SS uniforms

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SS-Gruppenführer Hans Heinrich Lammers in the black uniform of the General SS

The uniforms of the Schutzstaffel (SS) were primarily paramilitary and were used between 1925 and 1945. Today it is mainly understood to mean the uniforms of the political party organization Allgemeine SS .

prehistory

In the period between 1925 and 1932, there was still a great deal of inconsistency in the “ dress code ” of the “ Nazi fighting organizations ”. Everyone wore what he personally considered to be " military ". Therefore, on November 14, 1926 , the “Reichsführung-SA” felt compelled to determine the “official clothing of the Nazi fighting organizations” ( SA , SS and HJ ): After that, the fighting organizations had a brown shirt with a scarf, cap, short brown trousers and so on To wear shoulder strap and belt . In bad weather, a field gray windbreaker could be worn over the brown shirt.

On August 20, 1929, in an order regarding the “dress code” issued by the OSAF, the “Supreme SA Leader”, it was stipulated that the SA must now dress in brown throughout and wear leggings or brown riding boots. For the SS, he stipulated that they would have to be externally distinguished from the SA by black ties and caps (with a skull and black-white-red cockade).

On November 7, 1930, Hitler decreed that the SS was only formally subordinate to the Supreme SA leadership and that no SA leader was authorized to issue orders to the SS. The SS was now an "autonomous part" of the SA. Heinrich Himmler now began to dress the SS uniformly in black riding breeches and boots and black belts. This marked the first visible step of the later sub-organization "SS" to an independent "combat organization".

In 1932 all paramilitary organizations in the German Reich were banned from wearing uniforms or uniform-like clothing. During the period of the uniform ban, all members of the paramilitary Nazi organizations (SA, SS and HJ) wore the so-called “white prohibited shirts” in combination with a dark blue sailor's hat and black tie and black trousers with black motorcycle boots as a substitute for uniforms. Nevertheless, in the same year , the Hugo Boss company received an order from the NSDAP to produce standardized, uniform uniforms for their “combat organizations”.

After the takeover of the Nazi Party in January 1933, a "uniform-mania", as they own for all occasions uniforms began introducing in the ranks of Nazi organizations.

The SS was banned and disbanded as a criminal organization in 1945 and its property was confiscated. In the Federal Republic of Germany, with all its subdivisions, it is one of the unconstitutional organizations within the meaning of Section 86 of the Criminal Code . Their symbols and marks , including parts of their uniforms, are subject to the prohibition of distribution under Section 86a of the Criminal Code.

Uniforms and armbands of the SS predecessor organizations

Staff guard

The "staff guard" formed in May 1923 by Adolf Hitler was equipped with the black ski hats of the former Austrian mountain troops who wore the so-called "Prussian skull " (skull without lower jaw over crossed bones) of the former Freikorpsregiment Brigade Erhardt . This skull pattern was traditionally used by the skull hussars and, during the First World War, also by the Nebelwerfer companies, members of the shock troops , the flamethrower companies and the new " Panzer weapon ", which emerged from mounted units, as a symbol of belonging to a " Elite Troop ”of the German Army. Otherwise, the relatives wore the uniform in which they were retired at the end of the war, i.e. the uniform of the army or navy . Members of the staff guard who no longer had their own uniform often wore gray-green or gray windbreakers as a substitute for uniforms. The staff guard thus shared the usual practice with the rest of the storm department .

Adolf Hitler raiding party

The external markings of the subsequent " Adolf Hitler raid " were the black hats with the skull badge and the red "battle arrows", which were bordered in black. Between 1925 and 1929 no badges of rank were worn in the SS . When Heinrich Himmler was appointed SS commander in January 1929 , however, he introduced various armbands to replace the missing rank badges.

These armbands were used until 1929/1930 and became obsolete with the introduction of the rank mirror, which was supplemented by shoulder pieces in 1933.

Service suits / uniforms of the General SS

SS traditional suit

The uniform of the General SS between 1929 and 1932 was still based heavily on that of the SA. This was to show everyone that the SS was “only” a subdivision of the entire SA. It was officially introduced after the founding of the SS as the party's so-called “hall protection” on April 1, 1925, but it was not worn in a uniform manner. This “service suit” (the word “ uniform ” could not be mentioned in this context, as only Reich and state authorities as well as the recognized “warrior associations” such as the “ Stahlhelm ” or the “ Kyffhäuser Bund ” possessed the so-called “uniform right” ) was used between 1925 and 1934.

Service cap and insignia

This first SS uniform consisted of a black SA cap which, in addition to the black, white and red cockade (so-called “German Reich colors”), contained the skull of the Prussian body hussars.

Service shirt and trousers

The so-called “Lettow shirt” (brown shirt), now the official “party shirt of the NSDAP”, was worn with a black tie. On the left upper arm the "Kampfband der SS" (swastika armband, variously referred to as the "SS storm band") was worn and the black "storm band" with a matt white border was worn over the left cuff. There was also a black belt with shoulder straps and black “boot pants ” ( breeches - or riding breeches) and boots.

Between April and June 1930, wearing the "brown shirt" was banned in some German states. From 1935 this variant of the SS uniform became known as the “traditional SS suit” and was also officially designated as such. In the summer of 1935, this “traditional suit” was worn for the last time as the official “summer uniform” by members of the SS.

From autumn 1935 the new black uniform had prevailed in the German Reich. However, large parts of the Austrian SS - Austria was annexed to the German Reich on March 12, 1938 - still used the traditional suit until around 1938/39.

Black uniform of the SS

SS service and parade suit (left) and traditional suit.

In 1932 the NSDAP commissioned the company of its member Hugo Ferdinand Boss to produce uniform uniforms for all of its branches, while the so-called “ban on uniforms” was still in progress. These had been designed by SS members Karl Diebitsch and Walter Heck.

For the SS, in contrast to the brown uniforms for most NS branches, a consistently black uniform with minimal white and silver tones was proposed. As with the choice of the skull symbol, the black uniform color of the skull hussars, which was worn until 1910, served as a model . This black uniform eventually became the model for the later “service uniforms” of the Reiter-SS , the SS-disposal troops and the SS-Totenkopfverband . Since August 1935, active members of the General SS were entitled to equip themselves with the black storm baggage of the available troops during parades .

The SS effects of the old uniform were carried over to the new uniform. In contrast, however, the ranks of higher officers were now kept in aluminum embroidery and various "awards" were introduced, by which one could now recognize the length of service or the "origin" of an SS member.

