Projected Awards Archives -

The Lorient Shield (Projected)

The Lorient Shield (Lorientschild) was a projected WW2 Third Reich decoration planned for participants in the Siege of Lorient (1944–45).

Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
Institution: Never instituted officially.
Country: Germany

The Lorient Shield (or Lorientschild in German) was a projected World War II German military decoration to be awarded to German forces that took part in the Siege of Lorient, 1944–45.

Although some Lirient Shields were awarded, they were never officially instituted. So, they are very hard to authenticate and there is a lot of discussion online about which ones might be real.

The Lorient Shield Design

The original Lorient Shields were made crudely in a besieged town. They are believed to be made of stamped brass sheets and even copper, old fish cans, and the bodywork of cars abandoned in the siege.

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 Demyansk Shield

Demyansk Shield is a World War II German military decoration awarded to military personnel who fought in the Demyansk pocket.

The Lappland Shield

The Lappland Shield (Lapplandschild) is a World War II German military decoration awarded to military personnel who fought in Lapland.

The Crimea Shield

The Crimea Shield (Krimschild) is a WW2 German military decoration awarded to military personnel who fought against Soviet Red Army forces.

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.

See all campaign shields >

The Dunkirk Shield (Projected)

The Dunkirk Shield (Dünkirchenschild) was a projected WW2 Third Reich decoration planned for participants in the Siege of Dunkirk (1944–45).

Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
Institution: Never instituted officially.
Country: Germany

The Dunkirk Shield (or Dünkirchenschild in German) was a projected World War II German military decoration to be awarded to German forces that took part in the Siege of Dunkirk (1944–45).

In a directive dated September 4, 1944, Adolf Hitler had Dunkirk declared a fortress (this included the port itself and the city of Dunkirk). As part of the defense of the Dunkirk Fortress, which began with the Allied invasion of Normandy, the idea soon arose under the leadership of Vice Admiral Friedrich Frisius to create a kind of memorial shield for the trapped 12,000 to 15,000 German defenders.

Dunkirk Fortress finally surrendered to French, British and Czech units on May 9, 1945. During the siege, Frisius had the so-called Dunkirk Shield made from makeshift metal supplies and distributed to the soldiers of the army, navy and probably also an unknown number of Wehrmacht followers in order to strengthen their sense of community. The “award” of the shield was confirmed by its entry in the pay book.

The Dunkirk Shield Design

The Dunkirk Shield was made from the remaining siege metal supplies (sheet iron and non-ferrous metal). Its width is approximately 34 mm, and its height is 41 mm. The shape corresponds to the shape of a shield, with the Dunkirk lighthouse depicted in the middle.

The number 19 is stamped on the left, and the year 44 is stamped on the right (1944). You can read DUENKIRCHEN in capital letters about the lighthouse0. On the lower side of the shield, there is an anchor chain and relief from raised sea waves.