Panzer Assault Badge in Silver 'L/18'

Panzer Assault Badge in Silver (Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber). The Panzer Assault Badge in silver was instituted by 'Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch' on '20 December 1939' for award to all ranks of tank personnel who served as a tank commander, driver, gunner or radio operator and had been involved in three different armored assaults on three different days. This is a nice early hollow tombak (Buntmetall) example which shows outstanding detail and still retains most of its original silver finish. The badge is not visible maker marked but can be attributed to production by the company of 'Otto Schickle' from Pforzheim. After the company of O. Schickle was forced out of business their left over stock was sold to other companies. The company of 'B.H. Mayer' from Pforzheim bought the left-over stock of Panzer Assault Badges and marked these badges on the pin with their 'L/18' LDO marking. Of course are the pin and catch fully functional. Nice and extremely rare 'B.H. Mayer' marked badge in very good condition!