From March 1933, the Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM) was commissioned by Himmler to equip the members with the new uniforms via the SS clothing fund after numerous private clothing factories had found themselves for production. The output of the uniforms had been proven against signature confirmation must be sent to the members of the SS. On the inside of the clothing including the service hats, "SS-RZM" logos ( RZM trademark ) were affixed, which contained, for example, the following information:

SS service skirt
Distributor number
Manufacturing company
Member number of the institution
NSDAP Reichszeugmeisterei number

Furthermore, this uniform was legally protected as if it were uniforms of state authorities and the like. In every item of clothing there was an express note: "Unauthorized possession of party-official clothing is punishable by imprisonment for up to 2 years according to the decree of the Reich President of March 21, 1933".

From 1933 the so-called "civil badges" were also introduced for the sub-organizations of the NSDAP. These were designed by the graphic artist and SS-Sturmhauptführer Walter Heck. Heck was also the first to suggest the white Siegrunen on a black background as a symbol of the SS. These drafts were then approved and introduced by Hitler and Himmler.

Between 1932 and 1935, however, both uniforms were worn in the SS at the same time, as SS members always had to procure the new uniform privately. From 1935 the situation had changed to such an extent that the party official Reichzeugsmeisterei of the NSDAP (RZM) was able to enable ordinary SS members and subordinates to obtain their uniforms through them. The officers' ranks continued to get their uniforms from private tailors, especially since the quality was better there.

Since 1934, so-called SS honorary and rank leaders were also authorized to wear this black uniform (the new uniform was given to them in preference!). However, in order to be differentiated from "normal" SS members and if they did not come from the SS, they had to wear special collar tabs. These so-called "SS honorary and rank leaders" were men who were accepted into the SS by Heinrich Himmler on an honorary basis after 1934 . Originally they were not required to actively join the SS, but by 1938 around 99% of them had become active members of Himmler's “black order”. After 1938, however, this practice was abandoned as too cumbersome and this group of people now wore the regular uniforms with the current rank insignia. A special sleeve stripe with the gold-colored inscriptions Ehrenführer or Rangführer on a matt gold background and the gold-embroidered border further indicated the honorary ranks awarded.

From the autumn of 1935, the black service uniform was made mandatory for all SS members.

Service cap and insignia

SS-Totenkopf , here version 2 (1934–1945)

This new uniform design consisted of a black peaked cap without a metal bracket and with a silver party eagle and skull. The visor of the cap was made of varnished vulcanized fiber , had a black wool or tricot fabric cover for the crew and sub-commanders and a cap band made in the same way. The edge of the hat had a white piping on them. The chin strap was made of black synthetic leather. Officer ranks had a visor cap made of black gabardine and the ribbon of the cap was made of black silk. The piping on the edge of the plate was made of aluminum. In the officer's version, the chinstrap was made of two twisted aluminum strips that were attached to the side with two white 13 mm metal buttons. This peaked cap presented by Hugo Boss had a certain resemblance to the "Unteroffiziers-Feldmütze" of the German army (1914–1918), which was also very popular with former World War II soldiers in the post-war period. Heinrich Himmler agreed to these drafts, and Adolf Hitler also saw no contradiction in the deviation from the “party color brown” to “black” - after all, the different colors corresponded to the “ elite concept ” of the SS and their leadership.

This peaked cap was worn in the SS between 1932 and 1934. In 1935 a military-style SS counterpart of the flat cap, as used by the police and the Wehrmacht , appeared. As early as 1936, however, the different manufacturing standards for the flat caps were standardized across the empire. State organizations such as the police and the armed forces as well as the numerous NS party branches now wore the same service caps.

SS steel helmets

In 1935, a black-lacquered steel helmet , the so-called "M16" (for model 1916 ), was introduced into the NS organization now known as the General SS . It was to be worn on special occasions such as propaganda marches, parades or cross-country marches.

SS service coat and trousers

The new uniform also included a black skirt with a belt and shoulder strap, including the brown shirt and a black artificial silk tie . The uniform was completed by black breeches (riding or boot pants ) with black shaft boots. The skirt was made either from black tricot (for team and Unterführer ranks) or from black gabardine ("SS-Führer"). This service skirt should be closed with four heavily grained buttons made of aluminum and with a hook on the collar. He had two patch and pleated breast pockets that could be closed with buttons. It was also evident that the pocket flaps were three-pointed. The skirt also had two hand pockets with beveled flaps on the outside. At waist height eyelets were attached to carry the belt.

At the same time as the new uniform, new body straps with completely redesigned belt locks were to be introduced: The “Führer belt” was made of black leather and now had a round belt lock that showed an eagle with its wings drawn down and sitting on a floating swastika surrounded by oak leaves. In a loop below the eagle emblem, the SS motto (“ My honor means loyalty ”) was attached. The “team and sub-leader's paddock” was also made of black leather, but was locked with a classic box lock. Here, too, the party eagle sat on a standing swastika in the oak leaves. Only the wings of the eagle were wider and the SS motto was indicated in a semicircle below the eagle.

In 1937 Heinrich Himmler allowed all old members of the SS (the so-called "old fighters" ) to wear the "white prohibition shirt" under the black uniform. By 1939, this practice was extended to the non-commissioned officer ranks regardless of the length of membership in the SS. In 1939 the ranks of the General SS were also allowed to wear a white jersey shirt with a black uniform; the “brown shirt” was ultimately only used by “ SS applicants ” until they were officially accepted as “ relay candidates ” in the SS. This followed a practice introduced by the SS disposable troops. During their "probationary period", all SS applicants were forbidden to wear any SS insignia, with the exception of the SS armband. They only got this when they were finally accepted into the SS.

SS service coats for field and road service

For the winter time, a calf-length black wool coat was provided, which was buttoned in two rows and equipped with all SS insigia. "SS leaders" and "SS Unterführer" were allowed to wear so-called "weather protection capes", raincoats and leather coats during the "bad weather". In the summer months the officers were allowed to wear an "SS cape". This “privilege” was also granted to the honorary and senior leaders.

SS dress suit

The SS dress suit corresponds in every detail to the black uniform , but in contrast to this, it was worn with normal black trousers (i.e. without the usual breeches). It was used by all SS divisions with the corresponding symbols .

