Germany, Wehrmacht. A Close Combat Clasp, Silver Grade, by Friedrich Linden
(Nahkampfspange in Silber). With a central motif of a German mark 24 stick grenade crossed with a 98k carbine bayonet, which is surmounted by the army national emblem eagle clutching a swastika in its talons, the eagle’s wings appear to be sitting on a box created by six small oak leaves, adjacent to these oak leaves is ornate scrollwork which frames the sides of the central motif, extending outward from each side of the central motif are two ridged arrowheads, completing the design and overlying the arrowheads are two acorns and four large oak leaves sprouting out of the centre of the scrollwork on either side, the reverse plain with a banjo style pinback with a barrel hinge and a round wire catch, marked on reverse with “FEC. W.E. PEEKHAUS BERLIN” for the designer and “FLL” logo of Friedrich Linden, Lüdenscheid, measuring 25.31 mm (w) x 97.51 mm (h), weighing 33.5 g, in better than very fine condition.

