BACKGROUND: The SS-VT, SS-Verfügungstruppe Standarte 1, (1ST Regiment SS-Special Purpose Troops), was allotted the honorary title, "Deutschland" (Germany), at the Nürnberg rally in September 1935, and in November 1935 personnel of the Standarte were authorized wear of a cufftitle with the Gothic scripted title. In October 1939 the Standarte became a component of the newly formed SS-VT-Division (mot.), which would eventually evolve into the 2ND Panzer-Division "Das Reich" and personnel retained the authorization to wear the cufftitle. In December 1939 the Gothic script on the cufftitle was altered to Latin script. The Standarte underwent three assorted designations, until October 22ND 1943 when it received its final designation as SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 3 "Deutschland".

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Early (pre-December 1939), RZM pattern, woven black rayon cufftitle with hand embroidered Gothic script, "Deutschland", in bright silver/aluminum threads. The cufftitle is bordered at both top and bottom edges in horizontally woven, six strand, bright silver/aluminum threads. The full length cufftitle is roughly 1 3/16" wide and 19 1/4" long, with folded over, machine stitched ends. The cufftitle has the typical "salt & pepper" reverse with a woven, ribbed, protective black fabric backing hand-stitched to the reverse of the embroidery, and a white paper RZM/SS tag with black printed script and purple ink stamped manufacturer's numerical code. The tag features both the printed RZM logo and SS runes. This example was captured/liberated by U.S. Vet Raymond Davies in 1945. Nice!