Demyansk Shield

The Ärmelschild Demyansk is a military decoration of the Second World War. He was endowed on 25 April 1943 and awarded to about 100,000 German participants of the battle of encirclement Demyansk.

The foundation of the award a year after the battle was part of a campaign by Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda struggles for Demyansk as " mythical epic " staged to distract from the German defeat at Stalingrad.

The size of the shield, which was worn on the left sleeve, was 51 x 92 mm.

The Demjanskschild could be awarded to all members of the Wehrmacht and the Wehrmacht subordinates who had participated in the fighting in Demyansk pocket. So soldiers who at least 2 months were in use in the boiler or the Wound Badge were awarded for local injury it received. Pilots who had performed at least 50 flights in the boiler, were also awarded the label. Under the leadership of the commander of the group Demyansk and general of infantry, Count Brockdorff- Ahlefeld, the shields were awarded.

According to the law on titles, medals and decorations of 26 July 1957, the wearing of the award in the Federal Republic of Germany is only permitted without Nazi emblems.