German WWII Kuban Campaign Shield-Excellent example on a field gray wool backing with perfect details to the front. All prongs are intact on the reverse. The paper cover is not present. This is a gorgeous badge with a great bronze tone, that is complemented by the green wool backing. Details are excellent.
History: The Kuban Campaign Shield was instituted by Adolf Hitler on September 21st 1943 as the last official campaign shield to see production and issue during the war. The shield was designed for award to personnel, in all branches of service, who had served in the defensive battles in the Crimean Peninsula from February 1943 onward. Criteria for award of the shield dictated that personnel had to have been involved in at least one major engagement, served two months in the theatre or had been wounded in battle. The shields were originally bestowed by Knight’s Cross, Oak-leaves and Sword’s winner, Generalfeldmarschall Ewald von Kliest as the commanding officer of Army Group South Ukraine. The eagle sits atop a horizontal bar with the embossed script, "Kuban". The bottom portion of the shield features an embossed serrated defensive line with the impressed, named, locations of the major engagements, "Lagunen, Krymskaja", and "Nuworo-ssijsk".