BACKGROUND: 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 armor. 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.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nicely detailed, injection molded, alloy construction clasp with a bronze washed finish. The clasp is in the form of a central, square panel with a recessed background field with an embossed national eagle with out-stretched wings, clutching a canted swastika in it’s talons, positioned above a crossed bayonet and stick grenade, flanked by four oak-leaves and dual acorns superimpose on a ribbed, horizontal outward pointing base. The clasp has a blued finished, magnetic sheet metal backing plate positioned behind the eagle, bayonet and grenade motif that is held in place by crimped, side tabs on the reverse. The reverse has a molded, integral, hinge, a broad, tapering, horizontal pin and a soldered catch on a circular base plate inset into a circular recess. The reverse is well marked with the embossed designer’s name and location, "F. E. C. W. E. Peekhaus Berlin", and the manufacturer’s embossed initials and location, "Ausf: A.G. M.u.K. Gablonz", indicating manufacture by Arbeitsgemeinschaft Metall und Kunststoff of Gablonz, (Work Study Group Metal and Plastic). Nice!