BACKGROUND: With the German invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22^ND 1941 the German army encountered large segments of the non-ethnic Russian populace that greeted them as liberators from the yoke of Bolshevism. Although Hitler was suspicious of the ethnic make-up and loyalty of these personnel the German commanders in the field quickly saw the advantage of utilizing these willing personnel in non-combatant roles. As a result of manpower restrictions the German army began employing non-ethnic Russian POW’s and volunteers as laborers and supply personnel in the rear areas as early as the summer of 1941 against the express wishes of Hitler. In an attempt to convince the Turkistanis to ally themselves with the German cause Hitler finally allowed the formation of a Turkistani Legion in November 1941 which was to be attached to the German 162^ND Infantry Division as a parent and training unit. Uniforms and insignia, including shoulder straps for the foreign eastern volunteers were first introduced on December 12^TH 1942 with a second pattern insignia being introduced on May 29^TH 1943. The second pattern shoulder strap/boards of the eastern volunteers were based on the insignia of the Imperial Russian Army with assorted, colored, waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Colors), to distinguish the particular ethnic make-up and/or region of origin of the wearer. Personnel serving with the Turkistani Legion were allotted light blue waffenfarbe which was displayed as piping on the shoulder straps/boards.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Second pattern, (Circa May 1943-May 1945), Turkistani volunteer’s shoulder straps as introduced on May 29^TH 1943. Wide, pointed tip, blue/green badge cloth construction slip on shoulder straps with light blue rayon waffenfarbe piping.  The bottoms of the shoulder straps are in a combination of field-grey and stone grey wool while the slip on, retaining tongues are in stone grey wool with an olive drab cotton/rayon reinforcement panel machine stitched to the reverse of one and a black rayon reinforcement panel machine stitched to the reverse of the other. The shoulder straps are in overall very good condition with minimal age toning and minor nap wear. The shoulder straps signify a Turkistani volunteer with the rank of, "Freiwilliger", (Volunteer/EM).