In a very good, unworn condition. The iron tank with all of the dark oxidised finish. Complete with the dark blue wool backing. Not marked but a known variation. See Dirk Schneider, Das Panzervernichtungsabzeichen sowie das Tieffliegervernichtungsabzeichen.
Very nice condition example.

The special badge for the single handed destruction of a tank was an award to soldiers in the German Wehrmacht during World War II. It was awarded to members of all branches of the armed forces, including members of the Luftwaffe and the Navy. The Tank Destruction Badge was established on March 9, 1942 and could be awarded retrospectively from June 22, 1941.

It consisted of rectangular aluminum threads (32 mm x 90 mm), bordered above and below by thin black fabric strips woven width about 3 mm and a centrally placed tank made of sheet metal (usually magnetic, but also non-magnetic). The tank was usually dark oxidised, but silver-plated variants are also known. Interestingly, the stylised tank does not represent an enemy model, but a German tank model IV. The tank was attached to the aluminum thread base with three prongs and a backing plate. The backing plate is usually made of zinc. The reverse is covered on the back with gas tarpaulin or various other materials.

The badge was worn by sewing it to the right sleeve at upper arm level. For each additional enemy tank destroyed or disabled, another badge was awarded and sewn on the sleeve. According to the decree of March 9, 1942, the enemy armored fighting vehicle had to be destroyed or put out of action by close combat weapons or close combat means (anti-tank rifle, rifle grenade, concentrated charge, etc.). With the decree of December 18, 1943, the Panzerfaust and Panzerschreck were also recognized as close combat weapons. Concentrated charges, mostly in the form of bundles of hand grenades, Molotov cocktails, anti-tank mines or adhesive shaped charges, were regarded as close combat means. Concentrated charges or hand grenades were thrown or placed on the tank or the track wheels and track to immobilize the tank. Hand grenades were thrown into the tank hatches to knock out a crew. The tank combatant had to climb onto the tank. Molotov cocktails, glass bottles filled with incendiary agents with a lit fuse, were thrown at the rear of the tank. The burning liquid ran through the engines ventilation slots into the engine compartment and set it on fire, which usually led to the total failure of the tank. The adhesive hollow charges were provided with magnets in order to be able to attach them to moving tanks.

In order for the soldier to get close to the armored vehicle, the accompanying infantry had to be pinned down, otherwise they would have fired on the attacking soldier. The tank to be fought had to stand still or was only allowed to move very slowly. The attack was carried out from the side or from behind, since the view from the tank through the periscopes is very limited. In addition, the attacking soldier had to hope that other tanks would not notice him during the attack, otherwise he would be exposed to possible machine gun fire. In contrast, the attack with anti-tank rifle, rifle grenade, anti-tank grenade could also be carried out from cover.

The Golden Tank Destruction Badge was instituted on December 18, 1943, the difference was in the gold coloured metal threads comprising the base material. The badge was exchanged for the four previously awarded badges, these remained in the possession of the wearer. In practice, however, five silver badges were often worn instead of one gold one, as there were often not enough gold badges available, five silver badges were also more impressive than a single gold one.

The tank destruction badges were produced by several manufacturers, there were minor differences in the design of the badges. Since there was initially a lack of tank destruction badges among front-line troops, provisional badges made by soldiers themselves were also awarded or worn.

Günther Viezenz (7th Grenadier Regiment) received the most Panzer Destruction Badges with a total of 21 badges, Friedrich Anding (Clausewitz Division) with 18 badges and Willi Frey with 12 badges. Walter Kuhn (Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1) received four tank destroyer badges for destroying four tanks in a single day. The bearers of the badge were referred to as tank crackers and enjoyed a high reputation among the German public.

According to Generaloberst Heinz Guderian, around 10,000 Panzer Destruction Badges were awarded by May 1944. By the end of the war there were around 14,000 badges. Since no swastika or other forbidden symbols were shown on the tank destruction badge, it could continue to be worn after 1945 and also enjoyed a high reputation in the Bundeswehr.

The iron based tank in a very good condition with practically all of the dark oxidised finish still present. Complete with all three prongs and backing plate.
The silver wire base also in good condition.

Iron based tank on silver metal thread backing and in a very good, unworn condition. The tank with all of the dark oxidised finish. Complete with all three prongs, backing plate and the typical blue felt type backing cloth type backing cloth.
Not marked but a known variation.
Difficult to find award.

Iron based tank on metal thread backing and in a very good, unworn condition. The tank with all of the dark oxidised finish. Complete with all three prongs, backing plate and the typical „gas cape“ type backing cloth.
Not marked but a known variation.
Difficult to find award.

In a very good, unworn condition. The magnetic tank with practically all of the dark oxidised finish. The silver braid undamaged. Complete with all three prongs, backing plate and typical light grey cloth backing.
Not marked but a known variation.
Getting difficult to find.

In a good, unworn condition. The magnetic tank with practically all of the dark finish. Complete with all three prongs, backing plate and typical „gas cape“ covering.

Iron based tank on metal wire threads and in a very good, unworn condition. The tank with all of the dark oxidised finish and complete with all three prongs, metal backing plate and typical grey felt type cloth covering.
Not marked but a known variation.

In a very good, unworn condition. The Iron based tank with practically all of the dark oxidised finish. Complete with all three prongs, backing plate and typical cloth covering. The aluminium threads without damage.
Not marked but a known variation.

Iron based tank on metal wire threads and in a very good, unworn condition. The tank with all of TBE dark oxidised finish and complete with all three prongs, metal backing plate and typical „gas cape“ type cloth covering.
Not marked but a known variation.

In a very good, unworn condition. The magnetic tank with all of the dark oxidised finish. Complete with all three prongs, backing plate and typical „gas cape“ covering cloth.
Not marked but a known variation.
Nice example.