numbered GABs

[paddywhack]

just wondering how many numbered GABs were issued during the war? and are they actuly THAT rare!!!cos there were alot of men in service in the HEER so to be in 25 infantry action would seem to be quiet common!! the numbered PABs i can understand!so what you guys reckon? so are they realy THAT rare???should be intresting!!

[Jeff V]

Hi Paddy, keep in mind that the most of the infantry were awarded the ccc rather than the numbered GAB. I don't think these badges are rare except for the 75 and 100. Very few pictures of those grades being worn exist.
As far as the 25 and 50 goes they are uncommon IMO, not rare. I have not seen any numbers on how many were awarded. I would guess as the number of assaults grew so did the odds that soldier would be killed. best wishes,
jeff

[bodes]

Hi Paddy, keep in mind that the most of the infantry were awarded the ccc rather than the numbered GAB. I don't think these badges are rare except for the 75 and 100. Very few pictures of those grades being worn exist.
As far as the 25 and 50 goes they are uncommon IMO, not rare. I have not seen any numbers on how many were awarded. I would guess as the number of assaults grew so did the odds that soldier would be killed. best wishes,
jeff

Not to mention the time period in which the numbered GAB's came into being....I believe it was mid '43.....The German High Command wanted new medals to award the soldiers who had long battle records.....So, to be fair the numbered GAB's had less than 2 years manufacturing time.....Bodes

[Panzer Rob]

I agree with Jeff and Bodes. Think about how the odds of survival stacked up against you once you start hitting 75, 80+ combat engagments I think these numbered GAB's are among some of the most overlooked and unrecognized awards of the entire 3rd Reich.

I would love to see some Soldbuch entries for numbered GAB's

A numbered GAB entry Soldbuch is near the very top of my "wanted" list

Rob

[paddywhack]

thats fair enough but with the ccc wernt they supposed to be awarded for unarmed combat!!!!but wouldnt there have been afair amount of soldiers who by 43 had at least 25 actions under there belts!!

[bodes]

thats fair enough but with the ccc wernt they supposed to be awarded for unarmed combat!!!!but wouldnt there have been afair amount of soldiers who by 43 had at least 25 actions under there belts!!

Paddywhack, That's a fair assessment but one has to realize the attrition rate the Third Reich experienced.......They lost 1 million men the first year in Russia.....They suffered 5,000/wk fighting to capture Stalingrad.....Than lost another 250,000 when they were cut off in Stalingrad in1943....Not to mention those lost in North Africa.....The CCC was awarded for number of close combat engagements......I believe they classified this as engagements lacking armoured support.....Bodes

[Jeff V]

Unarmed combat for the ccc? That is false. The people that earned this award won it during the most vicious and personal combat.
If you read Leon Degrelle's book "Campaign in Russia" he mentions that out of the initial group that he fought with of 800 men only 3 survived the war, with nine wounds between them! Many brave and decorated men perished when the law of averages caught up with them. Whole divisions were wiped out several times over. best wishes,
jeff

[Don D.]

When these awards were established credit was grandfathered based upon campaign time also so I think quite a few of the 25's were handed out in the initial blast, the same as bronze ccc's.

[paddywhack]

i still think personly that alot of soldiers would have been ellagable(??) for it! plus were they awarded postumasly(damn can never spell that word!!)??