Condition: Excellent
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Product Description: This Luftwaffe shooting lanyard is a very attractive and entirely complete example of the basic Luftwaffe marksmanship decoration. This one is Grade 1, which was the lowest grade of the award. The overall condition is excellent, with no condition issues to note besides very minor, even age toning, and some moth grazing to the nap on the disk of charcoal-gray Luftwaffe wool on the back of the metal emblem, to protect the uniform from the emblem’s prongs. The metal emblem on this award features a Luftwaffe eagle and swastika organizational emblem within an oak leaf wreath, is made of aluminum, and is a nice strike, with lots of detail, and almost no wear. The cord itself is woven from aluminum wire and blue rayon and is in great condition, with no damage. The loops at either end of the lanyard for affixing it to a uniform are complete and intact. The Luftwaffe Shooting Lanyard is quite a bit more scarce than the Heer ones, and has a lot of eye appeal.
Historical Description: Marksmanship was a highly valued skill in the militaristic culture of the Third Reich. For soldiers, of course, this skill was taught and trained, and soldiers were expected to achieve marksmanship proficiency. Members of paramilitary organizations such as the Hitler Youth also trained with the use of weapons, and of course there were civilian shooting clubs that held events and competitions as well. There were a myriad of different kinds of marksmanship awards that were used to recognize this skill. In the SS, and early in the German Wehrmacht, sleeve insignia was used in different patterns to display different levels of rifle qualification. Later, the Heer and Luftwaffe used special lanyards for this purpose. Heer and Luftwaffe lanyards used distinctive emblem patterns, as did the Panzer branch of the Heer. The lanyards were produced in many different grades for which a soldier could qualify, and were not worn on the field uniform. Because of this, issue of these lanyards were discontinued around the start of WWII. Civilian and paramilitary groups had their own wide array of different marksmanship awards, ranging from pins and badges to non-portable medals and award plaques.
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