Demyansk Shield

Demyansk Shield
Demjansk Shield
Type	Badge
Eligibility	Military personnel
Campaign(s)	World War II
Status	Obsolete
Established	25 April 1943

Demyansk Shield (Template:Lang-de) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to military personnel who fought in the Demyansk pocket. It commemorated the successful defence of Demyansk, achieved through the use of an airbridge. The pocket of German troops had been encircled and cut off by the Red Army around Demyansk (Demjansk), south of Leningrad, during World War II on the Eastern Front. It was instituted on 25 April 1943 by Adolf Hitler. It was not bestowed after 1 July 1944.

Design

The shield features at its apex an eagle with swooped down wings clutching a laurel wreath that surrounds a swastika. This is flanked by two pillboxes with gun ports. Below this is capital letters is written DEMJANSK. The central portion of shield features a head-on single engine aircraft, 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 was die struck and produced in silver-washed zinc and later in plain zinc. It was affixed to the upper left sleeve of the uniform via a cloth that matched the color of the uniform of the recipient:

• Light green-grey (field-grey) for Heer (army)
• Blue for Luftwaffe (air force)
• Black for Panzer units (armoured units)
• Field-grey for Waffen-SS

Criteria for award

Requirements for army, Waffen-SS and auxiliary units included honorable service in the besieged area for 60 days or wounded in the besieged area. For Luftwaffe personnel — 50 combat or re-supply missions over the besieged area.

See also

• Cholm Shield
• Crimea Shield
• Lappland Shield
• Kuban Shield
• Narvik Shield

References

• Ailsby, Christopher (1987). Combat Medals of the Third Reich. Harpercollins. ISBN 978-0850598223. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Angolia, John (1987). For Führer and Fatherland: Military Awards of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 0912138149. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)