Lot 321

WWII NAZI GERMAN WHISKEY FLASK CLOSE COMBAT BADGE

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WWII NAZI GERMAN WHISKEY FLASK CLOSE COMBAT BADGE

Estimate: $300 - $500

Current Bid: $150

(1 Bid)

by Milestone Auctions
August 1, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
38198 Willoughby Parkway
Willoughby, OH, US 44094

WWII Nazi German Whiskey Flask measuring 4 X 5 1/2 inches with an applied Bronze Close Combat Badge to the front. Excellent. The Close Combat Clasp (German: Nahkampfspange) was a World War II German military award instituted on 25 November 1942 for participation in hand-to-hand fighting at close quarters. Intended primarily for infantry, other Heer, Waffen-SS, Luftwaffe ground units and Fallschirmjäger (Paratroopers) were also eligible. Eligibility: The award was bestowed in three classes: Bronze for 15 close combat actions; Silver for 25 close combat actions; Gold for 50 close combat actions. Close combat actions were counted from 1 December 1942, with earlier long service on the Eastern Front counting towards the award: 15 continuous months counted as 15 combat days, 12 months as 10 days, and 8 months as 5 days. For those who had received disabling wounds, there was discretion to make the award after 10, 20, and 40 actions. As the war continued, several amendments were made to the award criteria: From 4 August 1944, only front-line actions could count towards the clasp, with rear actions against partisans reflected in the award of the Bandit-warfare Badge. From 30 August 1944, recipients of the gold clasp were normally also awarded the German Cross in gold; with silver clasp recipients receiving the Iron Cross first class, both without the need for further justification. From 8 October 1944, those awarded the gold clasp also received 21 days' special leave. The German infantry often regarded the Gold Close Combat Clasp in higher esteem than the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and Adolf Hitler reserved the right to bestow this class personally. Of the roughly 18–20 million soldiers of the German Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS, 36,400 received the Bronze Class, 9,500 the Silver Class, and 631 the Gold Class. Design and wear: The clasp was worn above the upper left uniform pocket, above any medal ribbon bar. Only one badge, the highest level received, was worn. It was die-cast and made of either tombac or later zinc. The design of all three classes was the same, with a centerpiece consisting of the eagle and swastika national emblem surmounting a crossed bayonet and hand grenade with, on each side, a spray of oak leaves, interspersed with a sunburst ray effect. The clasp was slightly curved and measured 9.7 cm by 2.6 cm. Nazi-era awards were initially banned by the post-war Federal Republic of Germany. In 1957, many World War II military decorations, including the Close Combat Clasp, were redesigned to remove the eagle and swastika, and then re-authorised for wear by qualifying veterans. Members of the Bundeswehr would wear the badge on the ribbon bar, represented by a small replica of the award on a field grey ribbon. Awards in gold were frequently presented by Adolf Hitler personally or by another high-ranking Nazi official, such as Heinrich Himmler.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $999 $25
$1,000 $1,999 $50
$2,000 $4,999 $100
$5,000 $9,999 $250
$10,000 $24,999 $500
$25,000 $49,999 $1,000
$50,000 $99,999 $2,500
$100,000 + $5,000