View source for Narvik Shield

{{Infobox award
|name=Narvik Shield<br />''Narvikschild''
|image=Narvikschild (ohne Tuch).png
|image_size=150px
|caption=Narvik Shield in silver
|presenter=[[Nazi Germany]]
|type=[[Badge]]
|eligibility=Military personnel
|awarded_for=Taking part in the [[Battles of Narvik]]
|campaign=[[World War II]]
|status=Obsolete
|description=
|clasps=
|established=19 August 1940
|firstawarded=[[Eduard Dietl]] 21 March 1941
|lastawarded=15 June 1943
|total_awarded=8,577{{sfn|Angolia|1987|p=276}}
|total_awarded_posthumously=680{{sfn|Williamson|2002|p=18}}                
|total_recipients=
|individual=
|higher=
|same=
|lower=
|related=
|image2=Narvikschild Gold (57er).jpg
|image2_size=110px
|caption2=1957 version in gilt
}}
The '''Narvik Shield''' ({{Langx|de|Narvikschild}}) was a [[World War II]] [[Nazi Germany|German]] military decoration awarded to all German forces that took part in the [[battles of Narvik]] between 9 April and 8 June 1940. It was instituted on 19 August 1940 by [[Adolf Hitler]]. The ''Oberkommando der Wehrmacht'' (OKW) published the order the same day. It was bestowed by General [[Eduard Dietl]], the commander of Army Group Narvik.{{sfn|Angolia|1987|p=276}}{{sfn|Ailsby|1987|p=96}}

The award was the first of a series of [[Campaign shields (Wehrmacht)|arm shield campaign awards]].{{sfn|Littlejohn|Dodkins|1968|p=142}} A total of 8,577 personnel received the award.{{sfn|Angolia|1987|p=276}} Specifically: 2,755 to the [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|army]], 3,661 to the ''[[Kriegsmarine]]'', and 2,161 to the [[Luftwaffe]].{{sfn|Williamson|2002|p=18}}

==Design==
Designed by Professor Dr. [[Richard Klein (artist)|Richard Klein]] of Munich, the shield is narrow with a pointed base and, at its apex, has an eagle with down-swept wings clutching a laurel wreath that surrounds a swastika. Below this in capital letters is written {{mono|NARVIK}}. The body of the shield features an [[edelweiss]] (representing the [[Gebirgsjäger|army mountain troops]]), an anchor (representing the ''Kriegsmarine''), and propeller (for the Luftwaffe). The anchor and propeller are crossed, with the edelweiss placed at the top of the X. The numbers {{mono|19}} and {{mono|40}} appear at the top corners of the main body of the shield.{{sfn|Angolia|1987|pp=277}}{{sfn|Ailsby|1987|p=96}}

The shield was hollow backed and stamped from sheet metal which was usually zinc. The shield was awarded in two versions: silver-gray for the army and Luftwaffe, and a gilded (golden coloured) version for ''Kriegsmarine''.{{sfn|Angolia|1987|pp=277}} It was mounted on a cloth backing corresponding to the colour of the uniform, and worn on the upper left arm of the uniform.{{sfn|Littlejohn|Dodkins|1968|p=142}}

=== 1957 version ===
In 1957, the Narvik Shield, along with many other German  World War II military decorations, was reauthorized for wear by qualifying veterans.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bundesgesetzblatt Teil III, Gliederungsnummer 1132-1".|url=http://bundesrecht.juris.de/ordeng/BJNR008440957.html|access-date=2019-10-23}}</ref> This included members of the [[Bundeswehr]], who could wear the shield on the ribbon bar, represented by a small replica of the award on a field grey ribbon. The new version was re-designed to remove the Nazi eagle and [[swastika]] symbol from the top of the shield.{{sfn|Littlejohn|Dodkins|1968|pp=224–226}}

==See also==
{{div col |colwidth=30em}}
* [[Campaign shields (Wehrmacht)]]
* [[Cholm Shield]]
* [[Crimea Shield]]
* [[Demyansk Shield]]
* [[Kuban Shield]]
* [[Lapland Shield]]
* [[Warsaw Shield]]
{{div col end}}

== Notes ==
{{reflist}}

== References ==
*{{cite book | last = Ailsby | first = Christopher | title = Combat Medals of the Third Reich | publisher = Harpercollins | year = 1987 | isbn = 978-0850598223}}
*{{cite book | last = Angolia | first = John | title = For Führer and Fatherland: Military Awards of the Third Reich | publisher = R. James Bender Publishing | year = 1987 | isbn = 0912138149}}
*{{cite book |last1= Littlejohn |first1= David | last2 = Dodkins | first2 = Colonel C. M. |title= Orders, Decorations, Medals and Badges of the Third Reich |publisher= R. James Bender Publishing, California |year= 1968 |isbn= 978-0854200801}}
*{{cite book |last= Williamson |first= Gordon |title= World War II German Battle Insignia |publisher= Osprey Publishing |year= 2002 |isbn= 1841763527 }}
*German Federal law: [http://bundesrecht.juris.de/ordeng/BJNR008440957.html Bundesministerium der Justiz: Gesetz über Titel, Orden und Ehrenzeichen, 26.7.1957. Bundesgesetzblatt Teil III, Gliederungsnummer 1132-1]

{{List of military decorations of the Third Reich |state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Military awards and decorations of Nazi Germany]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1940]]
[[Category:1940 establishments in Germany]]
[[Category:German campaign medals]]