Uniforms and insignia of the Schutzstaffel

SS-Gruppenführer Hans Heinrich Lammers in blackAllgemeine-SS uniform 1938

The uniforms and insignia of the Schutzstaffel wereparamilitary ranks and uniforms used by the SS between1925 and 1945 to differentiate that organization from theregular German armed forces, the German state, and theNazi Party.

1 Uniform design and function

While a multitude of uniforms existed for the SS, oftendepending on the theatre of war where they were sta-tioned, the all black SS uniform is the most well known.Black was seen as sombre and authoritative. The black-white-red color scheme was characteristic of the GermanEmpire, and was later adopted by the Nazi Party. Further,black was popular with fascist movements: a black uni-form was introduced by the blackshirts in Italy before thecreation of the SS. There was a traditional reason, as well.Just as the Prussian kings’ and emperors’ life-guard cav-alry (Leibhusaren) had worn black uniforms with skull-and-crossbones badges, so would the Führer ' s bodyguard

2nd pattern SS Totenkopf or death’s head, 1934–45

unit.[lower-alpha 1] As with many more formal military uni-forms, these SS uniforms were tailored to project author-ity, and foster fear and respect. As Himmler put it, “Iknow there are many people who fall ill when they seethis black uniform; we understand that and don't expectthat we will be loved by many people.”[1]

During the war, the German clothing factory thateventually became the international menswear power-house Hugo Boss produced thousands of SS and otheruniforms.[2]

Once the war began, however, the black uniform was sel-dom worn. The combat units of the SS-Verfügungstruppe(SS-VT) and the later Waffen-SS wore a variation of thefield-grey (grey-green) (feldgrau) army (Heer) uniformwith SS insignia. The majority of SS personnel wore vari-ations of theWaffen-SS uniform or the grey-green SS ser-vice tunic. Branches with personnel that normally wouldwear civilian attire in the Reich (such as the Gestapo andKripo) were issued grey-green SS uniforms in occupiedterritory to avoid being mistaken for civilians.SS uniforms used a variety of insignia, the most standardof which were collar patches to denote rank and shoul-der boards to denote rank and position, along with sleevecuffbands and “sleeve diamond” patches to indicate mem-bership in specific branches of the SS. However, most ofthese uniforms fell apart as they were often made out ofweaker material than normal cotton. They were highlyflammable and would usually burn off of their wearer af-ter shot. They were later discontinued because of this

1

2 2 UNIFORMS DESIGNS AND STYLES

flaw in their design.

2 Uniforms designs and styles

2.1 Early SS uniforms (1925–1928)

The traditional “Danziger” Totenkopf worn by the SS 1923–34

The SS can trace its origins to several early Freikorpsand Nazi Party formations, among them the ErhardtNaval Brigade, Stahlhelm, and most significantly theSturmabteilung (SA), of which the SS was originally asubordinate organization.The very first SA uniforms and insignia were paramilitaryuniforms fashioned by early Nazis which incorporatedparts from World War I uniforms to include such featuresused by other Freikorps formation such as high boots,daggers, and the kepi hat. The 8-man Stabswache (staffguard), Hitler’s bodyguard, soon renamed the Stosstrupp(shock troop), also adopted in May 1923 the death’s headand oak leaf as a means of insignia, both of which werealready deeply rooted in European military history.In 1924, while the Nazi Party was legally banned follow-ing the Beer Hall Putsch, Frontbann (underground SA)leader Gerhard Roßbach located a large store of war-surplus brown denim shirts in Austria, originally intendedfor tropical uniforms.[3] When the SA (which includedthe nascent SS) was re-founded in 1925 following Hitler’srelease from prison, these brown shirts were issued as uni-forms.In 1925, Hitler ordered the formation of a new bodyguardunit, the Schutzkommando (protection command).[4] Itwas formed by Julius Schreck and included old Stoßtruppmembers, Emil Maurice and Erhard Heiden.[5][6] Theonly insignia was the swastika armband, usually home-made, except for the handful of men constituting theStosstrupp’s successor, the Schutzkommando, who contin-

Early SS armband using the rank stripe system

ued the use of the Totenkopf pinned to cap or collar. Thatsame year, the Schutzkommando was expanded to a na-tional level. It was renamed successively the Sturmstaffel(storm squadron), and finally the Schutzstaffel (protectionsquadron), abbreviated to SS (on 9 November).[7] In thefollowing year adopted its first recognizable rank insigniasystem which was used mainly by senior SS personnel atmajor rallies, with the rank and file of the SS, like therest of the SA, still wearing a variety of brown shirts orparamilitary uniforms with no recognizable insignia.The early rank system of 1926 consisted of a swastikaarmband worn with white stripes, with the number ofstripes determining the rank of the bearer. Thus, the veryfirst SS rank system was as follows:

• Reichsführer (“national leader”): three stripes

• Gauführer (“district leader”): two stripes

• Staffelführer (“squadron leader”): one stripe

• Mann (“trooper”): no stripes

Under the above system, basic SS troopers were orga-nized into 10-man Staffeln, each under the authority of aStaffelführer. SS districts, known as SS-Gaus, were underthe authority of a Gauführer while all SS district lead-ers answered to a national leader of the SS called the Re-ichsführer, at this time Josef Berchtold. In line with theFührerprinzip (“leader principle”) of the Nazi Party’s ide-ology, the word Führer was incorporated into all ranksexcept those for basic SS troopers.By 1927, the Sturmabteilung had greatly increased itsnumbers and had standardized the “brown shirt” uniformwhich would thereafter be permanently associated withthat group: shirt, tie, breeches, boots, and cylindricalkepi, all brown. As the SS was at this time a small unitwithin the SA, SS personnel during this period likewisewore brown shirt uniforms but distinguished themselvesas an elite among the SA by wearing black neckties andblack kepis with Totenkopf and Party eagle badges.By this time, with influences from the Stahlhelm, the SAleadership adopted its first collar insignia and also addeda new SA rank of Standartenführer ("standard leader”)

2.2 SS Brownshirts (1929–1932) 3

1st pattern Party eagle, worn by the SS 1927–36

in charge of regiment-sized Standarten (incorporating thecompany sized Staffeln); the SS at this time adopted thesame rank as well.The 1927 ranks had no insignia for SA/SS troopers (stillknown by the title "Mann") and the previous rank ofStaffelführer had become shortened to simply Führer(“leader”). The higher SS ranks of Standartenführer,Gauführer, and Reichsführer like their SA counterpartsnow used a system of oak leaves displayed on both col-lars of the brown SA shirt. One oak leaf signified aStandartenführer, two a Gauführer, and three oak leaveswere worn by Reichsführer-SS Berchtold and his succes-sor Erhard Heiden, who reported directly to the ObersteSA-Führer.Over the course of the next year, the burgeoning SA sawthe emergence of new units and ranks, and for the firsttime a comprehensive system of rank insignia. A basicsquad unit, the 10-man Schar, was grouped into platoon-sized Truppen, and these into company-sized Stürmewhich in turn made up battalion-sized Sturmbanne. Newranks went with the new formations: Scharführer, withone pip worn on the left collar patch, Truppführer, twopips, Sturmführer, three pips, and Sturmbannführer, fourpips. On the right collar of SA uniforms was worn a patchwith two numbers indicating Standarte and Sturmbann af-filiation. Because the SS numbered fewer than a thousandmen, it did not adopt the Sturmbann unit at this time, andright-hand SS collar patches displayed the number of theStandarte only.At the higher end of the organization, in 1928 the SAGau-Stürme were restructured into regional Gruppen,each commanded by a leader with a new general-officerrank, Gruppenführer; its insignia was the three oak leafcollar patch. At this time the former rank of Gauführerwas renamed Oberführer (“senior leader”).The collar patches of the SA were color-coded: eachGruppe had its own distinctive color. The SS was consid-ered to be a Gruppe unto itself; its color, naturally, wasblack, and Reichsführer-SS Heiden held the rank ofGrup-penfuhrer and wore its three-oakleaf insignia.

