Army/Heer grade 5 marksmen’s lanyard with one acorn.
A Heer Marksmanship Lanyard, Grade 5, consisting of an aluminum insignia in the form of an oval oak leaf wreath, topped by a Heer-style German nationale eagle clutching a mobile swastika, around a central pebbled shield overlaid by crossed swords, affixed with all four reverse attachment prongs to a lanyard constructed of multiple rows of twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire, with each end completing in a loop for uniform attachment, unmarked, the insignia measuring 39 mm (w) x 55 mm (h), the lanyard measuring 450 mm in total length
Overall excellent condition.
BACKGROUND:
Originally German army marksmen were distinguished by a series of sleeve stripes that were introduced on January 27TH 1928. These sleeve stripes remained in use until newly designed marksmen’s lanyards were introduced on June 29TH 1936. The lanyards were issued in twelve ascending grades with grade one being the lowest and grade twelve the highest. The grades were originally differentiated by a silver colored shield with a Wehrmacht eagle for grades one through four with an additional acorn device for each successive grade, a silver colored shield with a Wehrmacht eagle, crossed swords and a oak-leaf wreath for grades five through eight with an additional acorn device for each successive grade and a gilt colored shield with a Wehrmacht eagle, crossed swords and a oak-leaf wreath for grades nine through twelve with an additional acorn device for each successive grade. On January 9TH 1939 the first pattern lanyard shields for grades one through four were replaced with the silver colored shield with a Wehrmacht eagle, crossed swords and a oak-leaf wreath that was slightly smaller then the first pattern shields for grades five through eight. The lanyards were awarded to qualifying EM/NCO’s and were accompanied with an award certificate. The lanyards were worn suspended from under the right shoulder strap and attached to the second top front closure button of most uniforms. Award of the marksmen’s lanyards was discontinued on February 14TH 1941 to be reinstituted at the successful conclusion of the war.