SS parade uniform

Every SS member was obliged to buy two copies of the black uniform privately . One was worn for regular "SS service", the other had to be kept for parades and marches. The so-called "SS parade uniform" thus corresponds 100% to the black SS uniform. It was also used by all SS divisions with their respective insignia.

However, officers wore a "waist belt" modeled on the "SS leader's belt". Here, however, it was made of white tricot fabric interwoven with numerous silver-colored SS runes, swastikas and oak leaves. Members of armed SS groups wore black leather cartridge pouches in addition to their belts. In contrast to this, members of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler wore white belts with white cartridge pockets and sometimes white gloves.

SS dress suit

The so-called "SS society suit" was an elegant black double-breasted suit that was introduced in 1935. In addition to the black suit with tails and no tails, it also consisted of a white shirt with a stand-up collar, a white bow tie and a white vest. In addition, white "officer stripes" were worn on the trousers. The formal suit was equipped with two shoulder pieces.

The tailcoat was designed in 1934 by the set designer Benno von Arent on behalf of Adolf Hitler . The formal suit was reserved for SS officers and NCOs.

In addition, there was still the "large formal suit". Also a double-breasted suit, here in the large version a closed jacket and the "brown shirt" with a black tie was to be worn. Furthermore, no shoulder pieces were allowed to be worn on this variant of the formal suit. The formal suits were used by everyone, including officers of the various SS divisions.

White SS summer skirt

This was introduced by order of June 27, 1939, analogous to the Wehrmacht, for all officer ranks for the summer months as a so-called "interim uniform". It was considered a supplement to the normal "SS service skirt".

It should only be worn between April 1st and September 30th of each year or on special occasions, alternatively with black and white trousers. Furthermore, Himmler allowed the officers to wear the “service cap with a black or white top” with a summer skirt. The white summer coat was also given to officers of the armed SS units. In spring 1940, however, this summer skirt was withdrawn again.

Gray service uniform of the General SS

At the beginning of March 1938, it became generally customary for senior leaders of the General SS to wear the gray field uniforms of the SS disposable troops and later those of the Waffen SS as a so-called "gray service suit", since - according to the then official reading - the black service uniform was had proven too "impractical". (The reality, however, was likely to have been to highlight the SS as a whole as a "military elite medal", since the classic military color in Germany was gray.)

Initially, a single shoulder piece was also worn on the gray uniform of the Allgemeine SS. In mid-March 1938, however, the common military style of wearing two shoulder pieces was enforced. The numerous former soldiers within the SS leadership had demanded this. Until the end of the war in 1945, all members of the General SS wore gray uniforms, the SS shoulder boards derived from the SA.

Uniforms of the SS special commandos and political readiness

When, in the spring of 1933, the formation of special troops from parts of the SS (around 15,000) armed with handguns, they still wore the uniforms of the General SS. In addition, they wore an armband with the inscription "Auxiliary Police" in order to support these rolling commandos To give SS some legality in the eyes of the public . The members of these “Sonderkommandos” and the later “ Political Readiness ” wore the black uniform of the SS.

Significant deviations existed in the wearing of "special" collar tabs and independent sleeve stripes. The ranks of the crew also carried black leather cartridge pouches for the German standard rifle Karabiner 98k with the belt and shoulder straps.

From the very beginning, the "SS Sonderkommandos" were raised militarily like regiments and led by former Reichswehr and police officers. This led to the fact that these "SS-Sonderkommandos" wore the insignia for the first time , which later, as a symbol of the Waffen-SS, would terrify the whole of Europe : They wore the double " Siegrune " on the right collar tab of their uniform.

The SS special commandos also took over the so-called " storm luggage " from the Reichswehr , which was made for them in a black version.

On May 5, 1934, Himmler decreed that new insignia for the “SS Sonderkommandos” and “Political Readiness” were introduced and later also adopted by the later armed SS units (SS disposal troops, skulls and later Waffen-SS):

  1. The Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler wears its own insignia, consisting of the bracelet with the inscription "Adolf Hitler" and a collar tab. The right (collar tab) bears the "SS runes".
  2. The other political readiness will wear the following insignia from June 1st on: Arm bands without inscriptions, but with the company number. On the right side of the collar, a (collar) mirror with (the SS) runes and the regimental number is worn, as ordered by the RFSS . For existing and yet to be established political readiness, the following applies: SS section South = Regiment No. 1 (in the mirror as "SS 1 "), Section Southwest = Regiment No. 2 ("SS 2 ") and in the Middle section = Regiment No. 3 ("SS 3 ").
  3. The regiments are divided into battalions. These battalions can be identified by the corresponding colored stripes on the cuffs: I. battalion = green, II. Battalion = dark blue, III. Battalion = red.
  4. The companies of a regiment are numbered from 1 to 12. The company number is indicated on the sleeve strip.
  5. The inscriptions are made in white-silver embroidery for the ranks of the team and sub-leader (up to and including the "SS-Obertruppführer"), and for officers in aluminum embroidery.

On December 14, 1934, Himmler dissolved the “SS Sonderkommandos” and reorganized them into “Political Readiness”, as there was now a certain “troop strength”. Only one year later, this “political readiness” finally formed the basis of a “new” troop, which was given the name “SS disposable troop”.

Uniforms of the Germanic SS

After the NSDAP came to power in Germany, similarly structured parties and organizations were founded in neighboring European countries . Their “party armies” were mainly based on Heinrich Himmler's SS and adopted their uniforms and ranks with slight differences typical of the country.

Netherlands

With the appointment of Adolf Hitler as German Chancellor (January 30, 1933), similarly politically motivated movements arose in the neighboring Netherlands . There were seven copies of the German NSDAP there alone. The most important were:

  1. National Socialist Dutch Workers Party ( Nationaal-Socialistische Nederlandsche Arbeiders Partij / NSNAP )
  2. National Socialist Movement ( National Socialist Movement / NSB )

Henk Feldmeijer , a member of the NSB, set up the Dutch troop (so-called "Mussert Guard") in 1933, which, following the example of the German SS, was to perform the "security services" within the party for the NSB. In 1940 this “order force” was to form the core of the Dutch SS. It introduced a black uniform as early as July 1940, which was clearly modeled on the black uniform of the German SS. The production of these uniforms was assigned to tailors close to the NSB and, in addition to the SS rank badges , all other SS-typical insignia were adopted by them. The Dutch SS was structured similarly to the German model. Like the German, it had "Standarten", "Sturmbanner" and "Stürme".

