The Demyansk Shield
The Demyansk Shield was a German combat badge designed as a sleeve shield during World War II. In early 1942, six German divisions were encircled by the Red Army near Demyansk, southeast of Lake Ilmen. Thanks in part to massive air support, the German troops were able to hold the encirclement until relief by their own troops on April 21, 1942. In commemoration of these battles, the Demyansk Shield was established by Adolf Hitler on April 25, 1943. The award was presented by the Commander-in-Chief of the II Army Corps, General of the Infantry, Count von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt. Count von Brockendorff-Ahlefeldt was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for the fighting near Demyansk.
The design of the Demjan Shield
Elongated, curved shield made of embossed and silver-plated sheet metal (iron or zinc). At the top, the national eagle with a swastika in its claws. Below, to the right and left, are two stylized bunkers made of tree trunks. These structures were typical of the fighting at Demyansk. Below, the inscription "DENJANSK." In the main field, two crossed swords, behind them an airplane. Below, the year "1942." Dimensions approximately 51 x 92 mm.
The prerequisite for awarding the Demyansk Shield
The Demyansk Shield could be awarded to all members of the German Wehrmacht, or personnel under its command, who had honorably participated in the fighting around the encirclement. A prerequisite was at least 60 days of service in the encirclement, or a wound/frostbite sustained in the encirclement and awarded the Wound Badge . Members of the Luftwaffe with at least 50 operational flights in the combat zone were also eligible for the award.
Award numbers of the Demyansk Shield
Approximately 98.000 shields were awarded. Each recipient generally received several, with a separate shield for each uniform.
Wearing the Demyansk Shield
The Demyansk shield, like all Wehrmacht sleeve shields, was worn on the left upper arm of the uniform. The shield was backed with a cloth in the uniform color, e.g., gray-green for the Army, blue-gray for the Air Force, black for the special uniforms of tank crews, etc. This cloth backing was then sewn to the uniform itself. Wearing multiple sleeve shields, e.g., the Narvik shield , Cholm shield , Kuban shield , or Crimea shield , was possible, but special rules applied.
Value and purchase of a Demyansk shield
Due to the large variety of different versions, a value can only be determined individually. Generally, however, you can expect to pay around €250 for a single shield in good condition. However, for extensive estates, e.g., including certificates, photos of wearers, uniforms, etc., the value can reach over €1.000.
