5 - A GERMAN LORIENT SHIELD (LORIENTSCHILD), UNOFFICIAL SIEGE AWARD, 1944–1945

A GERMAN LORIENT SHIELD (LORIENTSCHILD), UNOFFICIAL SIEGE AWARD, 1944–1945 Constructed of stamped metal in the form of a vertically oriented shield with a rounded upper edge. The obverse bears the inscription "LORIENT" above a composition incorporating military and labor motifs, including crossed tools and fortification imagery, with the date "1944" at the base. Pierced with multiple attachment holes around the perimeter for mounting to a cloth backing. The reverse is plain and unmarked. The Lorient Shield was an unofficial commemorative award created within the besieged German fortress of Lorient, France, for military personnel who participated in the prolonged defense of the Atlantic stronghold after the Allied breakout from Normandy. Although never officially authorized by the German government, it belongs to a small group of locally instituted fortress shields associated with isolated garrisons that continued resistance until the end of the war. Surviving examples are considerably scarcer than the officially instituted campaign shields and are sought after by collectors of late-war German militaria. Dimensions: 3 1/4 x 1 5/8 in., (8.3 x 4.2 cm.) Condition: Worn with significant loss of surface finish and detail. Multiple attachment holes remain intact. Please make all inquiries before bidding. All statements contained in the catalog, condition reports, invoices, advertisements, or elsewhere concerning the authorship, attribution, origin, date, age, period, culture, source, provenance, authenticity, genuineness, condition, rarity, importance, or value of any lot are statements of opinion only and shall not be construed as representations, warranties, or statements of fact. All lots are sold "as-is", refer to our T&C. Helios Auctions does not offer in-house shipping. We will provide a list of recommended shippers upon request.