Narvik Shield Instituted on the 19th of August 1940.  Authorized for all German forces that took part in the conquest and subsequent defense of the port city of Narvik during the Norway Campaign. Cholm Shield The Cholm Shield was instituted on 1st July 1942 and was to reward all who where honorably involved in the battle of Cholm.  It is the rarest among officially instituted campaign shields. Krim ShieldThe Krim Shield was instituted on July 7th, 1942, and was to commemorate the German advance into the Crimea led by General von Maintein. Kuban Shield The Kuban Shield was instituted on the 21st of September 1943, to honor those who were fighting to preserve the bridgeheads in the Kuban region. Demjansk Shield The Demjansk Shield was instituted on April 25th, 1943, to commemorate those troops who fought in the Demjansk pocket during 1942. Unofficial/PrototypeThe shields covered in this section may be divided into four subcategories; officially instituted but never mass produced shields, unofficially produced shields, prototypes, and fantasy shields. Campaign Awards Index

By Sebastián Bianchi

The use of shields to commemorate a battle was not unprecedented in German Military history.  While method is very appealing, it is somewhat limiting since there is a finite number of shields a soldier may wear.  These shields were worn permanently on the upper left sleeve of the service or dress uniform, and in the same place in an overcoat.  A soldier could be presented with more than one shield, and when this took place, the second shield was to be worn 5mm below the first one. 

During World War II there were officially instituted and presented shields, officially instituted but never produced shield, and toward the end of the war shields that were unofficially created by troops, usually under siege.  These pages focus on officially instituted/produced shields, but unofficial/prototypes and shields that were not mass produced are briefly covered in the section bearing that name.  Keep in mind that these prototypes and unofficial shields are extremely rare, and very difficult if not impossible to authenticate as a collectors item.  The menu to the right will guide you to pages dealing with Third Reich shields, and the battles that inspired them.

  

Top of Page