Original Items: Only One Set Available. The “Afrikakorps” cuff title became an official award from the 18th July 1941. Prior to this date the various locally made black unofficial Afrikakorps cuff titles had been worn by some German soldiers from all branches of the Wehrmacht. Criteria for the award was a minimum of two months service in North Africa, before the award could be worn on the tropical blouse, or woolen greatcoat. However, many German soldiers decided to keep their titles as souvenirs and many of these titles were taken from German POW’s by allied soldiers throughout the Desert Campaign and in Tunisia.

The "Afrikakorps" cuff title was to be worn approximately 15cm from the bottom of the lower right sleeve on the tropical field blouse and the woolen tropical greatcoat. The wearing of the cuff title was permitted when wearing the field-grey tunic on leave in Europe, and on the tropical uniform in the summer months when on leave in Europe.

With the introduction of the "Afrika" campaign title on January 15th 1943 the “Afrikakorps” cuff title was ordered to be removed, but this order was probably ignored in the front line by some soldiers, as the official Afrika title was slow to be awarded and it is doubtful that large numbers of actual titles made it to Tunisia before the surrender in May 1943.

This is a great set of Deutsches Afrikakorps DAK cuff titles, representing both of the officially issued insignia. Both are definitely uniform removed, and show signs of wear from use in service. The 1941 issue AFRIKAKORPS BEVo embroidered cuff title section is 5 1/2" in length, cut just after the edges of the text. It has the correct dark green, cotton center stripe with diagonally ribbed, horizontal, bright silver aluminum flat-wire edge trim and narrow, horizontal, tan rayon borders to both the top and bottom edges. It shows staining and oxidation to the aluminum threading, and is a bit stiff, but will display beautifully.

The official 1943 AFRIKA marked Afrika Ärmelband (Africa Cuff Title) award cuff title is also about 5 1/2" in length, having been cut off just past the palm trees. It is folded over at the edges and stitched, so it may have been installed on another uniform post war, though we really don't have any way to tell what the history is. It is made from the correct tan plush material fabric, with silver piping and the correct silver gray rayon embroidery.

We often see these cuff titles looking like they spent life in a depot, so to get an set of both official types in this lovely service used condition is a real treat! Ready to display!