WW2 German Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe - 75 Actions

The Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe (German: Erdkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to Luftwaffe personnel for achievement in ground combat. It was instituted on 31 March 1942 by the commander-in-chief (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe) Hermann Göring.

                         Award criteria.

The general criteria for its presentation was the participation in three separate combat operations on separate days. Luftwaffe soldiers who had already been awarded medals or orders of the Heer such as Assault Badge or the Infantry Assault Badge, were required to exchange their badges for the Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe.

                             Grades.

As the war progressed it became necessary to further distinguish those soldiers who had already exceeded the awarding criteria. To accomplish this distinction four numbered grades were introduced on 10 November 1944 based on the number of combat operations.

• 2nd grade (II. Stufe) for 25 eligible operations
• 3rd grade (III. Stufe) for 50 eligible operations
• 4th grade (IV. Stufe) for 75 eligible operations
• 5th grade (V. Stufe) for 100 eligible operation

• Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe Erdkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe
  5th grade of the Ground Assault Badge
  Awarded by Nazi Germany
  Type	Badge
  Eligibility	Military personnel of the Luftwaffe
  Awarded for	achievement in ground combat
  Campaign	World War II
  Status	Obsolete
  Statistics
  Established	31 March 1942
  Soldier wearing the Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe on the left side of the uniform.