BACKGROUND: Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler’s obsession with pagan runic symbolism manifested itself in runic emblems used by the SS, the most famous of which was the dual sig-runes used on the collar tabs and helmets decals of the SS. The dual sig-runes design was initiated by SS-Sturmhauptführer and graphic artist Walter Heck in May 1933, who sold his design to the SS for 2.50 Reichs Marks. The runic SS breast badge was originally introduced on January 16TH 1937 for wear by former Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), personnel serving with the Ordnungspolizei, (Order Police). In July 1943 wear of the runic SS breast badge was extended to all full fledged SS personnel who were serving in one of the Waffen-SS, (Armed-SS), units that were not entitled to wear the SS runic collar tab such as the 4.SS-Polizei-Panzer-Grenadier-Division, the 7.SS-Freiwillingen-Gebirgs-Division "Prinz Eugen", the 11.SS-Freiwillingen-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Nordland", and the 13.Waffen-Gebirgs-Division der SS "Handschar", among others. The runic breast badge was to be worn beneath the left breast pocket on the service and field uniforms. The SS runic breast badge was worked on a police green, a field-grey and a black wool base for wear on the appropriate colored uniforms. 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, including the SS, 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 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. Of Note: In 1943 the Waffen-SS assumed full control over their uniform item production and no longer fell under the authority of the RZM.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The insignia consists of hand embroidered SS runes in bright silver/aluminum wire threads on a cut-out police green wool base. The base follows the same angular design as the runes and is roughly, 35mm tall and 37mm wide at its widest point. Removed from a uniform.