BACKGROUND: Slip on shoulder strap slides for wear by EM/NCO’s were originally introduced on January 24TH 1940 for economic and security reasons. The slides were cheaper and easier to produce then full shoulder straps and could be exchange easily if an individual was transferred or removed in the field to conceal unit designations. The shoulder strap slides generally had a unit numeral or specific designation letter chain stitched in the appropriated waffenfarbe color.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Field-grey wool construction slip on shoulder strap slides with a machine stitched seam to the reverse and dark blue chain stitched "4" to the obverse.