BACKGROUND: Waffen SS-Gebirgs-(Karstjäger-)Division was formed from the Karstwehr-Bataillon 1 in August of 1944 which had been fighting partisans in northern Italy. Made up of volunteers from Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and the Ukraine. The fought Partisan units until they surrendered to the British in May of 1945.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: German made, printed, (silk screened), identifying sleeve shield consists of a scalloped topped, pointed bottom, shield shape base with three horizontal bars in green, white and red with a narrow black outer border. The top of the shield has an additional, black, horizontal bar with red script, "ITALIA". The shield is still on its original factory backing. An identical example can be seen on page 242 of Foreign Legions of the Third Reich Vol 2. Scarce.