WAFFEN-SS UNIFORM PHOTO-FILE

 

This work is primarily aimed at the military modelling fraternity and includes specially chosen photos which show various aspects of the Waffen-SS uniforn in detail. One this that will rapidly become clear to the viewer is that there was no such thing as a "typical" regulation appearance for the Waffen-SS combat soldier. A wide variety of both specific Waffen-SS patterns and existing Army patterns were worn, and often a mixture of the two.  It was also very common for Army insignia such as eagles, shoulder straps etc to be used where supplies of Waffen-SS insignia were unavailable. Uniforms from different manufacturing batches and from different periods would have slightly different colour shades and textures and these were invariably intermixed. The so called "field grey" of the German Army and Waffen-SS could range from a stone grey colour through a definite greenish shade to an almost olive brown in some late war uniforms.

 

It is hoped that this collection of photos will be useful to the modeller who may be faced with criticism that the figures they have produced don't look right because they don't show the regulation cap, insignia or whatever, The fact is that Waffen-SS soldiers in the field, and away from the attentions of the Military Police, or any others likely to enforce strict dress regulations, like the soldiers of almost every other Army, wore whatever they found most suitable or most comfortable at the time.

 

 Acknowledgements

 

The authors of this work would like to thank the following for their contributions

 

Erwin Bartmann, Ernst Barkmann, Steve Brindley, Helmut Buch, Rudolf Garscha, Richard Fuchs, Erich Heller, Willi Hillen, Erd Kinscher, James Donald McLeod, Richard Mills, Holger Nielsen, Gerd Rommel, Horst Schuhmann, Hans-Gerhard Starck, Heinrich Springer, Richard Schulze-Kossens, Gary Wood.

 

Okay, so this one isn't Waffen-SS but it is such a stunning photo that I couldn't resist including it. In any case, the subject is Helmut Buch who went on to win the German Cross in Gold as well as the Close Combat Clasp in Gold with 3 SS-Panzer Division "Totenkopf". Here he is shown pre-war in the uniform of SS-Totenkopfstandarte "Oberbayern".

A group of motorised troops from the SS-VT on winter exercises. Most wear the standard Greatcoat or "Mantel" though some, such as thetwo at extreme right, wear the motorcyclist rubberised waterproof coat.

Note the use of the SS-VT pattern field cap with metal deathshead button at front and small machine embroidered eagle on the side.

A group of enlisted men from the SS-Standarte "Der Führer". All wear the SS-VT pattern field cap and collar patch with numeral "3" alongside the runes

 

A group of personnel from the SS-Totenkopf Division on field exercises pre-war. All are wearing the Army M36 pattern field blouse, widely worn by this unit, with the early "vertical" pattern deathshead collar patch. The early SS-VT type field cap is being used.

The SS-Oberscharführer is the senior NCO or "Der Spiess" of his Company, indicated by the double row of aluminium braid on each lower sleeve. Note the cloth peaked early pattern Field Cap, much favoured by "old salts". Once again, the Army M36 pattern field blouse is being worn. On the left breast pocket is the SA Treffen "Braunschweig" badge.

 

 

Two SS NCOs. The Oberscharführer to the left wears the standard runic collar patch and cloth peaked old style field cap. The Scharführer at left wears the standard NCO peaked cap with shiny black peak and leather chinstrap, and features the SS Totenkopf deathshead patch on his collar. Note the Trodell worn from his bayonet frog. Once again , both wear the Army M36 pattern field blouse.

 

 

 A superb study of two SS-Totenkopf Division Oberscharführer, the individual at right being the Company "Spiess". Note that the "Spiess" has a cloth peaked old style Field Cap whilst his companion uses the standard NCO/Enlisted pattern peaked cap with shiny peak and leather chinstrap. Both wear the "miror image" style deathshead collar patches, rank being displayed solely by the shoulder straps. Once again they are wearing the Army pattern M36 field blouse.

 

 

"Der Spiess" from a Company of the SS-Polizei Division during the fighting in France in 1940. Note the Army pattern collar patches.The rank is that of SS-Oberscharführer. The Polizei Division was primarily horse-drawn at this point in the war. Once again, the Army pattern M36 field blouse is worn.

 This SS-Untersturmführer from SS-Standarte 1 "Deutschland" wears the Army breast eagle on the right breast of his walking out dress tunic. The Standarte number "1" and the Standarte shoulder cypher "D" are aso worn. It is presumed this officer wears the Army breast eagle during an attachment to some Army training establishment.

 

 

SS-Unterscharführer Erwin Bartmann of the "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" wears the Army pattern M36 field blouse with dark green collar and aluminium braid NCO "Litzen" trim. Note the tunic is worn open with shirt and tie visible. Note also the slip on "LAH" shoulder strap cyphers. Also of interest is the cap which is an Army pattern with dark green rather than SS black band, and Army style chinstrap.

