Sleeve ribbon Metz 1944

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Arm band Metz

The sleeve ribbon Metz 1944 was a combat and traditional badge of the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War , which Adolf Hitler donated and awarded "in the name of the Führer" by Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel in his function as Chief of the Wehrmacht High Command on October 24, 1944 should be. The foundation of the cuff testified that the entrusted had an active defensive role in the defensive battles around the French fortress of Metz , which raged between members of Kampfgruppe Siegroth and the Allies between August 27 and November 22, 1944 .

Award terms

The foundation as a combat badge was only intended for those soldiers of the Siegroth combat group who could prove at least one “honorable” seven-day service in the combat group or were wounded in the course of these combat operations. Furthermore, the cuff was also intended as a traditional badge, which was used by all officers , civil servants , NCOs and crew ranks of the “School VI Fhj. D. Inf. Metz ”could be acquired.

Appearance and wearing style

The cuff was made of black material with silver edging and the silver embroidered inscription: Metz 1944 . It was intended that it would be worn on the left forearm. Furthermore, all political leaders of the NSDAP were allowed to wear the cuff on all uniforms of the party and its organizations. Again, the prerequisite was an active role in the defense of the city. It is not yet conclusive whether the cuff was awarded during the war, although numerous school members testified after 1945 that the award was recorded in the pay book, but the cuff itself and the certificate of ownership were not handed over. On the other hand, there are occasional contemporary specimens which, however, were not made in silver "in accordance with the foundation", but have darker lettering and corresponding strands. There are also a few certificates of ownership, but their originality is also controversial.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann: Awards of the German Empire. 1936-1945. Motorbuch, Stuttgart 1981, ISBN 3-87943-689-4 , p. 78.