Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Luftwaffe Grade I Marksmanship Lanyard, or Schützenschnur, an award worn by enlisted men and NCOs who demonstrated proficiency in military marksmanship.

The lanyard is constructed of tightly braided blue-gray cord interwoven with silver-colored aluminum thread in the characteristic repeating chevron pattern. At the upper end is the distinctive Luftwaffe award badge, consisting of an oval oak-leaf wreath surrounding the Luftwaffe eagle and swas. The badge retains the darker oxidized appearance associated with the lower grades of the award.

Importantly, there are no additional acorn devices present, identifying this as the Grade I configuration. Period Luftwaffe lanyards of Grades II through IV added one, two, or three dark-finished acorns respectively, while the higher groups used brighter silver or gold-colored insignia.

Both woven attachment loops remain present, allowing the original method of suspension from the uniform to be clearly seen.

The lanyard remains complete and displays particularly attractive age and service wear. The substantial braided body is intact, with the contrasting silver-colored threads still clearly visible throughout. There is expected darkening, oxidation, surface wear, and some localized loosening and fraying to the cord, particularly around the badge attachment and terminal areas.

The Luftwaffe badge remains firmly associated with the lanyard and retains strong detail to the eagle, oak leaves, acorns, and swas., withoxidation and brighter wear to the raised portions. The reverse shows substantial deterioration and loss to the original backing material, with aged remnants still present. The silver-wrapped knots and both end loops also exhibit wear consistent with age and use.

Despite these condition issues, this is a very presentable and substantially complete example, with the important badge, braided body, terminal knots, and both attachment loops surviving.

The German military had a long tradition of recognizing exceptional shooting ability, and the Schützenschnur, or marksmanship lanyard, represented the continuation of that practice into the Luftwaffe. Before the Luftwaffe adopted its own lanyard, qualified air-force personnel initially used an older system of shooting-proficiency sleeve stripes derived from Reichswehr practice. The German Army replaced those sleeve awards with a braided marksmanship lanyard in 1936, and the Luftwaffe followed shortly afterward, formally introducing its own Schützenschnur on September 30, 1936.

Marksmanship remained an important element of military training even within the Luftwaffe, whose personnel included large numbers of ground troops, guards, antiaircraft crews, airfield personnel, and other enlisted specialists expected to maintain proficiency with small arms and, depending upon assignment, heavier weapons. The lanyard provided a visible means of recognizing men who had met the prescribed shooting standards and distinguished themselves through weapons proficiency. Similar German marksmanship awards could be earned for proficiency with rifles, machine guns, and other service weapons.

The Luftwaffe system consisted of twelve ascending grades, with Grade I representing the first level of qualification and Grade XII the highest. The grades were distinguished through changes in the color and construction of the cord and badge, together with the addition of acorn-shaped devices for repeated or higher achievement. Grades I through IV used the blue-gray cord with silver-colored highlights and a darker, oxidized Luftwaffe badge. Grade I, as represented by this example, was worn without an additional acorn, while Grades II, III, and IV incorporated one, two, and three dark-finished acorns respectively. The middle grades used brighter silver-colored elements, while the highest group employed gold-colored components. Certain artillery and Flak qualifications could use projectile or shell-shaped devices in place of acorns.

The Schützenschnur was specifically associated with enlisted personnel and NCOs rather than officers, making it an important visual distinction on the uniform. It was worn on the right side of the tunic, secured beneath or at the right shoulder strap and then fastened toward the front of the uniform, allowing the braided cord and badge to hang prominently across the chest. Award certificates accompanied the qualification, making the lanyard a formal recognition of demonstrated skill rather than simply a decorative uniform accessory. This Grade I example therefore represents the entry level of a much broader Luftwaffe qualification system.

Due to legal restrictions this item cannot be shipped to Australia, France or Germany. This is not a comprehensive list and other countries may be added in the future.