BACKGROUND: The SD/SIPO, SS-Sicherheits Dienst und Sicherheitspolizei, (SS Security Service and Security Police), were instituted in June 1931 as the German national counter-espionage agency and were entrusted with control of internal national security under the auspices of the Sicherheitsdienst des Reichsführer-SS, (Security Service of the National Leader of the SS). SD/SIPO personnel originally wore the same uniforms and insignia as the Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), until January 1942 when new collar and shoulder insignia were introduced. SD/SIPO personnel holding ranks from SD-Mann up to and including SD-Obersturmbannführer wore blank, right hand side collar tabs with the left hand side collar tabs displaying the individuals rank while the ranks of SD-Standartenführer up to SD-Obergruppenführer wore the rank collar tabs in matching pairs. Collar tabs for the SD ranks of SD-Untersturmführer to SD-Obergruppenführer were piped in bright, silver/aluminum cording while the SD ranks of SD-Mann up to and including SD-Sturmscharführer collar tabs were un-piped. Of Note: The RZM, Reichzeugmeisterei, (National Equipment Quartermaster), was officially 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 and the SD came under the quality control of the RZM and were marked by a cloth RZM/SS approval tag. The dimensions and design of these cloth tags was altered in 1935 and this second pattern tag remained in use until early 1938, when it was replaced by a paper tag.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Piped 1942 pattern. Right hand (SD) tab is blank as per regulations. Rank tab has four rank pips with single tress. The collar tabs are both mounted on tan buckram bases. Nice!