The Close Combat Clasp

As WWll progressed, changes were made in decorations to recognize continued accomplishments. In the case of the Panzer Assault and General Assault Badges, the designs of the basic badges were modified and issued with the numerals; 25, 50, 75 and 100, located in boxes at the bottom of the badges. This approach was not used in the case of the Infantry Assault Badge.

The Close Combat Clasp (CCC) or "Nahkampfspange" was instituted in late 1942 to rectify the situation. The CCC's in bronze, silver and gold were awarded for 15, 30 and 50 days of close combat respeetivcly. Other criteria were also applied to determine eligibility as well. Although designed to rceognize the infantryman's accomplishments, some were issued to soldiers in other combat branches.

The design of the CCC was actually the same for all three grades, varying in color only. Interestingly, thc designer, Peekhaus, used part of his design for the General Assault Badge on the CCC, that is the crossed bayonet and Stick grenade, Fig. AI.

The following observations are based upon CCCs in my collection. The CCC in Fig. A2 has the maker's mark "F&BL" in bronze, silver and gold. In each case the maker's mark is positioned upside- down above the catch, Fig. A3 is a badge by "OWL" - Oerb. Wegerhoff in Ludenscheid. The CCCs in Figure A are all in gold.

Fig. Bl is a "JUNCKER" clasp in bronze. On the left is the CCC designer "FEC. W.E. PEEKHAUS, BERLIN" and on the right is the manufacturer "USF.C.E.JUNCKER, BERLIN". In Fig. B2 the clasp is in silver by "JFS" - Josef Feix Sohne, with credit to the designer on the left. I have the same manufacturer's clasp in bronze, but the "JFS" is on the left and the designer is on the right. The "FLL" clasp in silver - Frederich Linden in Ludenscheid . Fig. B3, is missing its black backing plate. This is commonly encountered when there is only a simple side crimp to hold the plate in place. If a more substantial crimp is used as in Fig. B2 or C2, the backing plate is rarely missing.

Two types of pins are found on CCCs. While both are wide, tapering from the middle towards each end, one type is flat, Fig. B3, and the other type has fluted edges with a raised, rounded center, Fig. B4. The clasp in Fig. B4 is in silver and unmarked. I also have one in bronze, unmarked, in its original cellophane package. Some within the hobby don't like clasps that are unmarked. My feeling is since I've encountered numerous examples of other Army badges that are unmarked, why not unmarked CCCs ! The two I have are properly made, well detailed, quality badges.

The clasp in Fig. C1 is marked both "L/53" and "H.&.C.L.". This Hymmen & Co. in Ludenscheid badge is the only CCC I've encountered that has both a maker's mark and an LDO number. Unfortunately, someone "de-Nazified" this clasp by hammering flat the eagle and swastika. In Fig. C2 and C3, the clasps are made by the same manufacturer - Arbeitsgemeinschaft Metall und Kundtstoff in Goblonz - the difference being the larger lettering in example C2 in comparison with C3. They both can be found either with a flat or fluted pin. Note the four crimp points for the backing plate, ensuring that the plate stays in place. Also note that all marked CCCs I've examined have had lettering/numbering "raised" above the back surface of the badge.

The close combat badge is a handsome, distininctive decoration. Perhaps due to its being introduced late in the war, the finishes of the clasps have a tendency to drop off or oxidize. If you encounter a profusely marked CCC that bends, with a loosely hinged pin, congratulations, you found one of the early 1970's reproductions.

Tim Curley, "Close Combat Clasps - Some Observations", Der Gauleiter, 1993