Demyansk Shield
Encyclopedia
Demyansk Shield is a German military award instituted on April 25, 1943 to commemorate troops who fought in the Demyansk pocket
. Requirements for Heer
and auxiliary units included honorable service in the besieged area for 60 days or wound or frost-bite in the besieged area, for Luftwaffe
— 50 combat or supply missions over the besieged and surrounding area. The shield was die struck and produced in silver washed zinc and later in plain zinc. Two variations of the aircraft's propeller under the swords exist, as some shields show it curved while others show it straight.
The shield was authorized by Adolf Hitler
and was to be worn on the upper sleeve of the left shoulder of uniform. For civil clothes the version of a pin-like shield has been stipulated. The award ceased to be presented on April 1 or July 4, 1944. Each recipient was entitled to five copies of the shield, and in case of death, a single shield and an entitlement certificate was presented to the next of kin. It's estimated that over 100,000 Demyansk shields were presented.
Demyansk Pocket
The Demyansk Pocket was the name given for the encirclement of German troops by the Red Army around Demyansk , south of Leningrad, during World War II on the Eastern Front. The pocket existed mainly from 8 February-21 April 1942. A much smaller pocket was simultaneously surrounded in Kholm, about ...
. Requirements for Heer
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
and auxiliary units included honorable service in the besieged area for 60 days or wound or frost-bite in the besieged area, for Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
— 50 combat or supply missions over the besieged and surrounding area. The shield was die struck and produced in silver washed zinc and later in plain zinc. Two variations of the aircraft's propeller under the swords exist, as some shields show it curved while others show it straight.
The shield was authorized by Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
and was to be worn on the upper sleeve of the left shoulder of uniform. For civil clothes the version of a pin-like shield has been stipulated. The award ceased to be presented on April 1 or July 4, 1944. Each recipient was entitled to five copies of the shield, and in case of death, a single shield and an entitlement certificate was presented to the next of kin. It's estimated that over 100,000 Demyansk shields were presented.