Don Cossacks Volunteer Sleeve Shield, 2nd Pattern

Product Description: This is an excellent example of the Don Cossacks Volunteer Sleeve Shield. This is the second patterned type, screen printed, and with Cyrillic letters, introduced in July 1944. Ths insignia features a shield with the blue and red colors of the Don Cossacks, on a field gray background, and surmounted with Cyrillic letters that stand for “Voysko Donskoye,” meaning Don Clan. The Don Cossacks fought alongside the Wehrmacht as part of the 1. Kosaken-Kavallerie-Division. After the war, most of the survivors of this unit were executed by the Soviets. This Don Cossacks volunteer sleeve shield is printed on a typical, thin, white fabric. There are stitch holes on all four sides, apparently from having been sewn to something at one time. There is also some very light, even soiling, that appears to be from use. The bottom stitch holes run across the very edge of the shield’s field gray backing. This Don Cossacks Volunteer Sleeve Shield is a scarce piece of foreign volunteer insignia and remains in excellent condition.

Historical Description: As German military power stretched across Europe, many people in the occupied countries volunteered to fight for the German cause. Some were ideologues, some were opportunists, some probably “volunteered” because they had no other choice. In some areas, the Germans eagerly sought volunteers; in others, the Germans were less trusting, and the formation of volunteer units proceeded slowly. But by the end of the war, approximately one million foreign volunteers and conscripts were among those who had fought under Hitler. To distinguish these from German troops, and as a mark of distinction, the Germans authorized special insignia for wear by these volunteers. The insignia took the form of a cloth shield, either woven, embroidered, or printed, that was to be sewn on the uniform sleeve. Some of the foreign volunteer shields were used by specific units of the German Army or Waffen-SS. Others were worn by members of a variety of units and even paramilitary organizations. The design of each shield was chosen to represent the wearer’s nationality. Some were as simple as a national flag or colors, others had more complex designs.

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