Crimea Shield

Crimea Shield
Krimschild
Krim shield with green backing for award to Heer soldiers
Awarded by Nazi Germany
Type Badge
Eligibility Military personnel
Awarded for Active service during the Crimea campaign
Campaign(s) World War II
Status Obsolete
Statistics
Established 25 July 1942
Last awarded October 1943
Total awarded approximately 250,000

Correct wearing of the Crimea Shield on the tunic of Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein (right).

The Crimea Shield (German: Krimschild) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to military personnel under the command of Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein who fought against Soviet Red Army forces and captured the Crimea region (Krim in German) between 21 September 1941 and 4 July 1942. It was instituted on 25 July 1942.[1] It was the most widely distributed of the various German shields with approximately 250,000 being awarded.

Design

The Wehrmacht's Army Group South advanced through the Crimean peninsula between the Autumn of 1941 and Summer of 1942. To commemorate the hostilities that ended with the German capture of Sevastopol on 4 July 1942 the Crimea Shield was created for all members of the armed forces under area commander Field Marshal Erich von Manstein.[1]

The shield is headed by the German eagle clutching a laurel wreath surrounding a swastika. Flanking the eagle are the dates 1941 and 1942, which represent the start and end dates of the campaign. This sits on the backdrop of the Crimean peninsula, where the fighting took place, which has the word KRIM stamped across it.[1][2]

Criteria for award

The Crimea Shield could be awarded to all members of the Wehrmacht and to Luftwaffe and other units affiliated to the campaign between 21 September 1941 and 4 July 1942. The following conditions needed to have been met for the award:[1][2]

  • Served in the area for at least 90 days; or
  • Been wounded while serving in the area; or
  • Had been engaged in at least one major operation against the enemy

Romanian troops serving in the Crimea were also eligible for the award.[3]

Gold version

A special pure-gold version of the Crimea Shield was also produced. It was first bestowed upon Marshal Ion Antonescu, the military dictator of Romania, at the end of the Siege of Sevastopol (3 July 1942). It was awarded to him in Bucharest by Erich von Manstein, on Adolf Hitler's behalf. The second and last Golden Krimschild was awarded to von Manstein himself, on 24 November 1942.[2][4][5][6]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Angolia 1987, p. 280.
  2. 1 2 3 Ailsby 1987, p. 98.
  3. ↑ Gordon Williamson, World War II German Battle Insignia, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2012, p. 19
  4. ↑ Gordon Williamson, World War II German Battle Insignia, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2012, p. 19
  5. ↑ David Schranck, Thunder at Prokhorovka: A Combat History of Operation Citadel, Kursk, July 1943, Helion and Company, 2014, p. 25
  6. ↑ Adolf Hitler, Max Domarus, Speeches and proclamations, 1932-1945, Bolchazy-Carducci, 2004, p. 2799

References

  • Ailsby, Christopher (1987). Combat Medals of the Third Reich. Harpercollins. ISBN 978-0850598223.
  • Angolia, John (1987). For Führer and Fatherland: Military Awards of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 0912138149.
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