{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-heer-army-kuban-bridgehead-shield-decoration-with-fabric-back-plate-armelschild-kuban","title":"Original German WWII Heer Army Kuban Bridgehead Shield Decoration with Fabric \u0026 Back Plate - Ärmelschild Kuban","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely example of German WWII Kuban Bridgehead Shield, with a metal shield attached to field gray wool Heer (Army) cloth backing. This example definitely shows wear from service, which has worn through the bronzing on the front of the shield, though there is no major oxidation or other damage. There are stitches on the fabric surround, so it definitely looks to be uniform removed. The backing plate is intact with all four prongs present, though the paper backing is mostly gone except on the fabric, where clear stitch holes can be seen. A lovely example that would look great on any service used German WWII Heer uniform!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Kuban Shield (\u003cem\u003eÄrmelschild Kuban\u003c\/em\u003e) was a World War II military decoration of NSDAP Germany, awarded to those who fought at the Kuban bridgehead in the Soviet Union from February 1943 until it was abandoned in October 1943. The award was instituted on 21 September 1943\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe shield is designed in a similar fashion to the Crimea Shield and was struck in sheet metal or zinc and treated with a bronzed wash. It features a German eagle with outstretched wings clutching a laurel wreath with a swas. On each side the wreath are the numbers 19 and 43. Directly below the eagle is written KUBAN in block capital letters. Below this name is a stylized map of the Kuban region, with a line representing the defensive line that the men fought to preserve with the location of the bridgeheads - KRYMSKAJA, LAGUNEN, and NOWOROSSIJSK.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe shield was worn on the upper left sleeve of the tunic. A back plate, which held in place a piece of cloth matching the recipients’ branch of service, was applied to the shield:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Field Gray for Heer (army)\u003cbr\u003e- Blue for Luftwaffe (air force)\u003cbr\u003e- Black for Panzer units (armoured units)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe criteria for award of the shield to military personnel: Served in the bridgehead for 60 days; been wounded while defending the bridgehead; or Had been engaged in a single major operation at the bridgehead.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44194797453381,"sku":"ONSV2025NMS019","price":395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV2025NMS019__01.jpg?v=1765379191","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-heer-army-kuban-bridgehead-shield-decoration-with-fabric-back-plate-armelschild-kuban","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}