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Awards in the 43rd
All awards are given by merit. We have endeavored to stick to as close to the original German standards as possible, but we have adapted the original requirements to reenacting standards.
Iron Cross Series 
Given for accomplishments in battle. We generally try to compare events that got original participants the award. If the events on the reenacting battlefield compare, then the award is given, following procedure. Examples: Brian won the 2nd class award for knocking out an American Anti-tank gun and supporting infantry. Jay won the first class for knocking out two armored cars and recapturing two buildings in urban combat.
General Assault Badge 
Same criteria as the original. Pioniers must participate in three assaults on prepared enemy positions, all on different days.
Eastern Front Winter Campaign Ribbon 1941-2
Pioniers must attend one Eastern Front event in the winter. Snow is not required, but would be a plus.
Close Combat Clasp in Bronze 
The original required 300 hours of continuous close combat with the enemy. This is obviously impossible for reenacting, so we have adapted it to 150 hours of cummulative combat time. This is still difficult to attain. It took Jay 6 years to earn his. He got his the fastest of the three who have one.
War Merit Badge (w/o Swords) 
Given by the unit for something that the reenactor does for the group but is not related to combat. This follows historical criteria.
Tank Destruction Badge 
Knock out an enemy tank with a hand-held weapon. No one has one, yet.
Anti-Partisan Badge 
Accumulate 15 days fighting partisans. A few of us five or six. Not a great award anyway since the Russians shot a lot of the Germans they took prisoner who had this award.
Wound Badge 
Enemy action must result in real injury (ie blood has to come out.) Not an award you want to win. This is really a "We are sorry you got hurt at a reenactment. Here is an award to make you feel better" award.
German Cross/Knight's Cross
Practically unatainable. Probably no-one in the 43rd ever had one anyway. Criteria: defeat the entire enemy force more or less by yourself.
Unit Awards
We do offer one unit-specific award, the shoulder board slip-ons with the number "43" in black on them. You can get this by: attending five events (one must be a training event) and have purchased a complete uniform and equipment set which is approved by the group for authenticity.