BACKGROUND: The wearing of specific, identifying, trade or speciality badges was an old tradition in the German army and was adopted by the Waffen-SS to distinguish personnel who had successful completed the appropriate course and had achieved proficiency at a particular trade, specialty or function. Initially Waffen-SS personnel wore the circular army pattern insignia, but eventually developed their own diamond patterned insignia. The SS pattern insignia consisted of a black wool diamond base with silver/aluminum thread emblems for all personnel for wear on the black service uniform. With the introduction of the field-grey uniform all ranks were to wear the insignia done in silver/grey threads and the silver/aluminum versions were to be worn only by Officers ranks with the walking-out dress. The trade/specialty insignia was to be worn on the lower left sleeve of the field blouse and the service tunic by qualified personnel and this example indicates a qualified veterinarian. Of Note: The RZM, Reichzeugmeisterei, (National Equipment Quartermaster), was official founded in June 1934 in Munich by the NSDAP as a Reich Hauptamt, (State Central Office), and was based on the earlier SA Quartermaster’s Department. The functions of the RZM were not only to procure and distribute items to Party formations, but also to approve chosen designs and to act as a quality control supervisor to ensure items manufactured for the Party met required specification and were standardized. Starting in late 1934 items manufactured for the SS came under the quality control of the RZM and were marked with a RZM/SS approval/acceptance tags. In 1943 the Waffen-SS assumed full control over their uniform item production and no longer fell under the authority of the RZM. Also Of Note: Although considered highly mobilized for its time the German armed forces still utilized a great number of horses through-out WWII with the average infantry division containing roughly five thousand horses. Each division, excluding Panzer and motorized divisions, were appointed a veterinarian company that were responsible for caring for all horses, pack mules, dogs and even carrier pigeons. The veterinarian companies were usually well equipped as the care of the animals was of utmost importance to maintain mobility.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 70mm tall, 45mm wide, vertical, black wool diamond base featuring a machine embroidered, vertical, slithering, serpent with a forked tongue, in silvery/grey, rayon threads.