Rare genuine WWII Luftwaffe cufftitle, embroidered on dark blue felt and intended for being worn by members of Geschwader „Horst Wessel“ on the right-hand sleeve.
Created on November 1st, 1938, Zerstörer-Geschwader 142, named 'Horst Wessel' in memory of the author of the lyrics of the NSDAP hymn -- a Sturmabteilung officer murdered in 1930 --, was a heavy fighter wing; redesignated Zerstörer-Geschwader 26 on May 1st, 1939, it went on to fly dual-engine aicraft such as the Messerschmitt Bf 110.
In 1940, after taking part in the Blitzkrieg on the Western Front, the wing also participated in the Battle of Britain. Deploying to Yugoslavia and Greece the following year, it then transferred to the Eastern Front in June 1941, although some of its elements were soon involved in operations in the Mediterranean and in North Africa through the spring of 1943. ZG 26 then defended the German skies against the 8th Air Force, prior to being disbanded at the end of the summer of 1944.
The historical artifacts for sale at PARATROOPER’s are intended for collectors, history enthusiasts, historians and museum curators. These items do not glorify or promote any of the political, ideological or racial opinions related to the global conflicts that bathed the 20th century in blood.
Besides, we remind you that Article R.645-1 of the French Penal Code establishes fines applicable to fifth class contraventions (except in the specific cases of a filming, show or exhibition which refer to historical events) for any individual who wears a uniform, insignia or symbol reminiscent of those worn by members of the various organizations declared criminal in application of Article 9 of the Charter of the International Military Tribunal annexed to the London Agreement of August 8, 1945 – SS, SD, Gestapo, Nazi leaders (the Führer, the Reichsleitung, the Gauleiters and their main collaborators, the Ortsgruppenleiter, the Zellenleiter and the Blockleiter), or reminiscent of those worn by any person found guilty, by a French or International Jurisdiction, of one or several crimes against humanity established by Articles 211-1 to 212-3 or mentioned in Law No. 64-1326 of December 26, 1964.
The Code provides additional penalties, including the confiscation of the items used or intended for committing the offence.
