WW2 German Kuban Shield

This is a reproduction of the World War Two German Kuban Shield.

This award was created in September 1943, a month before German troops were forced to abandon the Kuban Bridgehead. Army Group B, tasked with capturing the oilfields in the Caucasus, had been forced into retreat when Army Group A were defeated at Stalingrad.

Cut off from Ukraine since Rostov had been recaptured at the beginning of the year, the Kuban Bridgehead was originally intended to be a staging area for further advances east. By September 1943 it was being used to evacuate across the Kerch Strait to Crimea. This shield was awarded to those who had been part of the defence of the Kuban Bridgehead. 

The award was to be worn on the upper left arm of the recipient’s uniform - if another such award was gained they could be worn one above the other, separated by a space of 5mm. The shield features a German eagle carrying a laurel, emblazed with a swastika. Either side of this is the 1943 date. A map of Kuban, with the defensive line and the name of the three bridgeheads, is underneath this.

Please Note: They would have been supplied on a backing of cloth patch indicative of the branch of the recepient (Field Grey for Heer, Blue for Luftwaffe, Black for Panzer). However these badges come without the attached uniform patch. You can find the accompanying uniform patches here.