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WWII GERMAN SHIELD - NARVIK -
The Narvik Shield was issued on August 19th 1940. Adolf Hitler wanted to create
a series of shields to be awarded to soldiers who participated in different battles.
To this end he commissioned professor Richard Klein (Munich) to design the first of
such shields; the Narvik shield.
This award was given to soldiers from all branches who participated in the campaign
around the Narvik region by Norway. The campaign took place between April 9th and
June 9th of 1940.
The badge consisted of an elongated shield attached to a piece of wool cloth. The color of the cloth
was important in determining the branch of service to which the award was given. The shield has four
prongs that attach it to the section of cloth. The award was sewn to the left sleeve of the uniform.
An eagle rests atop the shield. The wings are retracted. The head is facing left. The eagle is
clutching a swastika surrounded by a wreath. The word "Narvik" is written in large font just below.
The center of the shield has a propellor and an anchor crossing each other. An edelweiss flower is
placed just above the intersection. The date 1940 is written, where "19" is displayed to the left of
the flower and "40" is written to the right.
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This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII German badges and awards. Multiple
detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined points
that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII German badge worth?". A price
guide is included here to address this question. The value of the badges and awards is reviewed
over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth of the German
badges in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military
antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
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This award is currently being reproduced in fairly large numbers in India and
Pakistan. Some of the former Eastern European countries are also manufacturing this item.
The collector must pay close attention to the materials and
construction techniques
employed in creating the award in order to be able to distinguish an authentic badge from a reproduction.
If you have an interest is seeing other badges and awards of the Third Reich, you can do so by going
to our WWII German Badges and Awards
identification guide. Where we cover Heer (Army), Navy (Kriegsmarine) and
Air Force (Luftwaffe) items.
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