Original German Third Reich Krim Shield Badge 1941-1942 W/Maker Marks
SKU: 94
Original/Reproduction: Original
Availability: In-stock
Manufacturer: N/A
Manufacturer Year: 1941/1942
Size / Dimensions: 52 mm (w) x 62 mm (h).
Materials / Construction: Constructed in pressed steel, magnetic, with a bronze finish
Condition: Excellent
Price: $190.00
Seller Type: WW2C
Seller ID: JMW
Code: 90
Return Policy: 3-day inspection and return policy on used guns and accessories.
Description
An original Krim Campaign Shield Heer, constructed in pressed steel, magnetic, with a bronze finish. The obverse consists of a raised map of Crimea and southern Ukraine, topped by a Wehrmacht-style German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, flanked by dates “1941-1942”, affixed to a field-grey wool patch. The reverse is complete with field-grey wollen backing; measuring 52 mm (w) x 62 mm (h).
History
The Krim Shield was a combat award of the German Wehrmacht, used to recognize the troops who fought on the Crimean Peninsula, on the Eastern Front, between September 21, 1941, and July 4, 1942. Crimea had been taken by the German Army Group South, specifically the 11th Army led by Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein. The shield was officially instituted by Adolf Hitler on July 25, 1942, by a proclamation stating that the award would recognize the “heroic battles” in Crimea. The shield depicts a German national eagle and swastika emblem as well as a map of Crimea, along with the word “Krim” and the dates 1941 and 1942. It was worn on the left upper sleeve of the uniform. To qualify for the award, soldiers had to have participated on one of eight specific battles that were a part of the campaign, to have been wounded in action, or to have served 3 months, without interruption, in the Crimea region. Members of all branches of the Wehrmacht, including the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine, were eligible for the award. The shield was made from steel, and later from zinc, and was issued affixed to a backing cloth that allowed it to be stitched to the uniform. Between 200,000 and 300,000 shield were awarded.
