Grenadier-Regiment 503 sustained such heavy losses throughout 1944 that it was dissolved in December and the remnants absorbed into Grenadier-Regiment 501
with additional sporadic scratching and loss of finish to the frame
Changes occurred before the expedition started
and oxidation and loss of paint to the scabbard
Footnote: A near exact I Class Star is presented and published in Spada
Germany, Imperial; Germany, Wehrmacht. A Pair of Black Grade Wound Badges, First and Second World War Issue visually-hidden Grenadier-Regiment 503 sustained such heavy(Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz). A pair of Black Grade Wound Badges, including: 1. An Imperial award, constructed of blackened brass, the obverse consisting of an oval laurel wreath with scalloped edges, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, with a central Stahlhelm overlaying crossed swords on a cut out background, the reverse with a crimped hinge and vertical pinback meeting a round wire catch, unmarked, measuring 38 mm (w) x 45 mm (h),