By: Pablo Moro

The German troops who served in North Africa between 1941 and 1943 used diverse cuffbands that can be classified in emblems of unit, different for each force, and a campaign decoration.

Symbols of formation

1.       Heer: During a brief period in the boreal spring, some troops of the Deutsches Afrika Korps (DAK) used in the right fist an unofficial cuffband (made in France before embarking the troops towards Africa, or in Tripoli immediately after its arrival) of black wool with the legend “Afrikakorps” in capital letters embroidered with machine with white thread [i]^,[ii] (silver gray according to Williamson[iii]), ]), having the officials a rim in the same color. In July 18 of 1941 a cuffband for the personnel with two months in the DAK was instituted officially (the 4 of November was extended to all the members of the Panzergruppe Afrika.); it was used in the right fist of the tropical tunic and the overcoat, and had the legend “Afrikakorps” and internal edges woven by machine of shining aluminum over dark green fabric, and external fabric edges in beige color; the total wide was of 3.3 cm. Its use was confined to North Africa and, although widely it was distributed, rarely was used in the front. It could also take in the gray continental uniform when traveling to Germany, but not if the carrying one were change assignments. It must notice that the cuffband “Afrikakorp” illustrated by Tamiya[iv]^,[v] is a mistake (the correct word is Afrikakorps), in addition to not being light green the bottom color, they be dark green.

2.       Luftwaffe: In February 1942 Göring granted to its troops stationed in North Africa a dark blue fabric cuffband, of 3.3 cm wide, and with the legend “Afrika”. in capital letters, embroidered by machine with gray silver thread for sergeant majors and troops and by hand with aluminum thread for officials. Previously some personnel of the Luftwaffe had used, unofficially, the tape of the Heer. Exists a variant with the legend “Afrika” in gothic letters and rims of black  threads.

3.       Kriegsmarine: Its personnel used a dark blue fabric cuffband with the legend “Afrika” in capital letters that Williamson³ describes of yellow color (gold for officials), whereas González Crespo[vi] says that they were of white color, mentioning variants with the bottom fabric in black.

Campaign decoration

In January 15 of 1943 (February according to Williamson³) Hitler ordered that was replaced all previous cuffbands by a new one, with meaning of campaign decoration, instead of being a formation emblem. It had 3.3 cm wide, being made in khaki brown camel hair³ (¡of brown fine wool according to Thomas², of clear brown fabric according to Windrow[vii], khaki according to Tamiya⁵, brown according to Bueno and reddish brown illustrates it González Crespo⁶), with the legend “Afrika”. in silver gray flanked by streamlined palms of the same color, and bordered with threads of cotton also silver gray, used in the left fist of all the tunics and overcoats. In order to be able to receive it the members of the Wehrmacht they must have served in North Africa by six months, hurt in action or have contracted a disease in the operations theater that required its return to the Reich like disabled. Later the necessary period was reduced to four months for those who had an honorable performance between April and May of 1943 in Tunisia, or three months if it had been incapacitated by tropical disease. If the receiver died in action, the closest parent received only the mention and not the cuffband himself. This decoration continued being used until the end of the war. The Luftwaffe troops also had the tape “Kreta”, and used the “Afrika” with palms sewn immediately over it[viii].

DRAWINGS AND PHOTOS

1- The first type (unofficial) of  cuffband “Afrikakorps”, embroidered by machine with capital letters silver gray over black fabric. It can be with and without the gray silver gallons.

2- The official cuffband of the formation “Afrikakorps”, woven with aluminum thread over dark green/toasted bottom.

3- The campaign cuffband “Afrika”, embroidered by machine with silver gray thread over a material of medium brown camel hair. The gallon of the edges also is silver gray.

4- The cuffband “Afrika” of the Luftwaffe was embroidered by machine with silver gray trheads for other ranks and by hand with aluminum thread for officials, all on blue bottom.

5- A well-known variant of the cuffband “Afrika” of the Luftwaffe has the legend in gothic letters is and bordered in black.

6- The naval cuffband of “Afrika” had letters embroidered with gold color thread on dark blue material.

 

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[i] Bueno JM. Uniformes del III Reich. Madrid, San Martín, 1977.

[ii] Thomas N, Andrew S. German Army 1939–1945 (2). North Africa & Balkans (Men-at-Arms 316). London, Osprey, 1998.

[iii] Williamson G, Volstad R. Afrikakorps 1941–43 (Elite Series 34). London, Osprey, 1991.

[iv] D.A.K. German Africa Corps, 1/35 Scale (Kit Nº 3537 ** 300). Tamiya, Japan.

[v] Panzer Kampfwagen II Ausf. F/G. 1/35 Scale (Item Nº 35009). Tamiya, Japan.

[vi] González Crespo J. Regalía del III Reich. Organización e Insignias de las Fuerzas Armadas. Madrid, San Martín, 1995.

[vii] Windrow M, Hook R. The Panzer Divisions (Men-at-Arms 24). London, Osprey, 1982.

[viii] Quarrie B, Chapell M. German Airborne Troops 1939–45 (Men-at-Arms 139). London, Osprey, 1983.