 

Photographs of SS paratroopers are rare. This NCO wears an Army M40 pattern field blouse (dark green collar but straight flapped pockets). Note the Fallschirmjäger jump badge worn below the Iron Cross First Class.

 

 

SS-Juncker Erich Heller of 2 SS-Panzer Division "Das Reich". Heller wears the Army M36 style field blouse. The arm eagle worn is the machine woven version and the shoulder straps bear the silver braid "Litzen" across their base indicating the wearers officer candidate status. Heller was eventually comissioned SS-Untersturmführer. He wears the standard SS pattern field grey Feldmütze with machine woven insignia.

 

 

An unkown SS-Unterscharführer. Note in this case a white shirt rather than grey or field grey is worn. Also of interest is the very early narrow style of runes worn on his collar patch and the early cloth peaked old style Field Cap.

 

A further study of SS-Unterscharführer Bartmann, this time wearing a tunic with field grey collar. The arm eagle being worn is the machine embroidered pattern.

 

SS-Unterscharführer Hans-Gerhard Starck. Starck wears an Army style M36 5 button front field blouse with dark green collar. Note the signals trade badge worn just above his "Adolf Hitler" cuffband. The badge worn on his tunic pocket is the Panzer Assault badge in Bronze.

An unidentified SS-Unterscharführer. Note the standard issue collar liner is being worn with his Army pattern M36 field blouse. Also particularly clear on this shot is the standard Waffen-SS NCO/Enlisted Mens peaked cap with its SS style chinstrap with the small central metal loop.

 

SS-Unterscharführer Josef Röllecke of the SSßTotenkopf Division . Note the standard right facing "horizontal" pattern SS deathshead collar patch. As well as the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross at the throat, he wears the Close Combat Clasp in Silver above his left breast pocket. The tunic is the Army M40 pattern field blouse with dark green collar but unpleated pockets. His peaked cap shows the typical shaping given to the crown by combat troops. Totally against regulations this practise was widespread in all branches of the German armed services.

 

This SS-Oberscharführer of Gebirgsjäger wears an Army style M36 type field blouse but cut from fine officer quality material. His shoulder straps bear a Gothic "P" emblem indicating his membership of an anti-tank or "Panzerjäger" section. His headgear is most unusual with a buckle rather than button fastening flap. Also of note is the use of the Army style metal mountain troops Edelweiss rather than the SS cloth embroidered version of this insignia.

 

 

An SS-Hauptscharführer holding the position of "Der Spiess" for his Company as attested to by the double rings of aluminium tresse to each sleeve. Although he appears to be wearing an Army pattern M36 field blouse with dark green collar, this photo clearly shows two small belt hook holes just above the lower pocket. This is a typical SS feature. All Army field blouses had three such holes. His field blouse therefore, though of similar appearance to an Army M40, has been manufactured in one of the SS clothing works or "Bekleidungswerke".

 

 A group of soldiers from the Nordland Division in their trenches on the Narva Front in 1944. Note the range of headgear being worn, with at least two NCOs wearing the old style field cap even at this late stage in the war. The lack of steel helmets suggests that combat action was not imminent.

 Erwin Bartmann, earlier shown as an SS-Unterscharführer, shown in this shot as an SS-Sturmmann. Note the plain field grey collar to the tnic, and the LAH cloth embroidered slip on shoulder strap mounts. Note that the collar is worn closed

 

 An unidentified SS-Sturmmann in standard M43 field blouse. The photograph is detailed enough for it to be determined that he wears the standard machine embroidered form of SS runic collar patch. Also just visible is the machine stitching which has been used around the edge of the patch to attach it to the collar. Hand stitched application is also known. He wears the standard M35 Stahlhelm. The collar is worn pressed open, and without a shirt.

 An SS-Unterscharführer from the SS-Totenkopf Division. The M43 field blouse is worn, with aluminium NCO Litzen to the edge of the collar and shoulder straps. Note the "horizontal" pattern, left facing style of deathshead collar patch. Also of interest, just visible under the flap of his breast pocket is the lanyar to which his NCOs whistle is attached. The collar is worn closed.

 A group of three fresh Waffen-SS recruits. This photo shows the typical uniform worn bz new recruits. Note the lack of collar patches and shoulder straps. National emblems however, are worn on the tunic sleeve and cap. Note also the knife edge creases to their trousers and high polish to their boots! Interestingly, the centre individual has been issued an old obsolete type SS-VT field cap with the metal deathshead button insignia at front. Collars are worn open, with shirt and tie.