The members of the Dutch SS wore the black shirts of the Mussert Guard with their black uniform, and so they were also known as "black shirts" (the black shirts had their origins in Italian fascism ). The NSB's party badge (a so-called "Wolfsangel") was worn on the right upper arm. This lay in a diagonally divided black-red triangle and was surrounded by silver-colored aluminum piping. This symbol also appeared on the service cap instead of the SS eagle. Officers wore white shirts based on the German model. Crew and officer ranks wore belts with so-called "two-thorn locks" with shoulder straps. (In 1942, the team paddock of the Flemish SS was taken over for the team and subordinate ranks.)

After the German invasion, Feldmeijer set up the “General SS of the Netherlands” ( Algemeene SS in Nederland ) in August 1940 , the core of which lay in the Mussert Guard, strictly according to “SS rules”. This Dutch SS was recognized by the German side as the "Dutch SS" and explicitly as a political part of the Mussert movement.

With the takeover of the German SS rank system including the shoulder boards by the Dutch National Socialists, Dutch equivalents were also introduced. Henk Feldmeijer introduced special collar tabs for himself that were supposed to identify him as a “Führer” ( Voorman ) of the Dutch SS: He wore a “tripod” on both sides, a variant of the Germanic sun wheel with silver aluminum piping. He put himself on a level with the German "Reichsführer". The Dutch SS also adopted a variant of the SS motto, which in the Netherlands was called "My honor, my loyalty" ( Mijn Eer Mijn Trouw ).

As recently as August 1940, members of the Dutch SS were accepted into the Waffen SS Regiment “Westland”. They volunteered to be admitted to the German occupying power in Amsterdam . There they were originally supposed to receive military training for "police tasks". On September 11th of the same year, the SS Feldmeijers were accepted into the German SS and incorporated into the newly created "Control Center of the Germanic SS". The Dutch SS members were now entitled to use the German SS motto (Dutch Mijn Eer heet Trouw ) and they now wore a sleeve diamond with the SS runes on their right upper arm as a sign that they were the German SS commander Himmler had received his "black medal". The Dutch SS men were personally sworn in on Adolf Hitler with the "award of the sleeve diamond" . The wording of the oath was: “I swear to you Adolf Hitler as Germanic leader and to all superiors you have appointed loyalty and obedience to the point of death. So help me God. ” The Dutch SS was now also authorized to wear SS sleeve strips with the inscription“ Algemeene SS in Nederland / Nederlandsche SS ”.

With his formal acceptance into the German SS, Henk Feldmeijer had to forego his collar tabs and was elevated to the rank of SS-Obergruppenführer. He now wore the three oak leaves with the star, but was still allowed to call himself the Voorman of the Dutch SS. However, Heinrich Himmler authorized the Dutch SS to exchange their belt lock with the two “Siegrunen” in an oak wreath for the regular German SS lock.

In August 1942, the badges of rank were modified in the German Reich with the creation of the "SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer", in which the collar tabs were changed from Standartenführer upwards. However, this had no effect on the rank badges of the Dutch SS men. On November 1st of the same year the inscription on the cuffs was changed to "Germaansche SS Nederland".

At the end of the war, the Dutch SS had around 6,127 registered members, who were organized in five SS standards and one police standard. In 1945, the National Socialist organizations and their paramilitary associations were banned and dissolved in the Netherlands.

Belgium

The establishment of a Belgian or Flemish SS was complicated by various factors. In Belgium there was not only a - according to Nazi German - "German-blooded" and "related" people ( Flemings ), but also a Romansh ( Walloons ). It is true that after the end of the First World War the Flemings formed various right-wing national “veteran organizations” such as the “Front Party” ( Frontpartij ) and the “Old Fighters of Flanders” ( Vlaamsche Oud Strijders / VOS ) and were dreaming of themselves a "Groß-Dietschland", which sometimes only included Flanders and the Netherlands and sometimes all of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg .

When Belgium was occupied by the Wehrmacht in 1940, units of the Waffen SS followed almost at the same time. This recruited volunteers in the ranks of the Flemings in the SS company "Westland", in which these volunteers were to be trained militarily for police tasks. Supporters and members of the Front Party in particular followed this call and joined the ranks of the Waffen SS. Other members of the Front Party formed similarly structured organizations based on the German SS model: At the end of September 1940, 80 members of the Front Party in Antwerp and 50 in Ghent joined together to form the so-called "Allgemeine Schutzschar Flanders" ( Algemeene SchutScharen Vlaanderen ). However, this took over the designation "General SS in Flanders" ( Algemeene Vlaamsche SS ) in 1940 . In December 1940 the Belgian SS adopted the old uniform and rank insignia of the German SS. The Flemish SS introduced their own belt lock for their ranks, which contained a swastika surrounded by oak leaves (this was later adopted by the Dutch SS). Officers wore the "two-thorn lock" in the style of the German Wehrmacht. In contrast to the other SS organizations in Europe, however, the Flemish SS was never part of any party organization. Its members came from all right-wing national and fascist parties and movements that supported Heinrich Himmler's “SS elite idea” in a “Greater Germanic Europe” and were convinced of it. To show everyone that they considered themselves to be of the same nature as the German SS, the Flemish SS men wore the SS runes on their left upper arm; As a "national emblem" they wore a silver-colored swastika over their skulls on their caps.

On September 1, 1941, the number of these Flemish SS had grown to such an extent that two standards could now be drawn up. Older members over 35 years of age formed a reserve standard called "SS-Miliz" ( SS-Militie ). On October 1, 1942, the Flemish SS was reorganized and incorporated into Heinrich Himmler's "Germanic SS". They now also wore the regular black SS uniform (made in Germany) and the SS sleeve diamond (with aluminum piping) on ​​their right upper arm. The Flemish nationalists used two sleeve diamonds with the SS runes, which were now worn on the right and left of the upper arm. They also took their personal oath on the "Germanic leader" Adolf Hitler. The active SS men were given a cuff with the inscription "Germanische SS Flandern" ( Germaansche SS Vlaanderen ) from Himmler , while the reserve was renamed "Flandern-Korps" ( Vlaanderen-Korps ) on August 1st of the same year . With the takeover into the German SS, the Flemish SS members were also entitled to wear the motto of this organization ( Mijne Eer is Trouw ).

The reorganization of the German SS rank badges had no effect on the Flemish SS.

Most of the Flemish SS members later reported to the Waffen SS , where they were to receive military training in the SS Regiment "Westland" for later police tasks. Shortly after their training, however, they were taken over as combat troops of the Waffen-SS and finally formed the base team of the "27. SS Volunteer Grenadier Division Langemarck ”. After the end of the war, all National Socialist organizations in Belgium were banned and dissolved.

Denmark

A right-wing nationalist party corresponding to the NSDAP was founded in Denmark as early as 1929 under Dr. Frits Clausen. It was called " Denmark's National Socialist Workers' Party " ( Danmarks National Socialistiske Arbejder Parti ). This party remained small and was actually meaningless; However, after the German occupation of the country, the number of members of this party soared (after April 9, 1940) and grew to around 43,000. In July, the German occupying power succeeded in appointing the pro-German Erik Scavenius as Foreign Minister. At the beginning of July 1941, Scavenius reached an agreement with the SS site administration responsible for Denmark that Denmark - as part of the “New Europe” reorganization under the “leadership” of National Socialist Germany - would allow 50,000 volunteers for a “ Freikorps ” to “fight against Bolshevism ”, which the Waffen SS would have at its disposal. The prerequisite for this was that the Danes would create a national association within the Waffen-SS.

In July 1940 this "Freikorps Denmark" ( Frikorps Danmark ) was set up and integrated into the Wiking division ("Nordland"). Soon, however, around 900 Freikorps members returned to Denmark disappointed, as they saw themselves as inferior by the German commanders . But after Danish officers could be poached and the Freikorps thus consolidated as a national contingent , the number of volunteers could be maintained.

In 1943 the Freikorps was accepted into the " Germanic SS " and its members had to swear the "Germanic SS oath" on Adolf Hitler. They were awarded SS diamonds, sleeve stripes, rank plates and the black uniform of the Allgemeine SS. The Freikorps members wore a winged “sun wheel” (a variant of the swastika) as a “national emblem”. In the same year Christian Frederik von Schalburg became the commander of the Danish Freikorps and this was renamed "Schalburg Corps" ( Schalburg Korpset ). A corresponding sleeve strip was also introduced. The right collar tab showed a “floating” sun wheel and the SD-like security service was represented with the combination “ET” in the mirror. A brown shirt with a black tie and the "national emblem of Denmark" (three black lions in a golden yellow field) were worn on the left upper arm.

In the "field service", the members of the Danish SS wore the khaki-colored service uniform of the Danish Army (model 1923) with the SS badge, while the black uniform was only to be worn in the "location service" and during parades. When the Danish volunteers were finally integrated into the Waffen-SS, they wore the regular German field uniform of this troop. After the end of the war, the National Socialist organizations in Denmark were banned and dissolved.

Norway

When the German Reich invaded Norway on April 9, 1940 , it installed the pro-German Vidkun Quisling as Norwegian Prime Minister. Quisling had already built up a Nazi-like movement in Norway in 1933, which he called the "National Collection" ( Nasjonal Samling ). Until the German occupation, this movement had 6,000 members. Under the German occupation, the number of members rose to 45,000 by September 1940 and to 60,000 by the end of the war in 1945. Like the NSDAP, Quisling divided Norway into " Gaue ".

In June 1940, Vidkun Quisling was recognized by Hitler as "the sole and legal leader of the Norwegian people".

The story of the Norwegian SS begins on May 16, 1941, when Quisling set up the “Standarte Quisling” (a Norwegian equivalent of the former Hitler raid) in Oslo . The Norwegian SS ( Norges SS ) was formed from this standard on May 21 . On that day the German SS chief Himmler was at Quisling's in Oslo and officially accepted the new Norwegian SS as “part of the Germanic SS” in his “black medal”. The prerequisite for admission to the Norwegian SS was that the future member had to be born in 1925 and meet the German SS admission criteria .

Himmler and Quisling agreed that a large number of the Norwegian SS men would “voluntarily” report to the SS regiment “Westland” for military training. After their training, these SS men were to form the cadre of a new National Socialist police force in Norway .

The Norwegian SS was now entitled to wear the black SS uniform . All effects such as rank insignia and shoulder boards were also adopted. On the right upper arm they wore the diamond sleeve of the "Germanic SS" and on the left the eagle of the Quisling party. The Quisling coat of arms was also found on the peaked cap instead of the Nazi eagle.

The Norwegian SS was also entitled to wear the sleeve stripe "Germanic SS Norway" ( Germanske SS Norge ) and their "military leader", SS-Standartenführer Jonas Lie, now wore the collar tab of a "Chief of the staff of the Norwegian SS" with the Germanic one Sun gear.

After the Norwegian SS had sworn in Adolf Hitler as a "Germanic leader", they adopted the SS motto ( Min Ære er Troskap ).

On June 22, 1941, Norwegian SS men were used as part of the SS division "Wiking" in the attack on the Soviet Union . There they formed the "Norway Volunteer Legion". At this point in time, however, only between 130 and 151 SS Legion men were members and registered members of the Norwegian SS. This means that around 85% of the Legion members no longer belonged to the Norwegian NS party, but came from other political camps. They were only connected to the Norwegian NSs in the “common struggle against Bolshevism”.

The Norwegian SS peaked on September 30, 1944, when it had 1,247 members. Of these, however, only 330 served in the Waffen SS.

On May 9, 1945, the Norwegian “National Collection” and its SS were dissolved and banned.

Special case in Switzerland

On November 27, 1944, Heinrich Himmler planned to create a "Swiss SS" within the framework of the so-called "Germanic SS" from the few volunteers from the Waffen SS who came from Switzerland and Liechtenstein . For this purpose, a “Swiss Sports Association” was founded in the SS “Panorama Home” in Stuttgart. The establishment of a “German-Swiss SS” did not materialize, however, as it was obvious that no more Swiss would report to the Waffen SS.

SS insignia

Hat badge

Between 1925 and 1929 the SS wore the skull and the imperial cockade on their caps. However, the way they were worn was also very different here, so that Heinrich Himmler had to specify as one of his first "SS orders" in 1929 that the skull should always be worn over the cockade (the silver-colored skull badge made of embossed sheet metal was made by the SS until 1936 Reichswehr stocks related). In 1930 the cockade was replaced by the "national emblem of the NSDAP" (eagle) and another Himmler decree now stated that the skull symbol should now be worn under the eagle.

In 1935 the "National Badge of the NSDAP" was replaced by an eagle badge specially designed for the SS. This consisted of an eagle, which, like the Nazi party eagle, stood on a swastika surrounded by oak leaves. However, the new SS eagle had widely spread wings, the middle of which was the longest. The eagle was modified to underline the “independence” of the SS from the SA; previously the "SA version" had been carried by the SS. In 1936 the skull badge was changed and replaced by a completely different one that was now anatomically correct. The skull now had a lower jaw. The skull used until then was now claimed by the Wehrmacht for itself when it began to set up its own armored troops - as successors to the former cavalry . These SS versions were either silver or white and were valid until the end of the war (1945).

Members of the so-called “Germanic SS” often wore their party badges or a swastika on their hats instead of the SS eagle.

Collar Tabs

Since August 1929, black and gray collar tabs were worn on the shirt collar of the brown shirt, both of which had a black and white border ( piping ); The collar itself also had this black and white piping. (The SA leadership introduced different collar tabs and colored cap ribbons for the SA in 1928/29, which were then adopted by the SS.) The collar tabs were made in the form of a so-called parallelogram measuring 60 × 40 mm. They consisted of a piece of stiff linen or a black badge cloth for the team ranks. Velvet was used for higher ranks.

In the course of the reorganization of the SS (summer 1934), new collar tabs were also introduced:

  1. Active SS members between the ages of 25 and 30 now wore black collar tabs throughout.
  2. SS members of a trunk division (so-called "trunk SS") between the ages of 30 and 35 now wore the black and gray mirrors with copper-colored insignia.
  3. Members of the SS reserve between the ages of 35 and 45 wore black and gray mirrors with copper-colored insignia and two additional smaller mirrors that bore the Latin letter "R" (for reserve).

Rank mirror

The respective SS rank was displayed on the left collar tab and from the SS standard leader rank it was displayed on both mirrors.

From the early Schutzstaffel the ranks of man , squad leader , troop leader , storm leader , storm main leader as team and sub-leader ranks as well as sturmbannführer , standard leader , Oberführer and group leader as leader ranks were taken over by the SA. However, members of the SS had to put the prefix SS in front of their rank.

Initially, the lower ranks wore white, middle ranks black and white and higher ranks aluminum. In August 1934 this was changed so that the lower and middle ranks had a black and white and the higher ranks an aluminum border. With this change, an independent collar tab was introduced for the service position of the “Reichsführer SS” and since November 25 of the same year, SS candidates were entitled to wear the black collar tabs of an SS man. From around 1938, the lower and middle ranks replaced the black and white with a silver and white piping.

The rank system described below was also used by the SS-Einsatzstruppe and the SS-Totenkopfverband and was adopted from 1940/42 by the Waffen-SS that emerged from them .

The rank system of the Schutzstaffel as such was very similar to that of other NSDAP organizations and was derived from that of the Sturmabteilung . Up to the middle officer corps (from Untersturmführer) the system was made up of strands and stars of rank.

Up to the higher officer corps (from Standartenführer) the ranks were represented with oak leaves, which were also supplemented with stars.

For example, an empty rank table meant that the porter was just a simple SS member ( SS man ). A cord on the front edge indicated that this was an SS storm man , while two cords symbolized a squad leader .

The Unterscharführer was represented by a central star, the Scharführer by a star with a braid, the Oberscharführer with two stars and the Hauptscharführer with two stars with a braid.

The rank group from Untersturmführer to Obersturmbannführer also used the Litzen rank star system: Untersturmführer three rank stars, Obersturmführer three rank stars with braid and Hauptsturmführer three rank stars with two braids. The ranks of Sturmbannführer and Obersturmbannführer were each represented with four stars, each of which was supplemented by one or two strands.

The Standartenführer was represented with one, the superior Oberführer with two oak leaves, whereby (as already mentioned) the rank badges were now worn on both sides.

The brigade leader carried two oak leaves with a star, the group leaders and Obergruppenführer each carried three oak leaves, each of which was supplemented with one or two stars.

The Reich Leader SS wore both sides three oak leaves in laurel wreath since August 23, 1934th

The SS rank system was reformed in 1942 when the new rank SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer was introduced on April 1, 1942 . As a result, the brigade leader was now shown in mirror image with three oak leaves, the group leader with three oak leaves and one and the Obergruppenführer with three oak leaves with two stars. The Oberst-Gruppenführer was symbolized with three oak leaves and three stars.

Standard mirror

The right collar tab indicated the SS unit. The standard mirror of the Allgemeine SS was based on that of the SA and indicated the respective standard or unit or the respective SS section. No SS runes were worn on the collar tabs of the General SS until the end of the war in 1945 ; these were symbols of the Leibstandarte , the SS Regiments 1–3 and the Waffen SS.

In contrast to this, from 1933 to autumn 1936, the SS-Totenkopfverband, like the SS Security Service , usually wore empty collar tabs, as they were not given a unit mark. In 1936, the skull associations were allowed to wear a skull on crossed bones as a unit mark. The SD kept the empty collar tabs until 1945.

In addition to the regular standard names, numerous special versions have also been introduced. For example, the 87th SS standard wore an edelweiss badge instead of the Latin number, the motorized relay for the special use of the Ost group had the Sütterlin lettering “Ost” and from 1944 Standard 18 (Königsberg) was entitled to have elk antlers instead of the number wear. But hardly any use was made of the last version.

Rank badges of the early SS adjutants

SS leaders with the rank of adjutant and similar functions wore black collar tabs with silver piping and the so-called wolf angel in both mirrors . The mirrors were framed with 1.5 mm thick stranded wire.

Spiegel der SS-Verwaltungsführer

From February to summer 1934, the so-called "SS administrative leaders in the Supreme SA Reichsleitung" wore the SA collar tabs on both sides of their "umbrella organization" at the time. The mirrors of all SA administrators (including SS members) were laid out in sky blue. For example, SA / SS staff administrators wore the rank insignia of an Obersturmbannführer on both sides. Higher-ranking SS leaders in the administrative service wore carmine-red mirrors on both sides in the style of an SA brigade leader and also with silver aluminum piping.