Heinrich Himmler wearing an early SS uniform with Oberführerinsignia in 1928

2.2 SS Brownshirts (1929–1932)

In 1929, under new Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler,the SS codified its first uniform regulations: the signatureblack color was extended to breeches, boots,[lower-alpha 2]

armband edges, and belt and crossbelt; the shirt collar wasedged in black-and-white twist cord except for those ofsenior leaders, which were trimmed in silver.The ability to produce and issue complete uniformscame about due both to the centralization of theReichszeugmeisterei (RZM; national quartermaster of-fice) under NSDAP Treasurer Franz Xaver Schwarz, andto Himmler’s expansion and reorganization of the fast-growing SS (from 280 members to 52,000 between 1929and 1932) into several brigade sized Brigaden throughoutGermany, each comprising three to five regiment-sizedStandarten. Within the Standarten now existed two tothree battalion-sized Sturmbanne (“storm units”), and be-neath this level were the Stürme, Truppen, and Scharen.For the lower ranks, the SS also specified that a patchshowing the wearer’s regiment (Standarte) would be wornopposite the badge of rank while the higher SS leaderswould continue to wear oakleaf insignia on both collars.

4 2 UNIFORMS DESIGNS AND STYLES

1930 pattern SS uniform with shoulder board

The earliest SS rank system, used during the year 1929

Collar tabs below the rank of Sturmführer were edgedin black-and-white twist cord; those of Sturm and Sturm-bann leaders used black-and-silver while those of seniorleaders were edged in solid silver cord.In addition to the collar unit insignia, the SS now created acuffband system which was worn on the lower left sleeve.These cuffbands were black and displayed the bearer’sSturm number together with color-coded edges indicat-ing the Sturmbann, which in conjunction with the collarinsignia showed regiment, battalion and company affilia-tion. Leaders above the company level did not at this timeuse the cuffband system.The holder of the title ofReichsführerwas still consideredan SA-Gruppenführer, with Reichsführer itself not yet anactual rank. In addition, for a brief period in 1929, the

rank of Standartenführer was divided into two separategrades, known as Standartenführer (I) and Standarten-führer (II); the insignia of one oak leaf was used for bothpositions. This situation was another reflection of theSS' rapid expansion: Oberführers now commanded thethree newly created SS-Oberführerbereiche, east, west andsouth; and so a senior Standartenführer was promoted tocommand each SS-Brigade.Hitler’s personal guard, known at this stage by the orig-inal SS name of Stabswache (later to be known as the"Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler"), was also expressing its in-dependence and increasing its size under the leadershipof Sepp Dietrich.The Stennes Revolt of August 1930, in which members ofthe SA attacked the Berlin party Gau headquarters whichwas defended by the SS, had profound consequences forthe SA and its relationship to its subordinate organization.In an open letter to Berlin SS leader Kurt Daluege, AdolfHitler proclaimed SS Mann, deine Ehre heißt Treue! (“SSsoldier, your honour is called loyalty!"). Subsequently,Meine Ehre heißt Treue (“My honour is called loyalty”)was adopted by the SS as its motto. More significantly,Hitler cashiered SA head Franz Pfeffer von Salomon andassumed the position of Oberste SA-Führer personally,and simultaneously promoted both Himmler and Daluegeto the new rank of SS-Obergruppenführer. Daluege wasthe SS leader of Northern Germany while Himmler con-trolled southern SS units out of Munich while serving asthe National Leader for the SS; this move had the effectof rendering the loyal SS practically independent of thesuspect SA, since Himmler and Daluege now outrankedall SA commanders.

The transitional SS ranks of 1930

Another result of the Stennes Revolt was Hitler’s recall ofhis old Putsch comrade Ernst Röhm from South Amer-ica to take over the day-to-day running of the SA withthe title of SA-Stabschef. While Hitler thought that thiswould bind the SA more firmly to him, Röhm had otherambitions, including the conversion of the paramilitarySturmabteilung into an army. With his expansions, pro-motions, and changes to the SA, a revision of the SArank system was required although the uniforms and ti-tles essentially stayed the same. The first major changewas the addition of new ranks modeled on the origi-nal titles created in 1928 but with the addition of “se-nior” and “head” designators (ober and haupt): these wereOberscharführer,Obertruppführer and Sturmhauptführer.The new rank insignia were created by adding a silverstripe to the collar pips of the next-lower rank.A 1930 change to the SS uniform was the addition of asingle narrow shoulder strap worn on the right side. There

2.3 SS black uniforms (1932–1934) 5

were four grades of shoulder strap: until 1933 a black-and-white pattern was worn by SS troopers, an epauletteof parallel silver cords by Sturm and Sturmbann leaders,a twisted pattern in silver cord by standarten-, ober- andGruppenführers, and a braided silver shoulderboard by thetwo Obergruppenführers.By 1931, Himmler was secure (or independent) enoughto reorganize the SS, formerly one SA-Gruppe, into fiveSS-Gruppen divided into several Brigaden led by officerswith the new rank of Brigadeführer; its insignia was thetwo oakleaves of an Oberführer with a pip.

2.3 SS black uniforms (1932–1934)

In 1932,[lower-alpha 3] the SS introduced its most noto-rious uniform, the black ensemble designed by KarlDiebitsch (later to become an SS-Oberführer) and graphicdesigner SS-Sturmhauptführer Walter Heck.[8] The shirtremained brown as a nod to the SA, of which the SS wasstill nominally a part, but all else was black from highboots[lower-alpha 4] to the new military-style peaked cap,aside from the red armband. SS men were also issuedblack wool greatcoats for inclement weather, which sim-ilarly carried the armband, epaulette and collar patches.Around this time a belt buckle featuring the motto MeineEhre heißt Treue (“My Honor Is Loyalty”) in its designwas produced by the Overhoff firm to replace the SAbuckle.[9]

Furthermore, several new ranks and insignia changeswere introduced. The expanded rank system of 1932 stillused the same collar pip method to denote position pairedwith a corresponding shoulder board, but added two newjunior positions known as Sturmmann and Rottenführer.By this time, Himmler had also increased scrutiny on SSmembership with a particular focus on proof of “Aryan”ancestry, and created a “candidate” position known as SS-Anwärter, which prospective SS members were requiredto hold for at least six months before formally joining theSS as an SS-Mann; an Anwärter wore no rank insignia.With membership continuing to increase, Röhm in-vented two new officer ranks known as Obersturmführerand Obersturmbannführer. SS (and SA) officers rankedStandartenführer (colonel) and above wore rank insigniaon both collars without the use of unit insignia; all person-nel Obersturmbannführer (lieutenant colonel) and belowwore a unit insignia patch opposite the badge of rank.In 1933, after Hitler had become Chancellor, the SS be-gan to make more of a distinction between 'officers’ and'enlisted men;' an SS man could now only be promotedto Sturmführer with Himmler’s approval, based upon theReichsführer’s personal review of the candidate’s appli-cation including his career resume or lebenslauf and rec-ommendations from current and former superior officers.Note however that this system presupposed enlisted SSmembership; Himmler always detested the army’s classdistinctions. It was forbidden for SS men to follow the

The black uniform for the Allgemeine SS

army custom of addressing superior officers by prefixingHerr to their rank, and Kamerad was an approved formof address under most circumstances.At this time, the SS also began to revamp its unit col-

6 2 UNIFORMS DESIGNS AND STYLES

SS rank insignia pattern from 1933

SS-Haupttruppführer insignia

lar insignia, shoulderboards, and sleeve cuffband system.These changes were introduced over a period of one yearbetween 1933 and 1934 and began with the introductionof a new senior enlisted rank known asHaupttruppführer.The black-and-white enlisted shoulderboard becameblack-and-silver, and officers were brought into parallelwith army practice: the twisted “cruller” board was as-signed to the field-grade ranks (Sturmbannführer, Ober-sturmbannführer, and Standartenführer), and the braidedboards to the general-equivalents of Oberführer throughObergruppenführer. In late 1934, enlisted collar patcheschanged from black-and-white to black-and-silver edg-ing; all officers now wore silver-piped collar tabs.

Also in 1933, the runes insignia was introduced whichwould eventually become known as the symbol for theentire SS. The first use of the SS runes was as a unit in-signia limited only to members of the LeibstandarteAdolfHitler[10] which had transferred their headquarters fromMunich to Berlin and had replaced the Army ChancelleryGuard to become Hitler’s main protectors. It was at thistime that the Leibstandartemoved from being a “paramil-itary” formation armed with pistols and truncheons to“military”, equipped with rifles, bayonets, and steel hel-mets. Their SS runes unit collar patch was to be wornon the right side of the tunic collar.[11] The adaptation of

LSSAH guard detail, Berlin 1938; note sig-runes insignia

this particular unit insignia was largely the work of SeppDietrich who on 4 November 1933, declared the unit anindependent formation and, although a part of the SS, an-swerable to Hitler alone.[12] Dietrich even went so far as toforbid entrance of Himmler into the Berlin Leibstandartebarracks and, for a brief few months in 1933, ordered hisLeibstandarte soldiers to wear the black uniform withouta swastika armband in order to differentate the bodyguardunit from the rank and file of theAllgemeine-SS (“GeneralSS”) units throughout Germany.At the same time Dietrich and his Leibstandarte adoptedthe SS runes as their unit insignia, the full-time SS head-quarters and command staffs began using a blank collarpatch, without a unit number, to differentiate themselvesfrom the “rank and file” SS units in Germany which werestill using regiment Standarten numbers as their unit in-signia. Thus, by the end of 1933, there were three unitcollar insignia patches in existence: the SS runes used bythe Leibstandarte, the blank collar patch used by the SSheadquarters and command staff, and the numbered SSunit insignia worn by regular SS companies throughoutGermany.

SS unit insignia (1934)

In 1934, with the rise of the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT), the SS runes unit insignia was expanded to theseother formatations of the then fledgling military arm ofthe SS (later to become known as theWaffen-SS). To sep-arate these new military formations from the main Leib-standarte regiment under Dietrich, the SS runes worn bythe Verfügungstruppe displayed a small number corre-sponding to the particular SS-VT regiment of the bearer.

2.4 SS pre-war uniforms (1934–1938) 7

In all, there were three possible numbers:

1 for members of the Deutschland Regiment, 2 forGermania personnel, and (from 1938) 3 for membersof the Der Führer Regiment. These insignia would sur-vive throughout World War II and were kept in use afterthe three original regiments had expanded to brigade anddivision strength.

A collection of SS cuffbands

In addition to the expansion of the collar unit insignia sys-tem, the SS by 1934 had also greatly expanded the systemof sleeve cuffbands which were now a standard part of theblack uniform, worn on the lower left sleeve. Within theAllgemeine-SS companies, cuffbands were worn in con-junction with a unit collar patch to denote regiment, bat-talion, and company affiliation. While the unit collarpatch displayed the wearer’s Standarte (regiment) num-ber, the number denoted on the cuffband indicated theSturm, or company, while collared piping along the cuff-band further denoted in which battalion (Sturmbann) amember served.For those personnel serving above the regiment level, abare cuffband was worn or a cuffband bearing a Romannumeral could be displayed. The Roman numeral cuff-band indicated membership on the staff of the SS-Brigadeso numbered, which by the end of 1934 had becomeknown as an SS-Abschnitt. For the even higher levels,such as Himmler or the senior SS-Gruppe leaders (laterknown by the title SS-Oberabschnitt Führer) a solid silvercuffband was worn.Within the early military SS, which included theLeibstan-darte and the formations of the SS-Verfügungstruppe, aseries of cuffbands were introduced which bore the nameof the regiment to which the bearer was assigned. Themost coveted of these was the “Adolf Hitler” cuffband,carrying the Führer’s name in Sütterlin script, which wasworn solely by members of the Leibstandarte.

2.4 SS pre-war uniforms (1934–1938)

An event which significantly altered the SS rank and in-signia structure was the Night of the Long Knives whichoccurred in June 1934. As a result of SS participationin the purge and execution of the SA leadership, the SSwas declared an independent formation of the Nazi Party

Heinrich Himmler’s insignia for Reichsführer-SS

that answered only to Hitler. Several of the rank titleswere renamed to completely separate the SS from its SAorigins.The most significant rank change was the creation of anactual rank of Reichsführer-SS to denote the commanderof the SS. The new rank was the equivalent of a field mar-shal in the army. Prior to 1934, Himmler had been re-garded simply as an SS-Obergruppenführer. Reichsführerwas merely a title and not a rank prior to 1934, thoughHimmler preferred to use his title more than his rank.In addition to Himmler’s new rank, several of the orig-inal SS rank titles were renamed (although retained thesame insignia), bringing about the final nomenclature ofSS ranks which would be used until the SS was disbandedat the end of World War II.The change in SS rank titles applied mainly to the non-commissioned officer ranks as well as the ranks of Sturm-führer and Sturmhauptführer which received new names.The titles of the remaining ranks remained unchanged.In the wake of the "Röhm-Putsch", the SS officiallytook over the concentration camps from the SA and po-lice. Soon thereafter, camp guards began wearing theTotenkopf (“death’s head”) on the right collar patch, todistinguish themselves from the numbered Allgemeine-SSStandarten. This was inconsistent in the early days; someguards instead wore tabs with the initial of their camp (e.g. “D” for Dachau), and some wore blank tabs. About1935, the black uniform proving impractical for dailyservice wear, the Inspectorate of Concentration Campsadopted a working uniform in “earth-brown” (erdbraun),which was identical in cut to the black tunic except forshoulderboards on both sides. In March 1936, the camp“service” was formally established as the third branch ofthe SS, the Totenkopfverbände or death’s-head units.At about this same time, for similar reasons, the military

8 2 UNIFORMS DESIGNS AND STYLES

SS grey service uniform, 1937

SS formations (the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler and theSS-Verfügungstruppe) adopted a service uniform in whatwas termed “earth-grey” (erdgrau).[lower-alpha 5] This alsowas based on the black uniform, but without the redHak-enkreuz armband, its place on the left sleeve being takenby an eagle-and-swastika patch, and worn with trousersand shoes or calf-high jackboots. In June 1938 this uni-

form was authorized for full-timeAllgemeine-SS cadres aswell; the LSSAH and SS-VT then adopted army-patternshoulderboards to distinguish themselves from the gen-eral SS and emphasize their military role.

