Crete Cuff Title
Crete cuff title Ärmelband Kreta | |
---|---|
Type | Campaign cuff title |
Awarded for | Participation in the battle of Crete |
Description | Band worn above left cuff of uniform |
Presented by | Nazi Germany |
Eligibility | Military personnel of all three services |
Campaign(s) | World War II |
Established | 1942 |
Total | Ca. 28,000 recipients[1] |
The Crete Cuff Title, or Crete Cuff Band, (German: Ärmelband Kreta) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to Wehrmacht servicemen who took part in the battle of Crete between 20 and 27 May 1941.
While a number of German units had worn cuff titles as part of their regimental or corps insignia, this was the first World War II operation where a cuff title was awarded as a campaign award.[2]
Eligibility
As part of Germany's
The cuff title was instituted separately by each of Germany's armed services:
While the conditions of eligibility differed between the three services, the broad qualifying criteria were that, between 20 – 27 May 1941, a member of the German armed forces would have to:
- land on Crete, either by ship, parachute or glider; or
- take part in air operations over Crete, including transporting troops; or
- be on active service at sea in the Crete theatre of operations.[4]
The cuff title was distributed for wear from mid-1943. The deadline for applications was 31 October 1944.[2]
Design and wear
The cuff title is 32mm wide and consists of a yellow-edged white cloth band, embroidered in yellow silk or cotton thread with the word KRETA flanked on both sides by a spray of acanthus leaves.[2] The design was the same for all three armed services.[4]
The band was worn on the lower left sleeve of the uniform, including on greatcoats.[4] Where two or more campaign cuff titles were awarded, the earliest qualified for was correctly worn above later awards, although this regulation was not always followed.[2]
Nazi era decorations were banned after the war. The Crete Cuff Title was among those re-authorised for wear by the Federal Republic of Germany in 1957.[5] While many awards were re-designed to remove the swastika, the original cuff title could be worn unaltered as it did not bear this symbol.[6] Members of the Bundeswehr who were qualifying veterans wore the award on their ribbon bar, represented by a small replica of the cuff design on a yellow-edged white ribbon.[7]
See also
- Orders, decorations, and medals of Nazi Germany
- Africa Cuff Title
- Metz 1944 Cuff Title
- Courland Cuff Title
References
- ^ Based on strength of forces taking part.
- ^ a b c d e Williamson 2002, pp. 14–15.
- ^ Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987, p. 402.
- ^ a b c Littlejohn & Dodkins 1968, pp. 134–135.
- ^ German Federal law 1957, pp. 2–3, zweiter abschnitt.
- ^ German Federal regulation 1996, pp. 583–593, Anlage 13: Orden und Ehrenzeichen.
- ^ Littlejohn & Dodkins 1968, p. 226.
Sources
- Angolia, John (1987). For Führer and Fatherland: Military Awards of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 0912138149.
- Littlejohn, David; Dodkins, Colonel C. M. (1968). Orders, Decorations, Medals and Badges of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing, California. ISBN 978-0854200801.
- Shores, Christopher; Cull, Brian; Malizia, Nicola (1987). Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete 1940–41. Grub Street, London. ISBN 0-948817-07-0.
- Williamson, Gordon (2002). World War II German Battle Insignia. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1841763527.
- German Federal law (1957). Bundesministerium der Justiz: Gesetz über Titel, Orden und Ehrenzeichen, 26.7.1957. Bundesgesetzblatt Teil III, Gliederungsnummer 1132-1.
- German Federal regulation (1996). Dienstvorschriften Nr. 14/97. Bezug: Anzugordnung für die Soldaten der Bundeswehr. ZDv 37/10.