 SS-Schütze Gerd Rommel from 10 SS-Panzer Division "Frundsberg". Rommel was the driver of the command vehicle used bz Divisional commander Heinz Harmel. He wears the standard M40 field blouse with plain black collar patch for enlisted men. (This field blouse differs from the later M43 in still featuring pleated pockets and scalloped edges to the pocket flaps) Interestingly, his field cap is either an Army pattern, with scalloped front edge and obsolete branch of service "soutache". Standard machine woven insignia has been applied. The collar is worn open with grey shirt and black tie.

 SS-Panzer Grenadier Horst Marcks from the "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler". Marcks wears the standard M43 pattern field blouse. Note that in comparison with the M40 field blouse shown above, the M43 has plain unpleated pockets and straight cut pocket flaps. Marcks wears not a combat decoration, but the Hitlerjugend proficiency badge, on his left breast pocket. Examination of the original print under a mangifying glass shows he is wearing the machine woven style of SS runic collar patch. The collar is worn open, with no shirt.

 

 SS-Sturmmann Erhard Kinscher from 12 SS-Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend". The tunic worn is a transitional pattern. It has the unpleated pockets found on the M43 style tunic, but still retains the scalloped pocket flaps of earlier patterns. The collar is worn open, with shirt and tie.

 SS-Schütze Anton Pell from SS-Nachrichten Regiment 500. This is a particularly clear shot of the machine woven cap insignia applied to the standard SS M38 Feldmütze. Grey shirt and back tie is worn.

 SS-Schütze from the "SS-Polizei- Division". An M40 field blouse is worn, open at the collar, and with shirt and tie. The sleeve eagle and unit cuffband are of the machine woven pattern. The Black Wound Badge is worn on the left pocket and the ribbon of the Iron Cross Second Class in the buttonhole. The NCO/Enlisted peaked cap has the standard SS metal alloy insignia, but utilises an Army pattern chinstrap.

 An extremely young, unidentified, SS-Sturmmann. The M40 field blouse is worn. The runic collar patch and sleeve eagle are machine woven in matt grey yarn on black, though the Sturmmann rank chevron is of the bright aluminium braid type. Note that as well as the shirt and tie, this soldier is also wearing a wollen pullover under his tunic.

A Flemish Waffen-SS volunteer, this SS-Rottenführer wears the "Trifos" collar patch on his M43 field blouse. Clearly shown here is the earlier M43 pattern field cap with but a single button fastening.. The deathshead is of the machine woven type. In all likelyhood, the national emblem in machine woven form will be featured on the left side flap of his cap. Note that the button is not the pebbled type, but a standard black horn button with four central stitching holes.

This fine portrait study of an SS-Schütze shows the M35 helmet and its decal to good advantage. Also of interest is the collar patch. This is an early machine embroidered form. Note that the runes are offset towards the rear of the patch. This is most likely a "numbered" patch from one of the three original SS-VT Regiments ( "Deutschland", "Germania", "Der Führer") from which the numeral ahead of the runes has been unpicked. 

 

 

 SS-Recruits taking the oath of allegiance. Note the "flared out" edges on the M42 pattern steel helmets and the "Alte Kämpfer" chevron worn by the officer at left. This view clearly shows the one piece nature of the back panel on the field blouse.

 

 

 A group of combat veterans from SS-Sturmbrigade "Wallonie". Note the use of the Army rather than SS pattern Mountain Troop Edelweiss by these troops, a feature relating to this units days as a volunteer formation within the German Army, before its transfer to the Waffen-SS. M42 pattern steel helmets are worn.

 

 

 

 Waffen-SS personnel at the Wildflecken training grounds in March 1942. Although they may initially appear to be similarly dressed, close inspection will reveal many detail differences. Predominantly a mixture of M40 and M43 style field blouses are shown, but the soldier at extreme left appears to be wearing a tunic with slash rather than patch lower pockets. This may be an old, obsolete SS-VT tunic he has been issued with

 "Nordland" personnel on the Narva front. Of particular interest is the wear by the soldier at extreme right, and those second and third from left, of the camouflaged SS field cap. The remaining two wear the standard M43 style field cap in field grey wool.

Despite several works now having been published about this formation, the British Free Corps ( NOTE: NOT Britisches Freikorps, - the unit title was in English) is still a unit of which relatively few people have any awareness. This original photo of Free Corps member SS-Rottenführer William Charles Britten, shows him wearing M43 pattern field blouse with the "three Leopards" collar patch of the Corps. His headgear is the standard M43 field cap

 

 

SS-Sturmmann Horst Schumann from SS-Panzer Regiment 1. This fine shot shows the standard SS cut Panzer uniform in excellent detail. Not particularly the straight cut to the front fastening flap of the jacket, Army versions being cut at a slant. It can be detected that he actually wears metal insignia on his black Feldmütze.

The Officer version of the SS black "Panzerbekleidung". In identical cut to the enlisted version, it does however feature silver twisted cord piping to the edge of the collar. The Army pattern Feldmütze with scalloped front portion is being worn, but with regulation machine woven SS insignia . Note that the cap also has officer grade silver piping.

Panzer Ace SS-Oberscharführer Ernst Barkmann. Barkmann wears the standard SS panzer clothing but note that he wears the Infantry rather than Panzer Assault Badge. When asked about this, Barkmann replied that his first combat experience was as an infantryman and he preferred to wear this even though he had qualified for the Panzer Assault Badge with "25" engagements number. Barkmann also wears the standard SS Panzer model M43 field cap. 

Another highly interesting study of Ernst Barkmann. His collar patches here feature pink silk piping. One the original print, it can be detected that as shoulder strap buttons, he wears the deathshead motif buttons used as cap insignia on the earlz Allgemeine-SS, SS-VT field caps. Note also the Regimental Numeral "2" for SS-Panzer Regt 2 "Das Reich" worn on the shoulder straps. Barkmann also wears an "Alte Kämpfer" chevron on his right sleeve, relating to his period of service with the Hitler Jugend. In fact , Barkmann confirmed that this tunic was an old one from his days with the "Wiking" Division where use of pink piping to the collar was widespread. This was not normal the case withing "Das Reich"

An SS-Rottenführer from the "Totenkopf" Division. The use of pink collar patch piping suggests that he too, like Barkmann, had passed through the "Wiking" Division at some point. It appears he also has pink piping to the edge of his collar, only used for a short time in the Waffen-SS  . Note that this NCO also wears the Infantry Assault Badge. His headgear is the old style field cap with cloth peak. It most probably features white and not pink piping.

 

 

An unidentified SS-Unterscharführer of Panzer troops, with absolutely standard regulation clothing. Note that neither the collar or collar patches are piped. His headgear is the regulation SS pattern Feldmütze with machine woven insignia. Just visible at the bottom of the picture is the top of his Panzer Assault Badge. 

SS-Obersturmführer Will Hein from SS-Panzer Regiment 5 "Wiking". Note that he wears the Honour Roll Clasp of the German Army on the ribbon of his Iron Cross Second Class. Once again, the twisted silver cord officer piping is worn to the collar of his Panzerjacke. 

SS-Shütze Gerd Rommel from 10 SS-Panzer Division "Frundsberg". Note the wear of the P08 or P38 pistol. The Divisional cuffband was rarely worn

A fine study of an SS-Untersturmführer from SS-Panzer Abteilung 17 "Götz von Berlichingen". The regulation silver piping is worn to the collar and collar patches and the arm eagle is likewise an officer quality version in hand embroidered aluminum wire. Of interest here is the rare hand embroidered aluminum wire cap eagle, a feature rarely seen on SS caps. 

An SS-Sturmbannführer (left) and SS- Untersturmführer (right) from SS-Panzer Regiment 1 wearing the Panzerjacke with the flap fastened right up to the collar.. Of interest is the fact that both of these men wear the rare Panzer assault badge for "25" engagements. This small number plaque can be seen as a black dot at the base of the wreath of the Badge.

 

 

 

A group of Panzer troops from SS-Panzer Regiment 1. Note that instead of the standard black panzer Feldmütze, the two soldiers on the left wear the black Allgemeine-SS prewar fieldcap, with its distinctive Deathshead emblem in button form.

The NCO Cadre from one of SS-Panzer Regiment 1's, tank companies. Close study of the photo will show a variety of types of insignia being worn on the black field caps. Some have a deathshead but no eagle, others the full set of standard machine woven insignia , some the Army Panzer collar patch deathshead on their caps and others still, the prewar deathshead metal button. 

In comparison, the personnel in this photo from another of SS-Panzer Regiment 1's sub units, all seem to be wearing the correct regulation uniform. Note the sleeve rings worn by the "Spiess" in the centre of the front row. Note also the two NCOs second and third from right wear the Infantry and not Panzer Assault badges. 

 

 

Another unusual shot. How many would expect to see an SS bandsman in full Panzer kit, playing from a book of Luftwaffe marches!!

A superb study of a PzKpfw III Befehlspanzer disabled on the Eastern Front after running over a mine. Note the damage to the first roadwheel. Note also the general "clutter" on the tank., steel helmets on the turret and hull front roof. The crewman SS-Oberschütze Fritz Lemme was later  killed in action and posthumously awarded the Panzer Assault badge by his Regimental Commander, Jochen Peiper. In this shot he wears the black Panzer Feldmütze, but with field grey denim work jacket.

Afine shot of the same Befehlspanzer taken at a later date, again under repair for mine damage. Note the very rare one piece camouflage coveralls worn in conjunction with the camouflaged field cap.

