BACKGROUND: On December 22ND 1920 the Weimar era Reichsheer instituted a system of sleeve rank insignia for enlisted personnel which remained in effect until the newly formed Wehrmacht Heer introduced a new system on September 25TH 1936. In March 1938 the Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), adopted the army style rank pip for the rank of SS-Mann. In 1939 the Waffen-SS, (Armed-SS), began using the Allgemeine-SS army style rank pip for the rank of SS-Mann. In 1941 the Waffen-SS adopted the army rank of Oberschütze and utilized the earlier SS-Mann rank pip to identify this new rank. Of Note: Army regulations of April 25TH 1940 dictated the base color of the rank insignia was to match the color of the uniform being worn and as a result Panzer personnel also wore this rank pip.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The SS-Oberschütze rank insignia consists of a roughly, 50mm diameter, black wool base with a central, machine embroidered, rank pip in silver/grey cotton threads.