Outstanding Original WWII German Wehrmacht Cut Off “AFRIKA” CUFFTITLE. (Afrikakorps Ärmelstreiffen) Certified

SOLD

Outstanding Original WWII German Wehrmacht “AFRIKA” CUFFTITLE. (Afrikakorps Ärmelstreiffen) Certified.  In late 1940 the Germans began the hasty formation of the DAK, Deutsches Afrikakorps, (German Africa Corps), under command of, then Generalmajor, later Generalfeldmarschall, Erwin Rommel, as an expeditionary force to assist their Italian allies in the disastrous North African campaign. The first units of the DAK arrived in Tripoli in February 1941 and under Rommel’s inspired leadership the DAK and their Italian allies were soon able to push the British back and bring some stability to the region. As a result of the German OKW, Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, (High Command of the Armed Forces), preoccupation with the invasion and battles in Russia and a lack of adequate supplies and reinforcements, the DAK would finally be defeated by the British in May 1943. Of Note: On July 18TH 1941, an “Afrikakorps” cufftitle was officially introduced for wear by personnel serving with the DAK. The “Afrika” cufftitle was introduced on January 15TH 1943 and was the second cufftitle in a series of four that held the status of a campaign award. The cufftitle was considered a military combat decoration, and as such, was bestowed with a corresponding award possession document. The basic criteria for award of the “Afrika” cufftitle, was a minimum of six months service in the African campaign, although personnel who had been wounded, contracted a tropical illness, or had won a military award, regardless of the time served in the African theatre were also entitled bestowal of the award. Of Note: With the introduction of the “Afrika” cufftitle the previously worn “Afrikakorps” cufftitle was ordered removed. Although the “Afrika” cufftitle was a campaign award most personnel who had worn the “Afrikakorps” cufftitle would have been eligible for award of the “Afrika” cufftitle. Also Of Note: The four campaign award cufftitles consisted of the “Kreta”, (Crete), introduced on October 16TH 1942, the “Afrika” cufftitle introduced on January 15TH 1943, the “Metz” cufftitle introduced on October 24TH 1944 and the “Kurland”, (Courland), cufftitle introduced on March 12TH 1945.  Woven, brushed, khaki/tan, camelhair construction cufftitle features machine embroidered, capitalized Latin script, “Afrika”, flanked by palm trees to either side in silvery/grey rayon threads. The top and bottom edges of the cufftitle are bordered in machine stitched on, horizontal, silvery/grey, rayon Russian braiding. The cufftitle has both the top and bottom edges machine stitched down to the reverse and has the typical opened back revealing the reverse of the embroidered script. Cut Off by a U.S. Veteran.  Nice example showing the expected minor age and slight storage wear. good cut off condition.   One of the classic desirable collector’s items  from the Third Reich.   Gettysburg Museum Certified (COA) provided.   100% Guaranteed to be authentic. Sold for historic purposes only. See our other pieces on our web site.    Also note when browsing our web site there are several pages of items, at the bottom of the list look for other page numbers. RARE, GREAT EXAMPLE, DO NOT MISS THIS! See our video on cut offs!