This excellent shot shows an assembly of vehicles from SS-Panzer Regiment 1 comprising mostly PzKpfw II and PzKpfw III with one PzKpfw IV. Of particular interest are the Opel "Maultier" trucks. The photo was taken in Italy in 1943

A transport train carrying surviving Panzers IV, III and II of the "Leibstandarte" through the Semmering Pass into Italy after the ill fated Kursk Offensive.

A fine study of Panzer Crewmen from SS-Panzer Regiment 1 wearing the two piece camouflage suit in panzer cut. Note the crewman second from left wears his fully buttoned up to the neck. The use of shoulder straps on this uniform was by no means universal. Note the crewman second from right has a standard black panzer M43 Feldmütze with single button fastening allowing both insignia to be worn on the front of the cap.

On the way back to the Eastern Front from Italy, these panzer crewmen take a last look at the Italian scenery. This photo was taken in October 1943 and soon the heat of Italy would be replaced by the chill of the Russian winter.

 

Nice shot for those itching to put these "Dragon" flatcars to good use. Nice details such as the wooden "chocks" under the tracks, plus the steel cable ties. Note also the helmet slung from the turret hook and the canvas sleeve over the gun barrel.  Nice view of the stencils too.

 

Kursk 1943 and PzKpfw IVs move into action supported by Panzergrenadiers mounted in SdKfz 250s. Note the extra fuel cans mounted in metal brackets on the rear doors.

Befehlspanzer IVs undergoing maintenance in Italy 1943. Note the crewman sitting on the open transmission cover. Note the heavy camouflage against enemy air attack.

Visit to SS-Panzer Regiment 1 by SS-Obergruppenführer Paul "Pappa" Hausser (centre). To his right, standing bz the rear of the PzKpfw V "Panther" is the Regimental Commander, SS-Obersturmbannführer Georg Schönberger, killed not long after this photo was taken, on 20 November 1943 near Brussilow on the Esatern Front.

SS-Untersturmführer Helmut Jahn with his driver SS-Sturmmann Walter Landfried. Their VW "Kübelwagen" is painted in dark yellow with no attempt at adding disruptive camouflage patterns. Note the single headlight, with its lens simply overpainted to leave only a small slit.

An early model Tiger I on the Eastern Front. Note the canvas cover over the muzzle brake. The forward and central mine dischargers on the hull side can be clearly seen.

A Befehlspanzer IV in Italz, 1943. Judging by the crew's attire ( or lack of it) and the cover over the muzzle brake, we can assume that contact with the enemy was not anticipated !.

A superb shot of one of SS-Panzer Regiment 1's VW Schwimmwagens. This appears to be a virtually mint condition specimen. Note the Divisional emblem and the tactical emblem for the Regiment.

SS-Obersturmbannführer Richard Schulze. Schulze was a one time personal adjutant to Adolf Hitler. At this time this photo was taken, he was serving with the SS-Junckerschule at Bad Tölz in Bavaria. He wears the field grey version of the Panzer "Wrapover" jacket. Note that his M43 Cap is an Army example, with its original woven army insignia. Schulze has simply pinned a metal SS deathshead over the Army tricolour cockade under the eagle.

 

SS-Unterscharführer Richard Fuchs from SS-Panzerjäger Abt 5 "Wiking". He wears the field grey version of the Panzer clothing. Note the old style field cap with cloth peak and the signaller "Blitz" trade badge on his lower left sleeve.

 

 

SS-Untersturmführer Rudolf Garscha wears a most unusual mix of dress. Camouflaged combat version of the Panzer wrapover, with white dress shirt and tie !! 

 

This British "Churchill" tank supplied to the Red Army, has been knocked out by Panzerjägers from the "Wiking" Division. Note the SdKfz 251 halftrack behind the soldiers on the right, and the short sleeved shirt with full insignia worn by SS-Unterscharführer Fuchs.

A fine selection of SS headgear being worn. The two soldiers at left wear the camouflaged field cap, the SS-Unterscharführer third from left a peaked cap with Army pattern chinstrap, the SS-Hauptscharführer an M43 Feldmütze with two button fastening allowing only space for the Deathshead, the eagle being worn on the left side, and the NCO at extreme right a so called "Crush" cap with soft leather peak and no chinstrap.

SS-Oberscharführer Helmut Buch from the "Totenkopf" Division, winner of the covetted Close Combat Clasp in Gold, wears the camouflaged field cap with metal peaked cap insignia attached.

SS-Untersturmführer Willi Hillen wears the camouflaged smock over his officers field service dress. He wears a peaked cap with the chincords removed  to make it resemble the popular "Crush" cap.

This shot shows the smock being worn in its intended, but rarely seen form, over the belt and ammo pouches etc. The photo was taken during the French Campaign in 1940. The soldier on the left was killed in action. At right is Ernst Barkmann who went on to become one of Germany's most famous Panzer Aces.

