Uniforms and insignia of the Waffen-SS

Joachim Peiper as SS-Sturmbannführer

Max Wünsche as SS-Obersturmführer

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 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 Germany. 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 SS skull throughout the war. 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 SS-Oberführer Prof. Dr. Karl Diebitsch and graphic designer SS-Sturmhauptführer Walter Heck. Hugo Boss company produced these uniforms along with the uniforms of the Hitlerjugend and the belt buckle featuring the motto Meine Ehre heißt Treue was produced by the Overhoff firm. Images: Many famous high-ranking commanders like Joachim Peiper and Max Wünsche began their pre-wartime careers in the SS-VT, both officers of the Leibstandarte SS Division. Public domain.