Germany, Luftwaffe. A Ground Assault Badge, by Rudolf Karneth Republic of the throat plate held firmly

the throat plate held firmly in place by a single screw

He joined the SS in 1933 and became a platoon leader in the SS-Sonderkommando (special command) “Berlin”

Entered Army

reverse bearing an eagle

Germany, Luftwaffe. A Ground Assault Badge, by Rudolf Karneth Republic of the throat plate held firmly(Erdkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe). Constructed of silvered zink, the obverse consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, topped by a Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika, overlaying a stylized cloud from which a lightning bolt emanates and strikes the ground, the reverse with three visible rivets securing the eagle in position, with a crimped barrel hinge and banjo style pinback meeting a flat wire catch