2nd pattern SS eagle, 1936-45

In February 1934, the Ehrenwinkel für Alte Kämpfer(“honor chevron for old campaigners”) was introducedfor all SS men who had joined the Nazi Party or aParty-affiliated organization prior to January 30, 1933;after the Anschluss, it was also authorized for Austri-ans who had joined the DNSAP prior to 18 February1938. It took the form of a silver lace chevron worn onthe right sleeve. During this period, the principal SS in-signia also underwent design changes. The ancient jaw-less Danziger style of Totenkopf was gradually replacedby the 'classic' SS skull, a naturalistic design with grin-ning jaws; the old form was taken up by the army’s newlyformed Panzerwaffe. Additionally, in March 1936, Hitlerapproved a new art deco eagle with staggered wingtips forthe SS, which was worn through the end of the war as acap badge and on the sleeve.By the end of 1938, the SS had also adopted a new in-signia feature of sleeve diamonds worn on the bottom ofthe left sleeve. Between 1939 and 1940, the SS expandedits cuffband and sleeve diamond system into a vast arrayof over 30 cuffbands and more than 12 sleeve diamonds.

2.5 SS uniforms of World War II (1939–1945)

When World War II began in 1939, the Allgemeine-SSgrey service uniforms took on a more military appear-ance with the somewhat ad-hoc adoption of Wehrma-cht-style shoulderboards, except for SS generals, who,until 1942, continued to wear the narrow braided silverSS shoulderboards to denote general rank. It was alsoat this time that the rank of SS-Oberführer lost its sta-tus as a general officer rank and was instead now re-garded as more of a senior colonel position. The blackuniform was increasingly seldom seen, eventually beingworn only by part-time Allgemeine-SS reservists. Thelast ceremonial event at which the black uniforms wereworn en masse was the Berlin victory parade follow-ing the fall of France in June 1940. In 1942, Himm-ler ordered most all of the black uniforms recalled andstripped of insignia. They were sent east for use by the

2.5 SS uniforms of World War II (1939–1945) 9

Sicherheitsdienst sleeve diamond (raute)

SS rank insignia for enlisted personnel and officers

native auxiliary police units and sent west to be used byGermanic-SS units such as the ones in the Netherlandsand Denmark.[13] In 1937, the LSSAH and SS-VT hadadopted a closed-collar feldgrau (grey-green) field uni-form for combat wear, which with the outbreak of warbecame the standard uniform of what would soon bethe Waffen-SS. This feldanzug was very similar to theModel 1936 Army field uniform; however, the SS ver-sion had a somewhat wider collar in feldgrau (grey-green)rather than Heer bottle-green,[lower-alpha 6] the lower pock-ets were of the SS angled slash type, and the second but-ton was placed lower to permit the collar optionally to beworn open with a necktie like the service-dress uniforms.The Totenkopf branch, which was designated the reservefor the Waffen-SS, also adopted this uniform. Waffen-SS

SS senior and general officer rank insignia, before (top row) andafter (bottom row) April 1942

Various unit insignia collar patches worn during World War II

Panzer troops wore a double-breasted black uniform sim-ilar to the Army model but somewhat different in cut; theSS also made extensive use of camouflage clothing as thewar progressed. The full-time Allgemeine-SS cadres, es-pecially Reichssicherheitshauptamt personnel, continuedto wear the earth-grey service-dress uniform.A unique situation developed during World War II withregards to SS ranks held by those who had served inAllgemeine-SS positions from before the outbreak of warand now wished to serve in combat conditions with theWaffen-SS. With such persons being SS members already,it was expected that they would join the Waffen-SS in or-der to serve in combat; some members in fact had nochoice and were drafted for combat service due to theirAllgemeine-SS billet being done away with or, in situationsinvolving disciplinary actions, transferred into combat asthe result of a hearing before an SS and police court;Wilhelm Höttl was one such example.As a result of Allgemeine-SS members transferring intothe Waffen-SS, a situation arose where an SS memberwould actually hold two separate ranks - one in theAllgemeine-SS and another in the Waffen-SS; it was fur-ther possible to hold a reserve commission in the regu-lar German military (Klaus Barbie, who was a reserveFeldwebel (“sergeant”) is one such example). Waffen-SSofficers could also hold a regular or reserve commission,with most Allgemeine-SS members being appointed to theWaffen-SS reserves (the intent was to easily be able to

10 2 UNIFORMS DESIGNS AND STYLES

Obersturmbannführer Otto Kumm in Waffen-SS uniform. Notethe unauthorized Heer (army) style eagle together with SSTotenkopf on the peaked cap, the Sigrunen and rank tabs on theclosed collar, and the shoulderboards similar to a WehrmachtOberstleutnant

place such members on inactive duty once the war hadended). With this policy, it was very common for SSmembers in the Waffen-SS to hold drastically differenttitles from their Allgemeine-SS duties; a Standartenführerin the regular SS could, for instance, serve as a Rotten-führer (lance corporal) in a front line Waffen-SS com-pany.The security forces of the SS, such as SD troops whichwere part of the Einsatzgruppen, were also all consideredpart of theAllgemeine-SS, even though many of these per-sons (especially in the field) wore uniforms nearly iden-tical to the Waffen-SS; to further the confusion, manyagents of the security police (SiPo) in such “field” roleswore Waffen-SS uniform even though they were not exofficio members of any branch of the SS. By 1943, theSS had made a determined effort that most field person-nel (including concentration camp staffs) were grantedWaffen-SS ranks and, in 1944, any Allgemeine-SS whoserved in an area that commanded SS combat troops, wasgranted a Waffen-SS commission.To add to the confusion of multiple rank titles, uniformregulations of this time created a mixture of pre-1939SS shoulder boards, Wehrmacht-pattern shoulder boards,and police shoulder boards depending on the duties of

A concentration camp SS-Scharführer wearing a gray-greenfield uniform. The silver-gray braid on the collar was used byall SS non-commissioned officers

M43 field tunic of an SD-Unterscharführer. Note that, in con-trast to Wehrmacht practice, the SS wore the eagle-and-swastikadevice on the left sleeve, not the right breast

11

the SS person in question. It was not until late 1944that regulations specified that all grey-green SS uniformsshould only display Wehrmacht-style shoulder boards,with the exception of SD and uniformed SiPo person-nel who wore police-pattern shoulderboards with giftgrün(“poison green”) underlay.[lower-alpha 7]

Another uniform insignia change occurred in April 1942with the creation of the rank SS-Oberstgruppenführer.This necessitated an insignia change for SS generals andall SS generals at this time began wearing Wehrmacht-style gold shoulder boards; Oberführers wore the shoul-derboards of an army Oberst (“colonel”) just as Stan-dartenführers did. The sole exception was HeinrichHimmler who continued to wear the silver braided shoul-derboard with oak leaves of his rank as Reichsführer-SS. At the same time the collar patches for general offi-cers were revised; the 1942 pattern used three oakleaves,rather straighter than the old style, with zero to three pipsindicating rank from Brigadeführer through Oberstgrup-penführer.SS uniform suppliers could not keep up with wartime de-mand and, as a result, the Waffen-SS and Totenkopfver-bande frequently wore uniforms drawn from army stocks,with the addition of SS insignia. By the middle of WorldWar II, a wide variety of uniforms could be observed,even within the same unit, and standardization was nevercomplete as previous stocks were issued or recycled. Per-sonnel in combat conditions, away from stable supplylines would combine uniform parts and insignia depend-ing on what uniform parts were available.Waffen-SS and SS-TV members during this period worearmy-style shoulderboards with SS collar patches; edgingof enlisted collar tabs was discontinued in 1940 while SSofficers’ collar patches continued to be trimmed in sil-ver. Enlisted shoulderboards were made of black fabricas opposed to army dark green or field-grey (grey-green),and officers had a black underlay; all shoulderboards werepiped inwaffenfarbe (branch-color). Junior leaders (Stur-mmann and Rottenführer) wore sleeve chevrons corre-sponding to army insignia (Gefreiter and Obergefreiter),but with black backing; SS non-commissioned officerswore army-style silver-grey braid around the collar.The staffs of concentration camps had by now stan-dardized the death’s head collar patch, whereas between1934 and 1938 the Totenkopf as well as various campspecific collar patches, displaying Germanic letters, hadbeen used as unit insignia. Other unit insignia collarpatches included a Standarte-number patch for most ofthe Allgemeine-SS, a blank collar patch worn by SS mainoffice staffs and Sicherheitsdienst (and some SiPo) person-nel, the sig-runes Waffen-SS patch (adopted after 1943 asthe standard unit collar patch for most of the SS), anda numbered death’s head patch which was used by per-sonnel serving in field units of the Totenkopfverbaende;the three senior Totenkopfstandarten, formed into theTotenkopf division, would retain these collar patches

throughout the war, but the remaining TK-Standartenwere redesignated SS-Regimenter and switched to sig-runes in February 1941. As the war went on, the Waffen-SS recruited heavily among conquered populations, cre-ating 'ethnic' brigades and divisions. These formationswore, in place of the sig-runes, distinctive unit collarpatches identifying them as Freiwilligen (foreign volun-teers). In the last days of World War II, the SS also cre-ated a twin swastika collar patch which was used by the“auxiliary SS” which were non-SS members conscriptedto serve in concentration camp positions.By 1943, a special staff non-commissioned officer po-sition, known as Stabsscharführer had been adopted bythe Waffen-SS. This position, equivalent to an armyHauptfeldwebel, was denoted by a special sleeve insigniaand was not an actual rank, but rather a title for thehead SS non-commissioned officer of a particular com-bat unit. The rank of Sturmscharführer was also uniqueto the Waffen-SS as a type of regimental sergeant major.The SS also, by this time, had created a private first classposition known as Oberschütze, denoted by a silver pipworn on the sleeve of the SS uniform. The SS contin-ued to use the candidate rank of Anwärter during WorldWar II, but in a much less formal way especially in theWaffen-SS where soldiers were typically enlisted directlyas an SS-Schütze, which was the military equivalent of theAllgemeine-SS rank of SS-Mann. In 1943, the SS createdstill a further entry rank with the position of Bewerber(“applicant”) which was the lowest possible position inthe SS; it had no rank insignia.SS generals of the Waffen-SS were typically addressed byboth their SS rank title and a corresponding general’s rankassociated with the Wehrmacht. All such general rankswere followed by the phrase der Waffen-SS to distinguishthe SS General from their counterparts in other branchesof the German military. Thus, a typical title would beObergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS. For thosewho had held police rank prior to 1944, the SS general’stitle could become rather lengthy. Ernst Kaltenbrunner,for instance, was listed on the SS rolls in 1945 as Ober-gruppenführer und General der Polizei und Waffen-SS.

3 Final SS ranks 1934–1945

Main article: Table of ranks and insignia of the Waffen-SS

4 Police ranks and insignia

Main article: Ranks and insignia of the Ordnungspolizei

In 1936, the regular German police, previously agenciesof the Länder or states, were nationalized and placed

12 7 SPECIAL SS UNIFORMS

under Himmler, who was named Chef der DeutschenPolizei. The ordinary uniformed police were called theOrdnungspolizei (“order police”). Known as theOrpo, theOrdnungspolizei maintained a separate uniform, systemof insignia and Orpo ranks. It was also possible for SSmembers to hold dual status in both the Orpo and the SS,and SS generals were referred to simultaneously by bothrank titles. For instance, an Obergruppenführer in the SS,who was also a police general, would be referred to asObergruppenführer und General der Polizei. In late 1939,Orpo personnel were formed into a combat division, rec-ognizable by its use of police insignia; in 1942, this for-mation was absorbed into theWaffen-SS to become the 4.SS-Polizei-Panzergrenadier division.

5 SS foreign legions

A reproduction field blouse of the British Free Corps, considereda unit of the SS foreign legions; rank of Untersturmführer

As with the senior SS titles, volunteers of non-Germaniccountries had the title "Waffen" prefixed to their rank.For instance, an Untersturmführer in the foreign le-gions would be referred to as Waffen-Untersturmführerwhereas a regular SS member would be addressed as SS-Untersturmführer. This helped to indicate non-native vol-unteers, or to separate Germanic individuals in the divi-sions composed primarily of non-Germans.

6 Germanic-SS uniforms

Main article: Germanic-SS

Germanic-SS uniforms were modified versions of theoriginal black Allgemeine-SS uniforms and were usedstrictly by the Germanic-SS in occupied countries. Un-like the foreign legions of the Waffen-SS, who wore thestandard field gray (grey-green) SS uniform to conform

with the rest of theWaffen-SS, the Germanic-SS was con-cerned solely with homeland duties and therefore wereprovided with surplus black uniforms upon which weredisplayed country specific insignia. This led to a widevariety of insignia and rank titles depending on the coun-try of origin, although standardized throughout the entireGermanic-SS were the rank insignia pips and oak leavesused by the SS proper.The Germanic-SS also had a unique military award,known as the Germanic Proficiency Runes, awarded forqualifying under certain physical tests, in much the samemanner as the German Sports Badge and SA SportsBadge were awarded to the regular SS.The Germanic-SS effectively ceased to exist in late1944, after which time most of its members were foldedinto the foreign legions of the Waffen-SS. Due to mostGermanic-SS members being considered traitors to theircountries, Germanic-SS uniforms were often destroyedby their owners to prevent identification as a Germancollaborator.

7 Special SS uniforms

Formal dress uniform jacket of SS-Obergruppenfuhrer WernerLorenz

SS officers had the option of purchasing formal-dress andmess-dress uniforms. The formal uniform was not un-like U.S. or UK dinner-dress uniforms, cut like a civil-ian tailcoat without the tails, and worn with white orblack bowtie and waistcoat. This uniform also featured

13

silk-faced lapels, SS shoulderboards and collar patches, aTotenkopf breast pin, and silver piping (broad silver-greytrouser stripes for general officers). Mess dress resem-bled a double-breasted tuxedo, with collar tabs and silverpiping.Officers could also wear a white cotton walking-outblouse, cut like the black service blouse, between Apriland September. Members were also permitted to wear awhite SS visored service cap with the uniform.

