Crimea Shield

Crimea Shield Krimschild
Krim shield with green backing for award to Heer soldiers
Awarded by Nazi Germany
Type	Badge
Eligibility	Military personnel
Awarded for	Active service during the Crimea campaign
Campaign(s)	World War II
Status	Obsolete
Statistics
Established	25 July 1942
Last awarded	October 1943
Total awarded	approximately 250,000
Correct wearing of the Crimea Shield on the tunic of Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein (right).

The Crimea Shield (German: Krimschild) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to military personnel under the command of Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein who fought against Soviet Red Army forces and captured the Crimea region (Krim in German) between 21 September 1941 and 4 July 1942. It was instituted on 25 July 1942. It was the most widely distributed of the various German shields with approximately 250,000 being awarded.

The Wehrmacht's Army Group South advanced through the Crimean peninsula between the Autumn of 1941 and Summer of 1942. To commemorate the hostilities that ended with the German capture of Sevastopol on 4 July 1942 the Crimea Shield was created for all members of the armed forces under area commander Field Marshal Erich von Manstein.

The shield is headed by the German eagle clutching a laurel wreath surrounding a swastika. Flanking the eagle are the dates 1941 and 1942, which represent the start and end dates of the campaign. This sits on the backdrop of the Crimean peninsula, where the fighting took place, which has the word KRIM stamped across it.

The Crimea Shield could be awarded to all members of the Wehrmacht and to Luftwaffe and other units affiliated to the campaign between 21 September 1941 and 4 July 1942. The following conditions needed to have been met for the award: