The Schutzstaffel wore uniforms to differentiate themselves from the regular German armed forces, the German state and the Nazi Party. Commander of the Leibstandarte SS Josef Sepp Dietrich ordered his men in 1933 to wear the uniform without a swastika armband in order to differentiate themselves from the rank and file of the Allgemeine-SS units throughout the German Reich. Among the uniforms of the SS, the all black SS uniform is the most well known. However, after the outbreak of war black uniforms were seldom worn, except for the black uniform worn by SS-Panzer crews. The combat units of the Waffen-SS wore a variation of the Army uniform with distinguishing SS insignia. SS uniforms used a variety of insignia, the most standard of which were the classic SS skull and collar patches and shoulder boards to denote rank and position. The basic SS rune collar patch was standard for all German and Germanic Waffen-SS formations except
Totenkopf units, whose men wore the embroidered skull patches throughout the conflict. Cuff titles, worn on the lower left sleeve of the tunic, were another distictive part of the SS uniform. The SS arm eagle was also a distinctive part of the uniform. Only the Heer, Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine wore the eagle on their right breast, thus the SS wore theirs on the upper left arm, a left-facing eagle and straight wings tapering to a point. The uniforms and insignia of the SS was designed by Professor Dr. Karl Diebitsch, promoted to SS-Oberführer on April 20 1944, and graphic designer Walter Heck, promoted to SS-Obersturmführer on Nov. 9 1933. The German fashion house Hugo Boss produced these uniforms along with the uniforms of the youth organisation
Hitlerjugend. The belt buckle featuring the motto
Meine Ehre heißt Treue was produced by the Overhoff firm. Images: many famous high-ranking Waffen-SS commanders like
Joachim Peiper and Max Wünsche, both officers of the Leibstandarte SS, began their pre-wartime careers in the
SS-Verfügungstruppe. Credit: Julia Kotterias. FU.
I wish Hugo Boss would of made my uniform in the Army. German Uniforms were always sharp and practical
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ReplyDeleteMy wife's grandfather was a men's tailor and ran a store in Poland before WW2. He made top of the range suits for men. With the invasion of the Germans in 1939, his store was immediately commandeered by the SS and he was ordered to make the SS officer uniforms. He did beautiful work in everything he did and the officer's uniforms were exceptional.
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ReplyDeleteI own a visor attributed to the Wiking Officer Dr. Manfred Renz. On the surface, it's a typical SS Kleiderkasse visor, not especially that well made which is typical but in really nice condition. The piping is a blend of spiral weave rayon and wool (which has worn away somewhat). It's very interesting to note the 5th Pz Div Wiking uniforms. Coloured piped caps were common, as were Luftwaffe style leather jackets. Contrary to belief, not every SS Officer had the opportunity to walk into an SS clothing store and pick and choose, they had to mail order their uniforms.
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