Spanish made Infantry Assault badges

[Chad2008]

Can anyone be kind enough to provide any information on Spanish made Infantry Assault badges? I have started collecting the IAB and can find no reference to these in the Weber book. I have seen two offered for sale in which the sellers describe them as awarded to members of the Spanish Blue Division. The examples I have seen appear to have a strange looking eagle with a long neck.

Did these badges exist or are they fantasy pieces?

Thanks,

Chad2008

[Mike TM]

Hello, they exist and are very rare. This is the one that I have, it was made in Barcelona.

regards
Mike

[Chad2008]

Thanks Mike, that is the type I have seen, very nice and thanks for sharing as I was quite unsure about them. Is it correct in saying they were issued to Blue Division troops and were they only made in bronze as I have seen three and not one silver example. Can you recommend any articles or information sources about these as I'm very interested to know more about them.

Many thanks

Chad2008

[Mike TM]

Hello, you are correct, they were issued to Blue Division troops but not only in bronce was made. I have seen on silver finish, as you can see on photo. I think is the same maker in Barcelona. I have not more information about this piece.

Regards
Mike

[Gregorio Torres]

This is the only one IAB made in Spain for Blue Division veterans. I´m not sure about where was made. Some people say in Madrid and some other in Barcelona. I don´t know for sure. It was made in the 50´s as replacement items. Hardware is silvered brass.

[Chad2008]

Thanks Greg, I did not realise these badges were issued in the 1950s, were any issued during WW2?

Thanks,

Chad2008

[Gregorio Torres]

No. These came from the early 50´s, and there aren´t any more.

[Chad2008]

Thanks Greg, how rare are these badges and how much should I expect to pay as I have been offered a nice example?

Thanks.

Mike,

[Nightwish]

Did the Spains wear this and other german awards with the swatiska post war?

[Angel Farré]

Yes, in Spain is not ilegal to wear Third Reich awards with svasticas if you are the original owner, you can see several photos from veterans wearing their Iron Crosses, IAB, LW badges with the svasticas, General Agustin Muñoz Grandes ever wore his RK with OL when visiting USA and during meetings with US generals.

Very nice piece full of history you have, congratualations.

Un saludo

Angel

[Gregorio Torres]

Mike, these badges are quite rare. Usually you have to pay for them twice the price than for an original german one.
I spend serveral years to get one like this.
Is the same for another replacement items made in Spain after the war for spanish veterans. An EKII second class maybe 180 euros if you find one, a Winter Campaing Medal 100 euros, and a KVK 2nd class 90-100 euros. The EKI is almost imposible to find, as only 350 spaniards were awarded with this reward and very few of replacement pieces were done for them.
The problem is that some of the original dies came to the hands of people who make new harvest of items, dificult to distinguish from original postwar items. On the other hand a lot of medals, crosses and badges made in Spain or even abroad for collectors after the 80´s are often sold as "replacement pieces for Blue Division veterans".
You can find a lot of them in the e-stand in the last months.
Be carefull.
Nightwish: Medals and badges from the WWII where banned in the spanish army in 1980 as "unseasonable". From the 1945 to this year you can found in the original way and in the 1957 form indistinctly on the uniform of policemen, soldiers, politicians... The spanish armshiel worn in the eastern front by the spaniards were used as traditional badge too.
Last december I was in a Militaria fair in Madrid and some little old veterans were there with their medals and swaz on the jackets.

[Chad2008]

Thanks so much chaps, some really interesting information. This has been a very interesting post especially as there appears to be no mention of these in any books, shame it was not included in the Weber book.

Mike.

[Nightwish]

I thank you all for your explanations!

[Rene Chavez]

Also big thanks for the very interesting information on Spanish made post-war awards. I would love to have one of those IABs.

Rene Chavez
www.foreignvolunteerlegion.com