- Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
- Institution: February 1945
- Country: Germany
The Lappland Shield (or Lapplandschild in German) is a World War II German military decoration awarded to military personnel which had been fighting a two-front campaign against the advancing Finnish and Soviet Red Army forces in Lapland between November 1944 and the war’s end in May 1945.
The badge was awarded to men of General Franz Böhme’s 20th Mountain Army who had “honorably served” for six months in the region or had been wounded during operations therein. It was authorized in February 1945 and was the last officially instituted German campaign shield of the war.
The Lappland shield continued to be awarded after the end of the war in May, 1945 by the unit commander.
The Lappland Shield Design
The badge consists of a basic shield with flat top and rounded bottom. It incorporates an eagle at the top but without a swastika. Directly below this, in capital letters, is written “LAPPLAND” and beneath it appears a map of the region.
Four small holes were punched in the shield to allow it to be sewn on the upper left sleeve of the uniform, however, it had no back-plate or uniform cloth section attached.
More Nazi Germany Shields (Ärmelschilde)
These campaign shields were awarded to members of the Wehrmacht (the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945). They were given for participation in specific battles or campaigns and worn on the left upper arm of the uniform jacket.
The Balkans Shield (Projected)
The Balkans Shield (Balkanschild) was a projected WW2 Third Reich decoration planned for participants in battes in the Balkans.
The Warsaw Shield
The Warsaw Shield (Ärmelschild Warschau) is a German military decoration for those who took part in the suppression of the Warsaw uprising.
The Narvik Shield
The Narvik Shield (Narvikschild) is a WW2 German military decoration awarded to German forces that took part in the battles of Narvik.
The Budapest Shield (Projected)
The Budapest Shield (Budapestschild) was a projected WW2 Third Reich decoration planned for participants in the Siege of Budapest.
