The Kriegsmarie "AFRIKA" Cufftitle

One seldom encountered, yet interesting cuffband, is the German naval version of the "AFRIKA" band which exists in the form of a unit title and as a campaign title. There is, however a lack of detailed information on this cufftitle in its naval form.

What we do know:

It was issued as a unit title to designate actual service with North African based units. It was later considered a naval version of the official campaign service decoration, differing in color from the standard, proscribed pattern issued to the other branches of the Wehrmacht.

Unit Title:

It is known that for a limited time the use of the Army pattern "AFRIKAKORPS" was permitted to be worn by naval personnel, being listed in orders dated 18 July 1941 and again in orders dated 4 November 1941 .

The next style of "AFRIKA" cuff-band was the Latin capital letter pattern for the Luftwaffe units serving in Africa. A number of photographs have been observed showing Kriegsmarine members wearing this pattern having white lettering on cornflower-blue. In addition, examples exist of this style in a naval color pattern of golden-yellow on dark blue. All unit patterns and the Army"AFRIKAKORPS" pattern were worn on the right cuff, and were not allowed to be worn after the wearer had left the African theater. The right to wear these titles was entered into the man's Soldbuch. It was not considered a campaign decoration and as such had no presentation or formal award document (Urkunde).

Campaign Award:

An official commemorative campaign cuff-band was instituted on 15 January1943 and was awarded to those in all branches of the Wehrmacht who had served in the African theater of operations. The pattern was rendered on tanbrown material with silver-grey lettering and matching silver-grey palm trees at either end of the word "AFRIKA". It also had a silver-grey soutache border strip at both top and bottom of the band.

This band was to be worn on the lower left sleeve where all campaign titles were worn. In addition to the title itself, an award document was presented as this was an official campaign decoration. The cuff-band was authorized to be worn on any uniform, and unlike the unit designator pattern, did not have to be removed if no longer serving in Africa.

Naval Variation: ****

For some unknown reason, there exists a naval variation of this campaign title, it appears in naval colors of darkblue with golden-yellow embroidery. The pattern is almost identical in design to the standard pattern, except for its colors. These titles were also issued with an award certificate, most often signed by Konderadmiral Meendsen-Bohlken, Commander of Kriegsmarine forces in Italy (see example of ink-stamped signature on illustrated document).

The following is a translation of the regulations relating to this cuff-band from Marineverordnungsblatt 74, Berlin,1943:

1. The cuff-band was to be awarded via the German Naval Command italy, in the name of the Kriegsmarine High Command.

2. The cuff-band will be awarded with a recipient's document, the said document to be procured from the German Naval Command Italy. A recipient must have fullfiled one of the following requirements:

a. Honorable service in the African theater for ground operations, or for operations at sea from firmly established ports for at least six months.

b. Being wounded in theater during ground operations or operations at sea while operating from firmly established ports.

c. By contracting an incapacitating tropical disease after at least three months. The award is not to be awarded to foreigners. The award is to be entered into personal papers.

3. The award is to be worn on the lower left arm, on tropical, blue and fieldgrey uniforms.

4. All former organizational cuff-bands are to be withdrawn, i.e., the "AFRIKAKORPS" cuff-band.

5. The supply of cuff-bands is to take place via the Naval Superintendant Service Post in Naples.

Variations:

As with all things military, although a regulation may be "etched in stone"variations exist - out of some basic need (greater demand than supply) or the desire to have a better-made and better looking item. A number of unofficial variations exist of the "AFRIKA" pattern cuffband in all forms using different materials (gold bullion embroidery, for example). These naval patterns differ in lettering and borders, base material used, and were normally locally produced. The best proof of originality is still a photograph of the variation in actual use.

Richard W. Mundt, "The Kriegsmarine "AFRIKA" Cuffband", The Military Advisor, 2006

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