BACKGROUND: Originally shoulder cords/straps for Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), were introduced on May 26TH 1933 at the same time as the SA, Sturm Abteilung, (Storm/Assault Detachment), shoulder straps were introduced. These first pattern shoulder cords/straps were also worn by SS-VT, SS-Verfügungstruppe, (SS-Special Purpose Troops), and, SS-TV, SS-Totenkopfverbände, (SS-Death’s Head Units), which were to become the nucleus of the Waffen-SS, (Armed-SS. On their introduction the shoulder cords/straps for both SS and SA personnel were basically identical. Although the Allgemeine-SS EM/NCO’s shoulder cords/straps remained essentially consistent in design, with one small change in 1934, the shoulder cords/boards for officers underwent at least three, minor, rank adjustments. The first pattern shoulder cords/straps for EM/NCO ranks of SS-Mann up to and including SS-Hauptscharführer were produced identical to the SA shoulder cords/straps with alternating, black and white cords until regulations of October 1934 introduced specific SS shoulder cords/straps produced in alternating, silver/aluminum and black cords. The 1934 EM/NCO’s shoulder cords/straps remained in usage for the duration of the war for Allgemeine-SS, SS-VT and SS-TV personnel. This pattern shoulder cord/strap was worn on the right shoulder of the black service uniform and on both shoulders of the field and earth grey uniforms. Of Note: The RZM, Reichzeugmeisterei, (National Equipment Quartermaster), was officially founded in June 1934 in Munich by the NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), 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, 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 the appropriate RZM/SS approval marking. 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: Second pattern, (Circa October 1934-May 1945), narrow, sew on, shoulder cord/strap of dual, alternating, twisted, bright, silver/aluminum and dual, black rayon cords mounted on a black wool base.