A group of Bosnian Volunteers from the "Handschar" Division, all wearing the camouflaged smock over their M43 Field Blouses. The version of the Fez worn here is the field grey field service type. A maroon coloured dress version was also produced.

A group of bosnian Volunteers, believed all brothers, from the "Handschar" Division. Note the use of the roll necked sweater by the individual at extreme right. 

A group of enlisted men, believed from the 16 SS-Panzergrenadier Division "Reichsführer-SS" in tropical service dress. They wear the so called "Sahariana" Jacket where the frontal yoke of the jacket forms the breast pocket flaps. Note that the tropical Feldmütze does not feature the drop down side flaps found on the standard field grey and black versions.  

Danish volunteer from the Nordland Division on the Narva Front. He wears the reversible winter parka with its white side out. The opposite side, in Autumn "Oakleaf" pattern, can be seen around the open collar. He also appears to be wearing the matching reversible trousers. Note that the sides of his field cap have been pulled down to give some degree of protection to his ears. 

A group of SS-VT personnel from the SS-Standarte "Deutschland" during pre-war winter exercises. Note the use of full insignia to include arm eagle, shoulder straps, collar patches and cuffband on the greatcoat. By the  later stages of the war, only shoulder straps would be worn.

 

A new recruit to the SS-Polizei-Division. He wears the early greatcoat with dark green collar but totally devoid of insignia  . His field cap, which appears to be either the Army pattern, or an SS-VT model, also lacks insignia.

The SS-Hauptscharführer wears the light weight raincoat or "Regenmantel" in waterproof material. Shoulder straps are the only insignia worn. His helmet is the basic M35 pattern.

This enlisted man from the SS-Totenkopf Division wears the early greatcoat with dark green collar. His collar patch is the left facing vertical pattern and, somewhat unusually, he wears a civilian polka-dot scarf!

The heavy, fleece lined, winter greatcoat worn here on the Narva Front by a Danish volunteer from the Nordland Division. The heavy white fleece lining can be clearly seen. Note also the camouflage reversible over -trousers. The tension on his tunic buttons suggest that it is stretched by his wearing additional garments, perhaps a woolen pullover, under his tunic. His cap is the old style field cap with cloth peak.

 

This SS soldier wears the field grey greatcoat over his winter parka ( the camouflaged parka hood can be seen over his greatcoat collar), with a wollen "toque" to protect his head and neck. Of interest is the camouflaged field cap with insignia. The subdued colours of the dathshead can just be made out against the camouflage pattern of the cap. 

A highly interesting and unusual shot of a group of Waffen-SS officer ranks wearing an amazing range of insignia. The officer on extreme left wears standard officers field blouse in Army M36 style with dark green collar and five button front. He wears the runic patch on his right collar, and the rare mirror image runic patch on the right. The standard black leather service belt is worn. Next, a Totenkopf officer wears a s imilar tunic but with right hand deathshead collar patch and stanrad rank patch on the left. He wears the aluminium brocade dress belt. The tall officer to his right wears the standard SS runic collar patch and matching rank patch, and again the brocade dress belt. The diminutive officer next in line wears a runic collar patch with tiny number  or letter in front of the runes. Two along from the small figure is an officer from the SS-Polizei-Division with Army /Polizei style collar patches and an Aremy style eagle worn in place of the SS type sleeve eagle. Note that he wears an old style eight button front tunic, and Army style leather belt with double claw buckle. The officer to his left wears the mirror image deathshead collar patches from the early days of the Totenkopf Division. The officer on extreme right wears standard insignia, but with an old style tunic featuring slash rather than patch pockets on the tunic skirt.

 

 

An SS-Standartenoberjuncker or senior officer candidate. Note the NCO style collar patches but with officer quality aluminium cord edging. His rank allows him the privilege of wearing an officer quality cap with officer type aluminium chin cords.

 A group of Totenkopf bandsmen from one of the TK sub-units based at the Lichterfelde barracks in Berlin. Note the officer wears the deathshead collar patch and an old style tunic with slash lower pockets

SS-Untersturmführer Gunter Knoll, attached to V SS-Gebirgskorps in 1945. He wears an M36 style field blouse. Just visible is the Gebirgsjäger edelweiss badge on his right sleeve. 

An SS-Untersturmführer from 27 SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division "Langemarck" wearing the unique "Trifos" or three legged sunwheel emblem of the Division as his collar patch. This  is almost certainly an enlisted ranks quality patch in machine embroidered cotton to which officers silver twist cord piping has been added. Actual hand embroidered wire versions of foreign volunteer patches are extremely rare.

