BACKGROUND: In August 1929 the SS, Schutz Staffel, (Protection Squad), incorporated the wear of rank collar tabs on the left side of the collar of the service tunic. The SS collar tabs were originally adopted from the earlier rank collar tabs as utilized by the SA, Sturmabteilung, (Storm Troops). Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler’s obsession with pagan runic symbolism manifested itself in runic emblems used by the SS, Schutz Staffel, (Protection Squad), the most famous of which was the dual sig-runes used on the collar tabs as introduced in May 1933. Additional runic style collar tabs were introduced at various times through-out the war. The assorted SS collar tabs remained in usage through-out the war with a couple of minor alterations. The SS-Totenkopfverbände, (Death’s Head Units), were responsible for guarding German concentration camps from 1933 until 1939 when its personnel were assigned as the nucleus of the newly forming Waffen-SS-Totenkopf-Division. As a result new Totenkopf-Wachsturmbanne, (Death’s Head-Guard Battalion), units were formed and assigned to guard the concentration camps. Later in the war as manpower shortages in the Waffen-SS became more severe many of the younger, physically fit, Totenkopf-Wachsturmbanne personnel were transferred into assorted Waffen-SS units and had to be replaced. This prompted Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler to induct roughly 10,000 older, (40+), reservists to fill the empty camp guard positions. This pattern collar tab was introduced late in the war, (circa June 1944), for wear by Heer and Luftwaffe personnel on temporary duty as concentration camp guards.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Right hand side, black wool construction collar tab with machine embroidered, double armed swastika in silvery/grey rayon threads. The collar tab is mounted on a light tan buckram backing.