German Awards - Narvikschild for Air Force and Army

"Narvikschild" was established by decree of Adolf Hitler on 19 August 1940. The shield was awarded as a reminder to all Wehrmacht servicemen who took part in the landing in Narvik and in subsequent battles of the Narvik group and was the first Wehrmacht combat sign. Shields were made in 2 versions. The military personnel of the ground and air forces were silver, the shields for the kriegsmarine were gilded. Proposals had to be submitted for the award. The shields were granted by the commander, General Dietl. Later award provisions were fleshed out so that only fighters who were deployed in the area between 9 April and 9 June 1940 under the command of the group were considered. The author of the project is Professor Richard Klein from Munich. The shield was worn on the left forearm. The instruments were made by C. E. Junker in Berlin. For a civilian suit, pins made by Steinhauer & Luck, Lüdenscheid could be worn. The award was presented with various cloth coatings. Awards for the army are about 4920 pieces, for the Air Force - about 1300 pieces. They can also be awarded posthumously to family members. Shields made of military metal (zinc) were also made. They are painted field gray.

Elongated, below rounded pointed shield made of hollow embossed silver-plated white metal. Behind 4 flat soldered cotter pins, which were inserted through a response plate made of iron. The cloth in the army is gray-field color.

Front side:

• Shield with a raised, beveled inside edge.
• Above is a rectangle separated by a crossbar. It has a raised font:
• - NARVIK - In the closed large field below it, the following characters:
In the
• center is a crossed image of a screw and an anchor with a piece of rope.
• Anchor from top left to bottom, screw from the other side.
• Behind the anchor, an edelweiss with a stem and leaf is bent to the upper center.
• To the left of the flower is the number - 19 - to the right of it is the number - 40 -.
• At the top of the shield is a 3-part stepped pedestal. On it sits the supreme eagle.
• This one with its wings down looks to the left and holds an oak wreath in its paws.
• The wreath is tied at the bottom. In a closed field there is a standing swastika.
• The relief parts of the shield are polished.

Downside:

• Negative embossing with 4 flat cotter pins, cover plate.

Photos of www.militaria-berlin.de

Narvik Shield for Air Force and Ground Forces

Narvik Shield for Air Force and Army

Established:

August 19, 1940 Adolf Hitler

Awarded:

1940 – 1941

Data:

• Material: white silver-plated metal
• Size: 90mm x 39mm
• Weight: about 25.5g

estimated collector price:

450 - 470 € silver plated in Tombac
350 - 370 € silver plated in white metal

OEK Number:

3865