The badge could be awarded to all members of the Air Force for outstanding combat performance in ground combat. To be awarded, they had to have bravely participated in at least three front-line combat operations conducted on separate days. Combat operations, regardless of whether they were conducted with infantry or artillery weapons, included assaults or close combat.

An assault was defined as an attack that resulted in at least a breakthrough into the enemy position. Close combat was defined as combat in which the fighter could see "the whites of the enemy's eye," meaning that he had been in close combat with the enemy using close-quarters weapons. Mere participation in successful combat operations or meritorious command of troops was not sufficient for the award of the Ground Combat Badge.

A special case was the award to Luftwaffe medical personnel. Here, too, participation in three days of combat was required. The recipient had to have demonstrated exceptional skill in the care and rescue of wounded and injured, even under enemy fire. Posthumous awards were possible from February 22, 1943, but honorary awards were expressly excluded.

On November 10, 1944, the award conditions were expanded for the last time. For repeated fulfillment of the award requirements, i.e., participation in more than the required three days of combat, higher levels of the badge with operational numbers were introduced. The 2nd level was to be awarded for participation in 25 days of combat, the 3rd level for participation in 50 days of combat, the 4th level for participation in 75 days of combat, and the 5th level for participation in 100 days of combat.

It is highly doubtful whether any awards were made until the end of the war, but the badges were certainly no longer produced. All such badges are modern forgeries.