Mirror for SS special units

For the newly established "SS special units" such as Motor-SS (officially "SS-Kraftfahr-Staffel"), Reiter-SS ("SS-Reiterstürme"), SS-communication units ("SS-Nachrichtenstürme") and SS-Pioneer units ( "SS Pionierstürme") and the SS medical units ("SS-Sanitäts-Staffel") were made special collar tabs that indicated the respective SS unit. As with the SA, they originally consisted of a combination of numbers and letters, which were modified again in 1934:

  1. The units of the Motor-SS were identified with the letter "M" (example: M1 = Motor Standard 1 ),
  2. the units of the Reiter-SS were marked with the letter "R" and from 1934 with two crossed lances,
  3. the message units with the letter "N" and after 1934 with a symbolized lightning bolt,
  4. the pioneer units with the letter "P" and after 1934 with crossed spades and pickaxes,
  5. the SS-Fliegersturm with crossed wings and propellers (metal design), in the hub of which a swastika was framed,
  6. the reserve units with the letter "R" and after 1934 with white-black-gray collar tabs and
  7. the medical units with the letter "S" and after 1934 with the Aesculapian staff ( pharmacist's mark )

reproduced in their collar tabs.

Mirror of the Honorary Leader

In 1934, a special collar tab was also presented for “ SS honorary leaders ”. This essentially corresponded to the badge of rank of the Allgemeine SS and showed the rank to which the "honorary member" was promoted, but with additional metal stars. For example, an "honorary standard leader of the SS" wore the regular SS rank badge (an oak leaf) on both sides of the collar. In the mirrors, however, 1 and 2 copper-colored stars were attached above the left above and right below the oak leaf. In the right mirror, below the oak leaf on the right, the number (made of light metal) of the assigned storm of the “Ehrenführer” was given, for example an 8. A special sleeve strip indicated the assigned standard with the inscription “Ehrenführer 10”.

Mirror of the Germanic SS

With the establishment of the "Germanic Control Center" in the SS Leadership Main Office (1940), it was permitted in the Germanic countries occupied by Germany to create SS-like organizations. Only in the Netherlands had there been an SS organization since the 1930s. These organizations, known as "Germanic SS", adopted the rank badges of the German SS and mostly also their names.

However, they were not affected by the reorganization of the German SS and the introduction of new collar tabs (1942). This is how they wore their national symbols as a uniform mirror:

  1. Germanic SS in the Netherlands: Wolfsangel
  2. Germanic SS in Flanders: empty standard mirror
  3. Germanic SS in Norway: sun wheel
  4. Germanic SS in Denmark: sun wheel

SS sleeve stripes

1929 to 1934

The first, about 5 cm wide, SS sleeve strips were introduced in the SS in 1929 because there were significant differences between the SA and SS structure. In the SS, for example, the respective storm was indicated on a black stripe on the sleeve (until 1932 officially called "SS-Sturmband" and then as "SS-Armband") (this was indicated on the right collar tab of the SA, while the SS showed the Standard number was specified).

SS leaders who were administratively subordinate to the highest SA leadership (so-called "SS-Verwaltungsführer") wore a 3 cm wide black sleeve strip made of rayon with the inscription "Oberste SA -führung". The inscription was written in so-called " Gothic script " and hand-stitched from aluminum thread. At the top and bottom, the sleeve strip was delimited with 3 mm wide aluminum threads. This sleeve strip was used by the SS between 1930 and 1934 and was considered a model for the later "standard design" of SS sleeve bands.

1934 to 1945

An example of an "SS sleeve band" from BeVo production
Representation of the different sleeve stripes of the SS

After the suppression of the so-called “ Röhm Putsch ” in the summer of 1934, this sleeve strip was replaced by that of the “Reichsführung SS”. Every SS member who was directly subordinate to the "SS-Reichsführung", but did not lead an SS main office in this function or was another "official", now wore this sleeve strip. Members of armed SS units had been wearing colored sleeve stripes since 1934 .

In the case of senior SS leaders in the "Reichsführung SS", the sleeve stripes were now designed in aluminum and now indicated that they belonged to one of the main SS offices (see also the illustration). From 1941 it was all “officials” in the SS (the so-called “SS-Oberabschnitts-” and “SS-Teilsführer”), the “Higher SS and Police Leaders” (who mostly also held the function of SS-Oberabschnittsführer) and the "SS and police leaders" (who were usually SS section leaders at the same time) were allowed to wear these sleeves.

For members of the SS upper sections, the standard cuff was worn with the appropriate inscription. For example, the inscription "Ost" meant that the bearer was assigned to the "SS-Oa Ost" but did not have a significant function there. A member of a medical department accordingly bore the inscription “San.-Abt. East". The SS sections were always reproduced with Latin numbers on the cuffs. The same system was used in all other sub-organizations of the SS, such as the medical department and the Reiter-SS.

For the crew and non-commissioned officer ranks, the inscriptions were machine-embroidered and ultimately consisted of black wool or, furthermore, of artificial silk. The officers' design consisted of black velvet with hand-embroidered inscriptions.

Former members of the "Adolf Hitler Striker" were awarded a " traditional arm band" on May 25, 1936 . It was white and framed in black on the edges (that is, in reverse order of color from the usual SS cuffs) and bore the inscription "Stomping Troop Adolf Hitler 1923". It was worn on the right forearm. The most important “main supplier” of the SS cuffs was ultimately the “BeVo” company in Elberfeld .

Shoulder cords (shoulder pieces)

From May 1933 onwards, so-called “ shoulder pieces ” (NS-officially “shoulder strings”), ie shoulder flaps, were introduced into all “Nazi fighting organizations” . In the SS, the base of the shoulder pieces was basically black.

SS administrative leaders who were deployed in the highest SA leadership had shoulder cords with a sky-blue background, while the background for higher SS ranks in the top SA leadership was crimson *. In terms of execution style, however, all SS shoulder pieces were the same:

  1. For the lower ranks (SS man to Hauptscharführer) the shoulder pieces consisted of four black and white twisted cords.
  2. For the middle ranks (SS-Untersturmführer to Hauptsturmführer) they consisted of four white cords lying next to each other.
  3. For the ranks from SS-Sturmbannführer to Standartenführer, the shoulder pieces consisted of two thick white cords twisted into one another.
  4. The ranks SS-Oberführer to Obergruppenführer used three white interwoven cords.
  5. The rank of "Reichsführer SS" used the shoulder pieces of the rank group Oberführer-Obergruppenführer, but since August 1934 three silver aluminum oak leaves were still in place.

* Note: This practice was only used from February to August 1934. With the elevation of the SS to an independent organization within the NSDAP, the SS was no longer subordinate to the SA and no longer required this special version.

