Description
Here is your chance to pick up a really nice Demjansk shield complete with the wool backing. No reverse prongs remaining, but rather sewn onto the wool backing. Wool looks to have perimeter stitch holes, so possibly an issued example! A nice example overall for your collection! The Demjansk Shield was instituted on April 25th, 1943, to commemorate those troops who fought in the Demjansk pocket during 1942. On February 8th 1942, the Russians encircled the 2nd Army Corp in the small town of Demjansk, located in the northern section of the Russian front about 100 miles north-east of Cholm. Trapped in the pocket were the 12th, 30th, 32nd, 223rd and 290th Heer Infantry Divisions, as well as the 3rd SS “Totenkopf” Division. There were also RAD, Police, Todt organization, and other auxiliary units who were trapped and assisted in the battle. Their commander was General der Infanterie Graf Brockdordd-Ahlefeldt. Ordered to resist, the garrison was extensively and appropriately supplied by the Luftwaffe. During their besiegement the group offered the Russians stiff and determined resistance, tying up three Soviet Armies (composed of 18 Infantry Divisions and three brigades) for the length of 14 months. The battle group was able to break out of the siege on the 21st of April, but the battle had taken a toll. Out of the approximately 100,000 men trapped there were 3,335 never returned, and over 10,000 were wounded. However, their heroic struggle had denied the Soviet High Command of numerous units at a critical moment, units that would have otherwise been used elsewhere in the Eastern front. Free shipping ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD & I don’t charge PayPal fees like some of the other guys!