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A fine study of SS-Untersturmführer Scherschel from 37 SS-Kavallerie- Division "Lützow" wearing the field grey M40 style tunic with collar pressed open, and shirt with tie. Note the wingtip of an Army rather than SS style eagle on the sleeve. His M43 style field cap has officers aluminium braid piping to the crown and has the one piece eagle and deathshead insignia specially made for this cap but rare in period photographs.  

 

A superb early portrait study of SS-Obersturmführer Albert Stenwedel. The numbered collar patch of SS-Standarte 3 "Der Führer" can be seen to great advantage. He wears the SS-VT earth grey tunic and standard leather belt but with cross strap, a feature rapidly done away with after the start of the war.

 

 

 

 

SS-Obersturmführer Solleder of 5 SS-Panzer Division "Wiking". The piping on his cap can be clearly seen to be of a dark hue, and certainly not the standard white piping, indicating he obtained this cap during the very brief period when coloured pipings in Waffenfarbne colour were authorised on Waffen-SS peaked caps. In this case the piping is bright red, Solleder serving at this time with Panzer Artillerie Regiment 5. 

 

 

 

SS-Obersturmführer Georg Preuss from SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 2. Although Preuss wears the standard officers peaked cap, the usual metal insignia has been replaced by a machine woven deathshead and a hand embroidered Army officer cap eagle, a fairly common variation. 

SS-Obersturmführer Georg Karck. He wears what is clearly a enlisted quality wool (rather than fine officer quality twill) tunic ,in M40 style. Note however, that there are no belt hook holes on the waist of the tunic, indicating this has probably been specifically manufactured for him as an officer tunic for wear in the field. His cap, as evidenced by its crumpled appearance and soft leather peak is of the so called "Crush" type , but fitted with officer chincords.

 This Knights Cross bedecked SS-Hauptsturmführer wears a fine officer quality tunic, worn with breeches, officer quality boots and leather gloves in this carefully posed propaganda shot.

 

 

Two experienced combat veterans from 12 SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend". To the left is SS-Sturmbannführer Heinrich Springer and to the right SS-Sturmbannführer Hubert Meyer. Both had seen considerable combat experience with the elite "Leibstandarte" before transferring to the HJ Division. 

 

 

A very rare shot of SS-Obersturmbannführer Jochen Peiper taken on the Eastern Front during a troop inspection parade. He wears a very unusual uniform combination. Note that his tunic bears no arm eagle or cuffband, and that in contrast to his field grey tunic and trousers, he wears a black panzer field cap, but in Army cut with only a deathshead and no cap eagle.  The wear of an open neck tunic in the front lines by Peiper is also highly unusual.

SS-Obersturmbannführer of the SS "Totenkopf" Division. He wears an officer pattern field blouse but cut in field grey wool rather than fine twill. It has no belt hook holes. He appears to wear a machine embroidered other ranks sleeve eagle rather than a hand embroidered officer version. His shoulder straps are clearly of the removable type rather than stitched into the shoulder seam, and he wears the machine woven version of his Regiment's cuffband "Theodor Eicke".

SS-Obergruppenführer Artur Phleps, commander of 7 SS-Freiwilligen Gebirgs Division "Prinz Eugen".Of particular interest is his tunic. It has a dark green contrasting collar but note that it is not a "button-up" style collar which has simply been pressed open, but that the tunic has been tailor made with an open collar. Most tunics in this open neck style featured a plain field grey collar as in the previous photo of Jochen Peiper.

This previously unpublished shot of SS-Obergruppenführer Josef "Sepp" Dietrich is one of only a handful which show him wearing a black panzer uniform. On his upper left chest he wears the Golden party Badge, and just below this the beautiful Pilot-Observer badge with Diamonds. Slightly below and the the viewers leftof this, is the rare badge for WW1 Tank Crews. Above his sleeve eagle, Dietrich wears the Krim Shield for service in the Crimean peninsula. 

A more typical shot of Sepp Dietrich in which he wears a fine quality field grey officer tunic with dark green collar.( Note the very pointed ends to the collar ) with the ribbon of the "Blood Order" on the right breast pocket flap.

A fine group photo showing a number of SS dignitaries after the successful conclusion of the Campaign in Greece. Kneeling, pointing out a feature on the terrain map, is Fritz Witt. Standing, at left, is Sepp Dietrich with, behind him, Jochen Peiper and looking over Peiper's shoulder, Max Wünsche. At extreme right is , of course, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler.

An SS enlisted mans collar patches with red piping as occasionally worn on the field grey wrapover jacket used by some SS-Panzer Artillerie units. Such examples are very rare.

A pre-war SS-VT collar patch for a Signals unit as indicated by the lightning flash in front of the runes. Pre-war SS-VT patches featured black-silver twist piping.

An other ranks collar patch for staff and students of the SS-Junckerschule at Bad Tölz, as indicated by the Gothic "T" .