Arm angle of the SS

The arm brackets of the SS (excluding former Stahlhelm members) and other badges
  1. " Ehrenwinkel der Alten Kampf ": This was introduced on December 15, 1934 and was available to all SS members with a membership number below 50,000 or (in the event of a later entry into the SS with a correspondingly higher membership number) party membership before January 1, 1933. From 1938 onwards it was also awarded to all “Austrian Volksgenossen” who belonged to the Austrian SS or any other Nazi organization in Austria before February 12, 1933. It was worn on the right upper arm and could, however, also be awarded on an honorary basis by Heinrich Himmler (see also: Leo von Jena ).
  2. "Angle for former police and Wehrmacht members": This was also introduced on December 15, 1934 for SS members who came directly from the Wehrmacht in the spring of 1933 (when the so-called "SS special commands" and so on) were set up or the police joined the SS. It was carried on the right upper arm and resembled that of the "old fighters". In the center of the angle, however, there was an embroidered ten-pointed star.
  3. "Angle for former Stahlhelm members": This was also introduced on December 15, 1934. All former Stahlhelm members who joined the SS before the forced incorporation of the “Stahlhelmbund” into the SA (1933) or from the SA into the SS before June 30, 1934 (“Röhm Putsch”) were entitled to wear it were transferred. This angle was worn - in contrast to the other "honor angles" on the left forearm. It was made up of two black angles separated from each other by a thin aluminum thread. This angle was only used on the earthy gray uniforms of the SS.

The arm brackets were used by all SS divisions.

Sleeve diamonds (job badge)

On October 6, 1935, so-called sleeve diamonds were introduced to the SS to indicate membership of a main office or the technical training of an SS member (so-called "SS-Führer im Sonderdienst"; in short: "SS-Sonderführer"). The sleeve diamonds were worn 3.5 cm above the cuff.

The best known were:

  1. SD: Security staff
  2. Odal rune : staff racial office
  3. Life rune: Staff Race and Settlement Main Office (abandoned in 1937 and replaced by the Odals rune)
  4. Edelweiss: officers from Standard Leader in the 87th Standard
  5. Crossed lances: all members of the Reiter-SS including the SS-Hauptreitschule Munich
  6. Rad: all rank groups and for leaders (from Standartenführer) in the staff of an SS section (introduced on January 25, 1937)
  7. Blitz: special technical staff (non-members of the SS) in the news units
  8. crossed spade and pickaxe: all members of a pioneer unit
  9. Pickaxes crossed over a spade: Members of the technical training storm Eisleben
  10. AO: Members of the NSDAP foreign organization
  11. Staff of Aesculapius: leader in the medical service
  12. negative staff of Aesculapius: medical staff
  13. Gothic Z: leader in the dental medical service
  14. Gothic A: pharmacist
  15. Snake: leader and subordinate in the veterinary service
  16. Horseshoe: blacksmith
  17. Harp: music guide
  18. eight-pointed star: Führer im Verwaltungsdienst (SS-Verwaltungsführer; introduced on February 25, 1938)
  19. SS runes: sleeve badges for the fencing suit; from 1940 for affiliated members of the so-called "Germanic SS"

There were numerous other sleeve diamonds in the SS, but not all of them could be clearly identified.

SS honorary weapons (honor daggers and swords)

The "SS honor dagger" and the "Reichsführer SS honor sword " were considered honor weapons of the Schutzstaffel (SS) in the Third Reich from 1933 to 1945.

See also

literature

  • Liliane Funcken, Fred Funcken: L'Uniforme et les armes des soldats de la guerre 1939-1945. Volume 1. Casterman, Paris 1972. (Mosaik, Munich 1978, ISBN 3-570-01865-2 ).
  • Andrew Mollo, Hugh Page Taylor: Uniforms of the SS. Windrow & Greene, London 1997, ISBN 1-85915-048-9 .
    • Volume 1: General SS 1923-1945.
    • Volume 2: Germanic SS 1940–1945.
    • Volume 3: SS-Einsatzstruppe 1933–1939.
  • Gordon Williamson: The Waffen SS 1933-1945 - A manual. Tosa, Vienna 2005, ISBN 3-85492-706-1 .
  • Brian L. Davis, Ian Westwell: German Uniforms and Badges 1933–1945. Motorbuch, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 3-613-02676-7 .

Web links

Commons : Uniforms of the SS  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Wilfred von Oven : With a calm, firm step - From the history of the SA . Arndt , Kiel 1998, ISBN 978-3-88741-182-4 , p. 8 .
  2. ↑ Wilfred von Oven : With a calm, firm step - From the history of the SA . Arndt , Kiel 1998, ISBN 978-3-88741-182-4 , p. 9 .
  3. ^ Andreas Schulz, Günter Wegmann and Dieter Zinke: Germany's Generals and Admirals, Part V: The Generals of the Waffen-SS and the Police. Vol. 2, Chapter Heinrich Himmler , pp. 227 and 230.
  4. ↑ Wilfred von Oven : With a calm, firm step - From the history of the SA . Arndt , Kiel 1998, ISBN 978-3-88741-182-4 , p. 5 .
  5. ↑ Heinz Höhne: The order under the skull - The history of the SS. Weltbild-Verlag, p. 24.
  6. ↑ Heinz Höhne: The order under the skull - The history of the SS. Weltbild-Verlag, p. 27.
  7. ^ Johann Althaus: Uniforms: Hitler's tank soldiers wore skulls - like the SS . June 15, 2018 ( welt.de [accessed September 5, 2019]).
  8. ↑ Malcolm McGregor: Allgemeine SS 1923-1945 . In: Uniforms of the SS . 4th edition. tape 1 . Widrow & Green, London 1991, ISBN 1-872004-90-3 , The Black SS Service Uniform, pp. 12 , col. 2 (English).
  9. ^ RZM bulletin of June 23, 1934.
  10. ^ Hugh Page Taylor: Uniforms of the SS. Vol. 2 Germanic SS 1940-1945. P. 35.
  11. ↑ Andrew Mollo: The Uniforms of the SS. Vol. I Allgemeine SS 1923-1945. P. 21
  12. ^ Ordinance sheet of the Supreme SA leadership, No. 17, item 18 of February 1, 1934.
  13. ^ SS price list, March 1941, p. 6.
  14. ↑ Andrew Mollo: Uniforms of the SS. Vol. I Allgemeine SS 1933-1945.