German WWII (Crimean) Krim Army/SS Campaign Shield-This is a near excellent example with a zinc base and the bronze finish intact and toned. This example is still mounted on the green wool backing. This wool backing is in very good condition. The paper backing is missing, but this is not a liability. This has the back plate, r as well as all four prongs. This is in very good condition and is quite nice looking.
History: The Crimean Campaign shield was instituted on July 25th, 1942, as the third official campaign shield for award to all Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces), personnel who had been engaged in combat, were wounded or served three months in the Crimean Peninsula campaign between September 21st, 1941, and July 21st, 1942. The shields were bestowed to eligible personnel by the area commander Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein and were to be worn on the upper left sleeve of the uniform. The color of the backing material was to match that of the uniform it was to be worn on. The shields were only issued in bronze although Hitler awarded Generalfeldmarschall von Manstein with a gilt version of the shield and another gilt shield was awarded to Romanian Marshal Ion Victor Antonescu. The award contains a stylized, map of the Crimean Peninsula with the embossed dates, "1941-1942", and the impressed location, "Krim".