Narvik Shield
Encyclopedia
Narvik Shield is a German military award instituted on August 19, 1940, and authorized for all German forces that took part in the battles of Narvik
between April 9 and June 9 of the same year. The shield was worn on the left arm of the uniform as described above. Each recipient was presented with 3 copies, and had the ability to purchase additional copies by producing the award document. The award was hollow backed and stamped from sheet metal which was usually zinc, although a few early examples were made in brass. The shield was awarded in three versions, two silver versions and a gold version. Each version was issued on cloth backing for attachment to the uniform. The gold tinted shield was issued to members of the Kriegsmarine
. The Kriegsmarine shield was issued on blue cloth backing. The two remaining versions of the Narvik Shield were for issue to members of the Luftwaffe
and Heer
. The Luftwaffe and Heer version were both silver, with the Luftwaffe version being issued on gray-blue cloth backing and the Heer version on field-gray cloth backing. Other than color and cloth backing, all three designs of the shield were exactly alike.
The shield was worn on the upper left sleeve of the service, walking-out dress and guard uniforms of the respective arm of service of the individual. It was attached to the uniform using the cloth backing issued with each shield, but if the cloth backing was missing or not issued, it was attached to the upper left sleeve by a set of four prongs on the back of the shield. If a second shield was awarded to an individual, both shields could be worn, one above another separated by 5 mm of space.
The first award was made to Generaloberst Eduard Dietl
by Hitler on March 21, 1941, then a total of 8,577 shields were presented like that:
symbol of the Third Reich. The regulations remained basically the same, with the only difference being that now junior NCO
's and privates were allowed to wear the shield on their white shirts and dress jackets.
Battles of Narvik
The Battles of Narvik were fought from 9 April-8 June 1940 as a naval battle in the Ofotfjord and as a land battle in the mountains surrounding the north Norwegian city of Narvik as part of the Norwegian Campaign of the Second World War....
between April 9 and June 9 of the same year. The shield was worn on the left arm of the uniform as described above. Each recipient was presented with 3 copies, and had the ability to purchase additional copies by producing the award document. The award was hollow backed and stamped from sheet metal which was usually zinc, although a few early examples were made in brass. The shield was awarded in three versions, two silver versions and a gold version. Each version was issued on cloth backing for attachment to the uniform. The gold tinted shield was issued to members of the Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
. The Kriegsmarine shield was issued on blue cloth backing. The two remaining versions of the Narvik Shield were for issue to members of the 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....
and Heer
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
. The Luftwaffe and Heer version were both silver, with the Luftwaffe version being issued on gray-blue cloth backing and the Heer version on field-gray cloth backing. Other than color and cloth backing, all three designs of the shield were exactly alike.
The shield was worn on the upper left sleeve of the service, walking-out dress and guard uniforms of the respective arm of service of the individual. It was attached to the uniform using the cloth backing issued with each shield, but if the cloth backing was missing or not issued, it was attached to the upper left sleeve by a set of four prongs on the back of the shield. If a second shield was awarded to an individual, both shields could be worn, one above another separated by 5 mm of space.
The first award was made to Generaloberst Eduard Dietl
Eduard Dietl
Eduard Dietl was a German general of World War II. He was born in Bad Aibling, Bavaria. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
by Hitler on March 21, 1941, then a total of 8,577 shields were presented like that:
- Heer: total 2,755 (posthumous - 96);
- Luftwaffe: total 2,161 (flying crew – 1,309, paratroopers - 756, posthumous – 410);
- Kriegsmarine: 3,661 (destroyer crews - 2,672, other – 115, posthumous – 410), merchant navy - 442 (posthumous - 22).
Narvik Shield 1957
In 1957, the Narvik Shield, along with many other German military decorations of World War II, was reauthorized for wear by qualifying veterans. The new version was without the eagle and swastikaSwastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
symbol of the Third Reich. The regulations remained basically the same, with the only difference being that now junior NCO
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
's and privates were allowed to wear the shield on their white shirts and dress jackets.