Demjanskschild, 1957 version, kein Hakenkreuz

Demyansk Shield (german: Ärmelschild Demjansk) was a

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

military decoration awarded to

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the '' Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previo ...

personnel who fought in the Demyansk pocket on the Eastern Front in the early months of 1942. The

pocket A pocket is a bag- or envelope-like receptacle either fastened to or inserted in an article of clothing to hold small items. Pockets are also attached to luggage, backpacks, and similar items. In older usage, a pocket was a separate small bag ...

of German troops had been encircled and cut off by the

Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Russian language, Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist R ...

around Demyansk (Demjansk), south of

Leningrad Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

, and was successfully defended with the aid of an airbridge. The shield was instituted on 25 April 1943 by

Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Germany from 1933 until his death in 1945. He rose to power as the leader of the Nazi Party, becoming the chancellor in 1933 and the ...

and was not bestowed after 1 July 1944.

Design

The shield was die-struck and produced in silver-washed zinc and later in plain zinc. It features at its apex an eagle with swooped down wings clutching a laurel wreath that surrounds a swastika. This is flanked by two log pillboxes with gun ports, with "DEMJANSK" in capitals below. The central portion of the shield features a head-on single engine aircraft behind two crossed swords and, at the base, the year "1942". Two minor variations of the aircraft's propeller exist with either a curved or straight propeller. The shield measures 51mm wide and 92mm in height. It was affixed to the upper left sleeve of the uniform via a cloth that matched the colour of the uniform of the recipient: * Light green-grey (field-grey) for Heer (army) * Blue for

Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German '' Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the '' Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabt ...

(air force) * Black for Panzer (armoured) units * Field-grey for

Waffen-SS The (, "Armed SS") was the combat branch of the Nazi Party's ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) organisation. Its formations included men from Nazi Germany, along with Waffen-SS foreign volunteers and conscripts, volunteers and conscripts from both occup ...

Where the recipient received more than one campaign shield, the earlier was worn above any later awards. After an initial ban, the

Federal Republic of Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated between ...

re-authorised the wear of many World War II military decorations in 1957. These included the Demyansk Shield, re-designed by removing the eagle and swastika emblem at the top of the badge. Members of the

Bundeswehr The ''Bundeswehr'' (, meaning literally: ''Federal Defence'') is the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. The ''Bundeswehr'' is divided into a military part (armed forces or ''Streitkräfte'') and a civil part, the military part con ...

could wear the shield on the ribbon bar, represented by a small replica of the award on a field grey ribbon.

Criteria for award

The qualifying period was 8 February to 21 April 1942. The requirement for ground units was honourable service in the besieged area for 60 days, or a shorter period if wounded.

personnel required 50 combat or re-supply missions over the besieged area. Approximately 100,000 service personnel qualified for the shield, with up to five examples issued to each recipient, enabling them to be permanently attached to each tunic and greatcoat.

Notes

References

* * * * * {{Subject bar , portal1=Military of Germany , portal2=World War II Awards established in 1943 Military awards and decorations of Nazi Germany 1943 establishments in Germany German campaign medals

Design

Criteria for award

See also

Notes

References