Anti Partisan badge in bronze
(Bandenkampfabzeichen in bronze).
Sorry for the long text below but we did a lot of research and thought why not share all that we know.
This type of APB is divided in Type 1 and Type 2. The type 1 was only manufactured for a very short period of time, maybe just some weeks, the the tool for making them cracked and was repaired. Badges made after that are called type 2.
This is the type 2 version which is easy to tell from the die flaws on the back. You have one line just left to the hinge and one line in the middle from left to right. So this come from the tool and there is nothing wrong with the actual badge, all type 2 look like this.
The APB was designed and put in production January 30th 1944 and the first manufacturer was the Juncker company. In late 1944 their factory was completely destroyed but the demand for badges was still there. Most likely Steinhauer & Luck, R.K and Souval made them until the end of the war.
There was a lof of anti partisan warfare on the southern front so it's logical that a company like Souval(located in Austria from were they could easily supply the troops) got a request to produce these.
So it's more than likely that Souval produced these badges from around Feb-March 1945 to the end of the war just some time later.
This type of badge exist in direct vet groupings, ground dugs etc and the hardware correspond to wartime Souval produced parts.
These are overall very rare with just around 50-100 pcs known to exist. Not to be confused with later produced flatback versions.
This type of badge is shown for example in the German combat awards database and the book
From what we understand the Bronze version is the hardest to find from this maker.
Roughly 58,9 mm x 49,2 mm.
Excellent condition. Very nice toned bronze wash.
Working hardware.