Two versions of the SS Totenkopf deathshead collar patch. The left hand example is a left facing vertical pattern whilst that on the right is the common wartime horizontal right facing pattern.

 An original SS machine woven other ranks sleeve eagle. As well as this pale grey on black standard version, it was also made in tan on black for tropical wear., and in either brown on black or green on black for camouflage clothing.

A section cut from a pre-war earth grey SS-VT tunic with SS-Sturmmann chevron and machine embroidered version of the SS sleeve eagle.

 A section cut from the sleeve of an SS camouflage jacket with SS-Rottenführer chevron and machine embroidered sleeve eagle.

Two different versions of the one piece machine woven M43 cap insignia. Note the left hand version has the nore anatomically correct skull, whilst that on the right has a rather comic single row of teeth.

 Two versions of the special sleeve eagle worn by SS Italian volunteers, with the eagle clutching a fasces rather than a swastika. The red backed version is the earlier type.

The standard mahine embroidered SS Gebirgsjäger insignia. The left hand patch is for the right sleeve of the tunic, and the right hand patch for the left side of the Bergmütze or M43 field cap. 

 

An early pre-war shoulder strap of the Leibstandarte with the large flowing monogram of that period. Note also the very early twisted black/silver piping. 

 

 

 

 

 

A rare SS shoulder strap in field grey, still with the very early monogram. Note the RZM tag still attached, showing its date of manufacture as 1935. 

Pointed end style shoulder strap with piping, and featuring the definitive style of LAH monogram.

SS Artillerie NCO ( SS-Unterscharführer) shulder straps with bright red piping and aluminum NCO braid "Tresse". 

A selection of junior officer grade straps. Left to Right, Untersturmführer of Panzers with pink piping, Obersturmführer for KZ troops with light brown piping , Obersturmführer specialists with dark green piping, and Hauptsturmführer of Feldgendarmerie with Orange piping. 

 Senior Field Grade officer straps. Left to right Sturmbannführer from a Kradschützen unit with copper brown piping, Obersturmbannführer of medical unit with cornflower blue piping and Standartenführer of Mountain Troops with light green piping.

A fine pair of SS-Gruppenführer shoulder straps, with gold-silver twist braid on a mouse grey base, and a single silver rank pip on each. These are the sew in type inserted into the shoulder seam. 

An original SS camouflaged field cap, with the autumn (interior ) side outermost. Note the narrow sweatband around the base of the cap indicating this is indeed intended as the interior side. 

 

 

 An original Waffen-SS helmet cover with its unique spring loaded metal clips to attach it to the helmet rim. Army helmet covers were held in place by a drawstring arrangement. This helmet cover displays the Spring "Oakleaf" pattern.

 

Early SS M43 field cap with single button fastening, worn with two piece insignia. Note the plastic rather than pebbled metal button and the fact that a machine embroidered rather than the usual machine woven cap eagle is used. 

Standard issue Panzer M43 cap. Note the more usual two piece insignia configuration when worn with two button fastening flap, that is with the deathshead to the front of the cap, and the eagle sewn to the left side flap.

An original dress Fez in maroon coloured felt for the SS Handschar Division. Typically this form of headgear is found with machine woven insignia, and a narrow imitation leather sweatband.

 

 

 

 

A typical Waffen-SS enlisted/NCO grade peaked cap. The band is in black wool with white wool piping. The crown is fine field grey wool, also with while wool piping. The chinstrap is of leather and the peak of laquered compressed fibre.

An SS officer grade cap. The band is in black velvet rather than wool. The chincords are the standard officer type in aluminum braid. The piping on this cap, unusually, is in the same woven artificial silk material used to pipe shoulder straps.

 A very fine near mint original Waffen-SS officer cap. Note that the material in this case is fine field grey coloured ribbed woollen twill.

A very rare and fine Waffen-SS General's peaked cap. Identical to the standard officer type in all other respects, it has however, piping in fine aluminum wire weave

A rare example of a Waffen-SS officers cap with coloured piping. In this case the piping is golden yellow for Cavalry personnel. 

 

 

 

CUFFBANDS

The study of Waffen-SS cuffbands is a major undertaking in its own right and one which is outside the scope of this work. The majority of Waffen-SS cuffbands will be found in one of two forms, embroidered or woven. Embroidered versions may be machine embroidered in fine silver grey yarn as in the case of the Nordland and Langemarck bands below,and usually worn by enlisted and NCO grades, all on a black woven rayon base with silver metallic thread edging, or may have hand embroidered aluminum wire embroidery usually worn by officers.

Alternatively, bands could be woven, either in metallic aluminum thread or in grey synthetic silk thread as in the Horst Wessel and Reichsführer-SS bands illustrated below. Such woven bands could be encountered being worn by all ranks from enlisted man through to General.