An SS camouflage pattern

A waist-length white “waiter’s jacket” with collar tabs wasissued to those SS men who served as Hitler’s domesticstaff.For use in hot weather climates like Southern Europe andNorth Africa, a tropical uniform of tan cotton was de-veloped. This consisted of a Sahariana-style tunic withshoulder yokes based on Italian tropical uniforms, long-sleeved field shirt, and trousers. Headgear could be a pithhelmet, sidecap, or an M40 tropical cap based on that ofthe Afrika Korps. Insignia was similar to that of standardSS-uniforms but in tan thread on black backing. Policeunits deployed to tropical climates wore an identical uni-form with police insignia.Waffen-SS troops were also pioneering among the Ger-man forces in the use of camouflage clothing and woreit extensively during the war. Waffen-SS used a varietyof original spring and autumn designs in many patterns.Usually, camouflage was worn on overall parkas or hel-met covers, and only late in the war were camouflagedtunics introduced.

8 SS titles

In addition to the rank titles used by the SS, the followingtitles were frequently interchanged when addressing SSpersonnel in certain positions of authority.

• SS-Mann: A generic term for any member of the SS.Also used as an actual rank of the Allgemeine-SS.

• SS-Führer: Originally an early rank of the SS, theterm SS-Führer designated commissioned officers ofthe SS, and means “SS leader”.

• SS-Unterführer: This term designated non-commissioned officers in the SS. An enlisted SSsoldier, applying for non-commissioned officer sta-tus, was often known as an Unterführer-Anwärter.

• SD-Leiter: This title was used by senior officers ofthe Sicherheitsdienst, typically those in command ofa major SD office or regional headquarters.

• SS- und Polizeiführer: Translated as “SS and policeleader”, these were some of the most powerful menin the SS, commanding all SS, Gestapo, Kripo andOrpo units in a given geographic region, often of thesize of a major military district.

• Oberste Führer der Schutzstaffel: Literally,“Supreme Leader of the SS”, was a special ti-tle intended to be held solely by Adolf Hitler. Whenthe SS became an independent organization fromthe SA, Hitler was listed on SS officer rolls as SSmember #1 and the group’s Supreme Commander.This title was intended to give Hitler a technicallyhigher SS rank to Himmler (Reich Leader of theSS), but there is no photographic record of Hitlerwearing an SS uniform, and there was no special SSinsignia for Hitler above that worn by Himmler.[15]

From 1937 to 1945, Hitler also held the rank of“Honorary Corporal” in the Italian Blackshirts,which was a senior General’s rank.

8.1 Secret Police Ranks

In addition to the various titles and ranks of the SS, anySS member who also served in the Gestapo or Kripoheld a unique criminal investigator rank, one of the morecommon of which was Kriminalrat, a police investigator’srank denoting professional detectives. Artur Nebe, a ca-reer policeman, went by the title of Kriminalrat for mostof the 1930s, only using an SS rank when engaged in non-Kripo activities. The Gestapo also maintained an entirearray of ranks which were used interchangeably with aGestapo member’s SS rank.

14 13 BIBLIOGRAPHY

9 SS membership numbers

Adolf Hitler, as the Führer of Germany, was consideredSS member #1; Emil Maurice (considered one of thefounders of the SS) was member #2. Based on the senior-ity system of SS membership numbers, this made Hitlersenior in the SS to all other members. The SS member-ship number system was also a means to denote the “OldGuard” of the SS, and to hold a number below 50,000 wasconsidered a special place of honor since it denoted SSmembership before the Nazi seizure in 1933. Numbersbelow 500 were considered the original cadre of the SS,while any number below fifty denoted an original founderand, in most cases, a personal associate of Hitler. Himm-ler, who held membership #168, was known to resentthose with lower numbers than his and was known for hisattempts to sabotage such SS careers for his own inter-ests. Emil Maurice was one such example, who Himmlerattempted unsuccessfully to have dismissed from the SSafter rumors surfaced of Jewish heritage.

10 See also

• Comparative military ranks of World War II

• Degen, the SS Sword

• Glossary of Nazi Germany

• List of SS personnel

• Nazi party paramilitary ranks

• Ranks and insignia of the Sturmabteilung

• Ranks and insignia of the Nazi Party

• Ranks and Insignia of the German Army in WorldWar II

• Runic insignia of the Schutzstaffel

11 Notes[1] This same tradition in its 'cavalry' aspect would also man-

ifest itself in the black uniforms and totenkopf badges ofthe army’s Panzer troops.

[2] The regulation boot was by now the standard army-styleMarschstiefel or jackboot, a calf-high pebbled-leatherpull-on boot with hobnailed leather soles. The standardsize was a Euro: 41–42 or a US: 9.5

[3] Ironically, the iconic black uniform was brought out dur-ing a short-lived legal prohibition on political party uni-forms

[4] In contrast to the army, the black SS uniform included rid-ing boots and breeches for enlisted men as well as officers.

[5] In practice, earth-grey was little if any different fromarmy field-grey (feldgrau); however, Himmler resentedthe army and preferred a distinct SS term

[6] However, many Waffen-SS officers had their tunics madewith green collars.

[7] Except that SD/SiPo shoulderboards used black where theOrpo used dark brown

[8] This rank has been alternatively translated as “colonelgroup leader”.[14]

12 References[1] Himmler, Heinrich (1936), Die Schutzstaffel als anti-

bolschewistiche Kampf-organisation, p. 29 as quoted inThe Third Reich: A New History, 2001, p. 192.

[2] Givhan, Robin (1997-08-15). “Clothier Made Nazi Uni-forms”. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-11-08.

[3] Toland, John (1976), Adolf Hitler, New York: Doubleday& Co, ISBN 0-385-03724-4.

[4] Lumsden 2002, p. 14.

[5] Weale 2010, pp. 16, 26.

[6] McNab 2009, pp. 10, 11.

[7] Weale 2010, p. 29.

[8] Lumsden 2002, p. 53.

[9] Lumsden 2002, p. 49.

[10] Cook & Bender 1994, pp. 288, 292.

[11] Cook & Bender 1994, p. 292.

[12] Cook & Bender 1994, p. 15.

[13] Lumsden 2002, p. 56.

[14] Yerger, Mark (1997), Allgemeine-SS, Atglen, PA: Schif-fer.

[15] Schutzstaffel der NSDAP, SS Officers List, Berlin (1942),Reprinted by Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, PA (2000)

13 Bibliography

• Bedurftig, Friedemann, and Zenter, Christian(1985). The Encyclopedia of the Third Reich.

• Cook, Stan; Bender, R James (1994). LeibstandarteSS Adolf Hitler. One: Uniforms, Organization, &History. San Jose, CA: R. James Bender. ISBN978-0-912138-55-8.

• Hayes, A. SS Uniforms, Insignia and Accoutrements

15

• Lumsden, Robin (2002). A Collector’s Guide To:The Allgemeine — SS. Ian Allan Publishing, Inc.ISBN 0-7110-2905-9.

• McNab, Chris (2009). The SS: 1923–1945. AmberBooks Ltd. ISBN 978-1-906626-49-5.

• Mollo, Andrew. Uniforms of the SS, Collected Edi-tion Vol. 1–6 (ISBN)

• National Socialist German Workers Party(1938).Deutsche Uniformen.

• Personnel Service Records of the SS, NationalArchives and Records Administration, CollegePark, MD.

• Weale, Adrian (2010). The SS: A NewHistory. Lon-don: Little, Brown. ISBN 978-1408703045.

