From pictures I have seen it appears that German infantry wore numerous badges and medals / awards on their uniforms while in combat even at the front
It seems to me that Americans only wore basic patches showing rank and division. Can anyone offer any insight to this practice. Was there an official policy or dress code? Was it optional to wear these? Wouldn't these these medals be cumbersome lying prone or in a foxhole?
Medals & badges in combat
Re: Medals & badges in combat
Indeed, they were a hindrance.Wouldn't these these medals be cumbersome lying prone or in a foxhole?
You can see pictures of EK 1 folded, or Assault Infantry badges broken.
" The right to believe is the right of those who don't know "
Re: Medals & badges in combat
It was normal practice for German troops to wear their awards as they had in the 1914-18 war. British forces were awarded few medals and would only wear a narrow strip of ribbon above their chest pocket. US forces wore narrow strips of ribbon denoting their medals but also I think metal badges such as Combat Infantryman and metal "wings" for aircrew. Russian troops wore their medals in combat in similar practice to the Germans.