Looks like this man has seen some horror, a little bit like one thousand yard stare. Note silver badge on his chest, that badge represents Infantry Assault Badge which was awarded in Silver and Bronze. This decoration was instituted on 20 December 1939 by the Commander-in-Chief of the German Army, Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch. It could be awarded to members of non-motorized Infantry units and units of the Gebirgsjäger that had participated in Infantry assaults, with light Infantry weapons, on at least three days of battle in the front line on or after 1 January 1940. When a counter offensive led to fighting, it could also apply. Award of the Infantry Assault Badge was authorized at regimental command level.

Silver was awarded to infantry soldiers according to one of the following criteria: “To have taken part in at least three: infantry assaults (including counter-attacks) or at least three armed reconnaissance operations or engaged in hand-to-hand combat in an assault position or participated on three separate days in the restitution of combat positions”. The Bronze version had similar requirements but was designated for motorized Infantry. This badge was regarded by many frontline soldiers as prestigious as an Iron Cross especially when acquired on the Eastern Front.

The German Stalingrad veterans would often break their infantry assault badges as an indication that earning the assault badge in Stalingrad was a different level of achievement than earning it somewhere else. Stalingrad battle was named “The battle to end all battles”.