AFRIKA Cufftitle / Campaign Award 

AFRIKA Cufftitle / Campaign Award 

In late 1940 the Germans began the hasty formation of the DAK, Deutsches Afrikakorps, under command of Generalmaj Erwin Rommel, as an expeditionary force to assist their Italian allies in the disastrous North African campaign. 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.

The cuff award is made of woven, brushed, khaki/tan, “camelhair” with 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, silvery/grey, rayon Russian braiding. The reverse and has the typical opened back revealing the reverse of the embroidered script. Length is 51cm. To the reverse end is a small paper label sewn in place. The label is hand written with an ink pen. It’s very faded and hard to read but what we can make out of it is (many thanks Michael for your good eyes!): “Found during mine clearance in N Africa. Then the Private’s name and most likely 1944”. The cuff award is in good still used condition with signs of age and use. No holes, rips or mendings.

Super nice well preserved but still used example!!