WW2 German Third Reich 1944 Army Lorient Shield (Original)

SKU: 89

Original/Reproduction: Original

Availability: In-stock

Manufacturer: N/A

Manufacturer Year: 1944

Size / Dimensions: Measures 2" wide by 3 1/2” tall

Materials / Construction: Metal

Condition: Nint

Price: $1500.00

Seller Type: WW2C

Seller ID: KC

Return Policy: 3-day inspection and return policy on used guns and accessories.

Description

Genuine Original, German WWII Army 1944 LORIENT Sleeve Shield. Measures 2" wide by 3 1/2” tall. The front reads ‘1944 LORIENT’. It shows a German soldier with a sword in his right hand holding a shield in the left hand. It is mounted onto an OD green wool backing with a metal plate and tan paper on the reverse side for reinforcement. It is marked ‘F A D’ on the back. Stamped aluminum construction. This was to have been worn on the upper left sleeve of the uniform.

History

Lorient was a German submarine base in Brittany, which remained an isolated area of resistance following the successful American attack on the beaches of Normandy in 1944, and the liberation of the rest of the area. The troops in this area were completely cut off from the rest of the German armed forces, and they created the Badge themselves in a local fish cannery. The design of the badge was approved by the garrison's Commander, Admiral Henneke in December 1944. The design of material varies, with one version produced near the end of the war depicting a warrior with an upraised shield symbolizing the defence from an aerial attack. The badges are composed out of a variety of materials, as they were produced from whatever material was readily available. Eventually supplies ran out, and the badges could no longer be issued.