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Marksmanship Lanyards Identification Guide

This is an identification guide for the different Marksmanship Lanyards worn during the 3rd Reich period. To the best of our knowledge, all the examples shown are original pre-1945 manufacture. If anyone has questions or suggestions, please contact Vern@GermanDaggers.com.

© 2000, 2010, 2023 by GermanDaggers.com

Heer Marksmanship Lanyards


Twelve award levels were authorized in 1936. A distinctive shield was designed for the 1st, 5th, and 9th award. Subsiquent awards were indicated by adding an acorn or artillery shell to the lanyard. In 1939, the shield for the 1st award was changed, and new design shields were authorized for Panzer troops. Artillery shells were added to the Panzer lanyard. The lanyard consisted of matt silver cords with white metal or gilt shields. Acorns and artillery shells were matt silver or gilt as appropriate.



Shield for Awards 1 thru 4
1936-1939


Infantry Shield for Awards 1 thru 4
1939-1945


Infantry Shield for Awards 5 thru 8
1936-1945


Infantry Shield for Awards 9 thru 12
1936-1945


Panzer Shield for Awards 1 thru 4
1939-1945


Panzer Shield for Awards 5 thru 8
1939-1945


Panzer Shield for Awards 9 thru 12
1939-1945





1st Award - Early Shield


2nd Award - Infantry


3rd Award - Artillery


4th Award - Infantry


5th Award - Infantry


6th Award - Infantry


7th Award - Infantry


8th Award - Infantry


9th Award - Infantry


10th Award - Infantry


11th Award - Artillery


12th Award - Infantry


1st Award - Panzer


2nd Award - Panzer


3rd Award - Panzer


4th Award - Panzer


5th Award - Panzer


6th Award - Panzer


7th Award - Panzer


8th Award - Panzer


9th Award - Panzer


10th Award - Panzer


11th Award - Panzer


12th Award - Panzer


Luftwaffe Marksmanship Lanyards


Twelve award levels were authorized in 1936. A distinctive shield with the Luftwaffe droop tail eagle was designed for the 1st, 5th, and 9th award. Subsiquent awards were indicated by adding an acorn (an artillery shell for anti-aircraft) to the lanyard. In 1938, the eagle was changed to the straight tail version. The lanyard consisted of gray-blue cords interwoven with matt silver or old gold. Shields were oxidized silver, bright silver, and gilt. Acorns and artillery shells were matt silver, bright silver, or gilt as appropriate.



Early Shield for Awards 1 thru 4
1936-1938


Early Shield for Awards 5 thru 8
1936-1938


Early Shield for Awards 9 thru 12
1936-1938


Shield for Awards 1 thru 4
1938-1945


Shield for Awards 5 thru 8
1938-1945


Shield for Awards 9 thru 12
1938-1945








1st Award - Early Eagle


2nd Award


3rd Award


4th Award


5th Award


6th Award


7th Award - Anti-aircraft


8th Award


9th Award


10th Award


11th Award - Anti-aircraft


12th Award


Kreigsmarine Marksmanship Lanyards


Four award levels were authorized in 1936. The lanyard consisted of blue cords for the 1st award, and blue interwoven with matt silver for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th awards. A distinctive gilt shield was designed for the 4th award. An attachment identified the type of award, with an acorn for machinegun, an artillery shell for gun layer, a winged shell for anti-aircraft, and a torpedo for torpedo coxwain. Attachments were gun metal for 1st award, silver for second award, and gilt for 3rd and 4th awards. Different attachments could be added if the individual qualified for multiple weapons.



Shield for 4th Award
1936-1945











1st Award - Machinegun


2nd Award - Gun Layer


3rd Award - Anti-aircraft


4th Award - Torpedo