Inv. Nr.: DPM 3.2414
The German Tank Museum received this “Cholm Shield” in 1995 from a survivor of the Battle of Cholm—he survived the battle severely wounded and was likely the only survivor from his unit, Nahrichten-Abteilung 42. After World War II, he studied medicine and natural sciences and hung the badge in his office at the Bundeswehr Erprobungsstelle 53 for NBC Defence in Munster.
The Wehrmacht captured the small town of Cholm in the northwestern Soviet Union in August 1941. Because it was located at a transportation hub, the Wehrmacht used it to house rear area units and supply units, which is why members of various units and formations were in the town. With the onset of winter, the German advance came to a standstill. Since the surrounding bodies of water and marshlands had frozen over, the Red Army was able to advance—even with tanks—during a counteroffensive in January 1942 and encircled Cholm. The members of the encircled police and Wehrmacht units had only machine guns, anti-tank guns, and grenade launchers at their disposal and received artillery support from outside the city. They were supplied with food and ammunition by air.
The German troops, along with the few remaining residents, took shelter in the basements and ruins of the destroyed city. Approximately 1,550 Germans died in the fighting, from disease, and from the cold—temperatures dropped to below 40 degrees below zero. The number of civilian casualties is unknown. One survivor—whose police unit hanged a girl in Cholm and was responsible for numerous war crimes during the conflict—was a commercial artist who designed the Cholm shield during the fighting. In early May, German assault gun units broke through the encirclement and freed those trapped after 105 days. Two months later, the shield was officially approved as a military award, and approximately 5,500 people applied for it—either for themselves or posthumously for their relatives. Soldiers received up to five badges for their uniforms and coats and sewed the badge onto the left sleeve.
The German population did not learn of the siege until after the troops had been liberated from the encirclement.
(short) stories from the depot
Unfortunately, many objects cannot currently be shown in the exhibition for conservation reasons. Here you will find unusual objects and exciting stories of special pieces from the depot
07/2026
The German Tank Museum received this “Cholm Shield” in 1995 from a survivor of the Battle of Cholm—he survived the battle severely wounded and was likely the only survivor from his unit, Nahrichten-Abteilung 42.
05/2026
The demobilization of the German armies began at the end of the First World War. The German steel helmets were worn by Freikorps soldiers and later – like some of the soldiers – transferred to the Reichswehr, which was established in 1921.
03/2026
In the 1930s, France greatly expanded its armored units and, at the beginning of the Second World War, had significantly more tanks than the German Reich. Tank models from the First World War were upgraded, new models were introduced and the uniforms of the crews were also further developed.
02/2026
In the 1930s, France greatly expanded its armored units and, at the beginning of the Second World War, had significantly more tanks than the German Reich. Tank models from the First World War were upgraded, new models were introduced and the uniforms of the crews were also further developed.
01/2026
The metamphetamine “Pervitin” came onto the German market as a drug in 1938 without sufficient testing.
12/2025
Well camouflaged on top and sporting a yellow-and-black belly underneath to ward off danger, this model of a small yellow-bellied toad fits perfectly into the tank museum’s collection.
11/2025
In the reunified Germany of 1990, there were still hundreds of thousands of foreign soldiers from the former occupying powers. The Two-Plus-Four Treaty stipulated that Soviet troops had to withdraw from the territory of the former GDR.
10/2025
In 1958, the NVA introduced classification badges for various military training courses, for example tank and motor vehicle drivers, radio operators, divers and airplane pilots. This merit badge was awarded to tank drivers after their examination
09/2025
Drones have become a central means of combat in the war in Ukraine. Both sides are using both military and commercially available civilian drones.
08/2025
The board game “Ethixx” was published by the Center for Internal Leadership in 2016 to make training and further education in the Bundeswehr on the subject of ethics more interesting.
07/2025
This poem was written by Hanomag employees to mark the one thousandth design modification of the HS 30 infantry fighting vehicle in March 1960.
06/2025
This model has a Prussian cockade at the front and a storm strap with which the helmet could be fastened to the head.
