
gilt or gray (zinc) finish, and all were made of Tomback, zinc or brass. The copy
assault badges are molded pot metal or copper ("bronzed" to give the badge a red,
orange, or brown color).
Genuine Austrian assault badges of the First World War did not employ "wires" to
affix elements of the badge wreath. Neither were plugs or flat metal pieces used
for this purpose. Only rivets, domed or hollow, were employed. Some rivets are
small and almost recessed into the attachment holes. Other badges that are die
stamped or die forged, should show strong details to the obverse and reverse of
the badge.
All original Austrian assault badges were die struck, that means that a metal sheet
was stamped by a machine or a press, and any die marks or excess metal would be removed
and the edges polished to give the badge a smooth, even appearance. If you have a badge
that has an uneven rim or edge, i.e. the top is wider than the bottom or it has small
cracks, holes, or craters, it has been molded and is a copy. In molding a copy, hot metal
is poured into a mold; as the metal cools in the mold, it shrinks and creates cracks,
crevices and holes. Because of shrinkage, copies are often slightly smaller than original
badges. Also, excess metal forms a line around the edge of the badge where the edge of
the mold was. To clean excess metal from the molded badge, the copy makers employ files
and grinders, which leave marks and create a crude appearance to the edge of the badge.
Original Austrian assault badges will not have marks due to casting, grinding, or filing.
The enamel work on all original W.W.I Austrian assault badges is expertly done, with
sharp details, crisp lines, and vibrant colors. Look for sharp definition of each leaf,
letter, and logo, as well as sharp delineation of features (e.g., sharp leaf-to-leaf
elineation). The workmanship of many of the copy assault badges is poor. The enamel of
the copy badges is simply poured over the wreath, which imparts little or no definition
to the leaves of the wreath or to the logo. And sometimes the enamel has a dull appearance
in areas.
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