14 External links• German WWII Army & SS Rank & Insignia

• Grey uniform of a SS-Sturmbannführer of a self-propelled gun crew of the SS-Totenkopf-Division

• Black uniform of a SS-Standartenführer of the SS-Totenkopfverbände

• Uniform of a SS-Unterscharführer of the early SS-Totenkopf-Division

• Examples of different cuff titles of the SS

• Examples of different cuff titles of the Waffen-SS

• Cuff title of the “training camp Dachau” (car-ried by members of the Waffen-SS there duringtheir “platoon leader training course” aka German"Zugführerlehrgang")

• Cuff titles & Patches of the SS

16 15 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

15 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

15.1 Text• Uniforms and insignia of the Schutzstaffel Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniforms%20and%20insignia%20of%20the%

20Schutzstaffel?oldid=638230988 Contributors: The Anome, Yooden, Paul Barlow, Paul A, Furrykef, Wernher, Pibwl, GreatWhiteNorth-erner, DocWatson42, Nichalp, HangingCurve, Marcika, Ukas, Husnock, Necrothesp, Hammersfan, Klemen Kocjancic, DmitryKo, Cny-borg, Rama, Alphax, Haham hanuka, Alansohn, Anthony Appleyard, Andrewpmk, Denniss, Grenavitar, Cosal, JALockhart, Lohengrin,Gimboid13, Mandarax, Sjakkalle, Koavf, Biederman, Ghepeu, Brighterorange, CosmicEngine, Margosbot, Catsmeat, Srleffler, Chobot,YurikBot, Tommyt, RussBot, Hede2000, Fnorp, Ytcracker, Howcheng, Renata3, Resigua, Charlik, Curpsbot-unicodify, Nixer, Roitr,Thomas Blomberg, Prvc, SmackBot, Historian932, WikiuserNI, Eskimbot, Kintetsubuffalo, Squiddy, Izehar, Bluebot, Hibernian, ColoniesChris, OrphanBot, MrRadioGuy, Tt1, D Boland, Rheo1905, Esrever, JHunterJ, Arctic-Editor, Peripitus, ABickerstaff, Aldis90, Uvaphd-man, Antique Rose, Shardz, Edward J. Picardy, Adam Grenberg, Jemauvais, FlieGerFaUstMe262, R'n'B, CommonsDelinker, Tgeairn,Whitebox, Snake bgd, Philip Trueman, Lvivske, SGT141, StillTrill, Mcattell, Solicitr, W4chris, Vidarfe, OberRanks, Dreamafter, JackMerridew, PbBot, Bot-iww, Lastingwar, Brian Geppert, ImageRemovalBot, WikiBotas, Hutcher, Gits (Neo), Deanlaw, Mild Bill Hic-cup, Parsival74, DerBorg, XLinkBot, Jan D. Berends, Wikiuser100, WikHead, Wyatt915, Addbot, Magus732, Ben Ben, TaBOT-zerem,Donfbreed, AnomieBOT, Floquenbeam, FreeRangeFrog, Comt Till, Ruy Pugliesi, Shadowjams, Kierzek, Ace of Spades, Degen Earthfast,Mediatech492, Diannaa, John of Reading, Expertim, Aspie aussie, HammerFilmFan, Liuthar, ClueBot NG, HHaeckel, Neogeolegend,MerlIwBot, Helpful Pixie Bot, BG19bot, ChrisGualtieri, Khazar2, Хайзенберг, Georgethewriter, Ginsuloft and Anonymous: 131

15.2 Images• File:1930_pattern_Schutzstaffel_uniform_with_shoulder_board.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/

7b/1930_pattern_Schutzstaffel_uniform_with_shoulder_board.png License: Public domain Contributors: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Die_Uniformen_der_Allgemeinen_SS.jpg Original artist: The author of this work is anonymous and this work is more than 50years old. According to the Berne convention Art. 7, and the laws of many countries, this work is in the public domain.

• File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101III-Zschaeckel-195-21,_Otto_Krumm.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101III-Zschaeckel-195-21%2C_Otto_Kumm.jpg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 de Contributors: This image was pro-vided to Wikimedia Commons by the German Federal Archive (Deutsches Bundesarchiv) as part of a cooperation project. The GermanFederal Archive guarantees an authentic representation only using the originals (negative and/or positive), resp. the digitalization of theoriginals as provided by the Digital Image Archive. Original artist: Zschäckel, Friedrich

• File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-2008-0276,_Hans_Heinrich_Lammers.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-2008-0276%2C_Hans_Heinrich_Lammers.jpg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 de Contributors: This image wasprovided to Wikimedia Commons by the German Federal Archive (Deutsches Bundesarchiv) as part of a cooperation project. The GermanFederal Archive guarantees an authentic representation only using the originals (negative and/or positive), resp. the digitalization of theoriginals as provided by the Digital Image Archive. Original artist: Unknown

• File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-H15390,_Berlin,_Kaserne_der_LSSAH,_Vergatterung.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-H15390%2C_Berlin%2C_Kaserne_der_LSSAH%2C_Vergatterung.jpg License: CCBY-SA 3.0 de Contributors: This image was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the German Federal Archive (Deutsches Bundesarchiv)as part of a cooperation project. The German Federal Archive guarantees an authentic representation only using the originals (negativeand/or positive), resp. the digitalization of the originals as provided by the Digital Image Archive. Original artist: Unknown

• File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_192-035,_KZ_Mauthausen,_SS-Scharführer.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/Bundesarchiv_Bild_192-035%2C_KZ_Mauthausen%2C_SS-Scharf%C3%BChrer.jpg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 deContributors: This image was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the German Federal Archive (Deutsches Bundesarchiv) as part ofa cooperation project. The German Federal Archive guarantees an authentic representation only using the originals (negative and/orpositive), resp. the digitalization of the originals as provided by the Digital Image Archive. Original artist: Unknown

• File:Collar_insignia_of_the_Schutzstaffel.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f8/Collar_insignia_of_the_Schutzstaffel.png License: ? Contributors:National Archives & Records AdministrationOriginal artist:Uploaded by User:OberRanks

• File:Collar_insignia_of_the_Schutzstaffel_1.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/52/Collar_insignia_of_the_Schutzstaffel_1.png License: ? Contributors:National Archives and Records AdministrationOriginal artist:Uploaded by User:OberRanks

• File:DAK.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/DAK.svg License: Public domain Contributors: DeutschesAfrika Korps Original artist: Marco Kaiser

• File:Die_Uniformen_der_Allgemeinen_SS_32-45.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Die_Uniformen_der_Allgemeinen_SS_32-45.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: “Organisationshandbuch der NSDAP (1939)"(Croped) Original artist: Not stated, unknown

• File:EarlySSRanks.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bc/EarlySSRanks.jpg License: ? Contributors:National Archives & Records AdministrationOriginal artist:Uploaded by User:OberRanks

• File:Grey_SS_uniform.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Grey_SS_uniform.jpg License: Public do-main Contributors: Organisationbuch der NSDAP, 3d Ed (1937) Original artist: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei

15.2 Images 17

• File:HimmlerOberfhr.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/28/HimmlerOberfhr.jpg License: PD-US Contributors:Available from the National Archives and Records Administration, SS records and photographs collection, in College Park, Maryland. Toobtain additional verification or information, write to 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001. Original artist: ?

