BACKGROUND: On July 20TH 1934 shortly after the, June 30TH 1934, purge of the SA on the "Night of the Long Knives", the SS was rewarded by Hitler by being granted the status of an independent organization under direct control of the NSDAP. In an attempt to distance themselves from the SA, the SS introduced a new pattern cap skull to replace the previously used Imperial Prussian Danziger style skull on October 6TH 1934. Originally the overseas cap skull was produced as a metal button that was affixed to the front center of the cap until regulations in 1939 introduced a machine woven version that was utilized for the duration of the war.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 23mm diameter, stamped, magnetic sheet metal construction button with a nickel/silver plated finish, features a subtly pebbled background field with a central embossed, smooth finished, Totenkopf superimposed over dual crossbones. The nickel/silver plated finish is fully intact and still quite bright. The reverse of the button has an inset backing plate with a looped attachment shank (bent). The reverse is well marked with impressed SS runes, the RZM logo within dual circular border lines and the manufacturers numerical code, "63", with out the "M" numeral prefix.