• File:Kriegsmarine_insignia_casco.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/Kriegsmarine_insignia_casco.svg License: Public domain Contributors: This vector image includes elements that have been taken or adapted from this:<a href='//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heer_-_decal_for_helmet_1942.svg' class='image' title='Source SVG image'><imgalt='Source SVG image' src='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Heer_-_decal_for_helmet_1942.svg/16px-Heer_-_decal_for_helmet_1942.svg.png' width='16' height='20' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Heer_-_decal_for_helmet_1942.svg/24px-Heer_-_decal_for_helmet_1942.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Heer_-_decal_for_helmet_1942.svg/32px-Heer_-_decal_for_helmet_1942.svg.png 2x' data-file-width='360' data-file-height='450'/></a> Heer - decal for helmet 1942.svg (by F l a n k e r). Original artist: Lancaster, F l a n k e r

• File:Left_and_right_collar_insignia_of_the_Schutzstaffel.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/25/Left_and_right_collar_insignia_of_the_Schutzstaffel.png License: ? Contributors:National Archives and Records AdministrationOriginal artist:Uploaded by User:OberRanks

• File:Luftwaffe_eagle.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Luftwaffe_eagle.svg License: Public domainContributors: Own work Original artist: Fornax

• File:M36_British_Free_Corps_Tunic.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/M36_British_Free_Corps_Tunic.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: en:Image:M36_British_Free_Corps_Tunic.jpg (uploader: en:User:Boothferry) Originalartist: en:User:Boothferry, see disc.

• File:NSDAP_eagle_(early).gif Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/NSDAP_eagle_%28early%29.gif Li-cense: Public domain Contributors: Organisationsbuch der NSDAP, 3d Ed (1937) Original artist: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Ar-beiterpartei

• File:NewRfPatchs1934.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6e/NewRfPatchs1934.jpg License: ? Contributors:National Archives and Records AdministrationOriginal artist:Uploaded by User:OberRanks

• File:Question_book-new.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Question_book-new.svg License: Cc-by-sa-3.0Contributors:Created from scratch in Adobe Illustrator. Based on Image:Question book.png created by User:Equazcion Original artist:Tkgd2007

• File:Rank_insignia_of_the_Schutzstaffel_1930.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/32/Rank_insignia_of_the_Schutzstaffel_1930.png License: ? Contributors:National Archives & Records AdministrationOriginal artist:Uploaded by User:OberRanks

• File:Reichsführer-SS_Collar_Rank.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Reichsf%C3%BChrer-SS_Collar_Rank.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SA-Logo.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/SA-Logo.svg License: Public domain Contributors:based on Image:SturmabteilungSA.jpg Original artist: Ratatosk

• File:SDInsig.gif Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/SDInsig.gif License: Public domain Contributors: En:WPOriginal artist: Unknown

• File:SDJacke.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/SDJacke.jpg License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 Contributors: ?Original artist: ?

• File:SS-Armband.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/SS-Armband.svg License: Public domain Contrib-utors: ? Original artist: ?

• File:SS-Brigadeführer_Collar_Rank.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/SS-Brigadef%C3%BChrer_Collar_Rank.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SS-Gruppenführer_Collar_Rank.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/SS-Gruppenf%C3%BChrer_Collar_Rank.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SS-Hauptscharführer_Collar_Rank.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/SS-Hauptscharf%C3%BChrer_Collar_Rank.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SS-Hauptsturmführer_Collar_Rank.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/SS-Hauptsturmf%C3%BChrer_Collar_Rank.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SS-Oberführer_Collar_Rank.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/SS-Oberf%C3%BChrer_Collar_Rank.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SS-Obergruppenführer_Collar_Rank.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/SS-Obergruppenf%C3%BChrer_Collar_Rank.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SS-Oberscharführer_Collar_Rank.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/SS-Oberscharf%C3%BChrer_Collar_Rank.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SS-Oberschütze_Collar_Rank.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/SS-Obersch%C3%BCtze_Collar_Rank.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

18 15 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

• File:SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer_collar.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/SS-Oberst-Gruppenf%C3%BChrer_collar.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SS-Obersturmbannführer_Collar_Rank.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/SS-Obersturmbannf%C3%BChrer_Collar_Rank.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SS-Obersturmführer_Collar_Rank.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/SS-Obersturmf%C3%BChrer_Collar_Rank.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SS-Rottenführer_Collar_Rank.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/SS-Rottenf%C3%BChrer_Collar_Rank.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SS-Scharführer_Collar_Rank.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/SS-Scharf%C3%BChrer_Collar_Rank.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SS-Standartenführer_Collar_Rank.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/SS-Standartenf%C3%BChrer_Collar_Rank.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SS-Sturmbannführer_collar.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/SS-Sturmbannf%C3%BChrer_collar.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SS-Sturmmann_Collar_Rank.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/SS-Sturmmann_Collar_Rank.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SS-Sturmscharführer_Collar_Rank.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/SS-Sturmscharf%C3%BChrer_Collar_Rank.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SS-Unterscharführer_Collar_Rank.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/SS-Unterscharf%C3%BChrer_Collar_Rank.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SS-Untersturmführer_Collar_Rank.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/SS-Untersturmf%C3%BChrer_Collar_Rank.svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mintz l

• File:SSHpttruppfuhrer.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/72/SSHpttruppfuhrer.jpg License: ? Contributors:National Archives and Records AdministrationOriginal artist:Uploaded by User:OberRanks

• File:SS_Full_Dress.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/db/SS_Full_Dress.jpg License: CC-BY-3.0 Contributors:http://www.themarshalsbaton.com Original artist:Michael Holderson

• File:SS_Hoheitszeichen.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/SS_Hoheitszeichen.jpg License: Public do-main Contributors: TM-E 30-451: Handbook on German Military Forces Original artist: U.S. War Department

• File:SS_Platanenmuster_Herbst.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/SS_Platanenmuster_Herbst.jpg Li-cense: CC-BY-SA-3.0 Contributors: Own work. I have made this from a original jacket with Adobe Photoshop Original artist: Mediatus

• File:SS_Totenkopf.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/SS_Totenkopf.jpg License: CC BY-SA 2.0 frContributors:

• SS_hat_f3549736.jpg Original artist: SS_hat_f3549736.jpg: Rama• File:SS_Totenkopf_1923-34.gif Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/SS_Totenkopf_1923-34.gif License:

Public domain Contributors: Organisationsbuch der NSDAP, 3d Ed (1937) Original artist: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei• File:SScuffbands.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fa/SScuffbands.jpg License: ? Contributors:

National Archives and Records AdministrationOriginal artist:Uploaded by User:OberRanks

• File:SSpfcsldr.gif Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/SSpfcsldr.gif License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors:http://www.axishistory.com Original artist: Marcus Wendel - http://www.axishistory.com

• File:Schutzstaffel_SS_SVG1.1.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Schutzstaffel_SS.svg License: Pub-lic domain Contributors: Derivative work from File:Schutzstaffel SS.png Original artist: Splintax

• File:Sig_runes_(white).svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Sig_runes_%28white%29.svg License: Pub-lic domain Contributors: Derivative work from File:Flag Schutzstaffel.svg Original artist: DIREKTOR

• File:Sleeve_and_collar_insignia_of_the_Schutzstaffel.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8b/Sleeve_and_collar_insignia_of_the_Schutzstaffel.png License: ? Contributors:National Archives and Records AdministrationOriginal artist:Uploaded by User:OberRanks

• File:Transitional_rank_insignia_of_the_Schutzstaffel.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6f/Transitional_rank_insignia_of_the_Schutzstaffel.png License: ? Contributors:National Archives & Records AdministrationOriginal artist:Uploaded by User:OberRanks

15.3 Content license• Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0