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S004459 "SS-KRIEGSBERICHTER" EM/NCO'S CUFFTITLE. (Ärmelstreiffen)
BACKGROUND: The OKH, Oberkommando des Heeres, (High Command of the Army), and the OKW, Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, (High Command of the Armed Forces), both realized the importance of propaganda and as early as 1938 they both actively began recruiting artists, photographers and journalists who were assigned to Propaganda Companies which accompanied all three branches of service in the field. In his position as the Reichsminister, für Volkserklärung und Propaganda, (National Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda), Dr. Paul Josef Goebbels assisted the Armed Forces by compiling a list of suitable artists, photographers and journalist and provided an eight week war correspondents training program for them. The artwork, photographs and reports from the Propaganda Companies were utilized to maintain morale, assist in recruitment and record the exploits of the German Armed Forces in the field. Much of the Propaganda Companies work would appear in assorted books, newspapers and magazines and the artwork and photographs of the Propaganda Companies were also used in recruitment posters and postcards. The SS-FHA, SS-Führungshauptamt, (SS-Operational Headquarters), also realized the importance of propaganda and as early as 1938 they began to actively recruit voluntary artists, photographers and journalists who were assigned to a SS-War correspondent’s company. In 1940 the Waffen-SS followed the Wehrmachts lead and fielded war correspondents, as a company strength unit who were allotted an identifying cufftitle with the script, "SS-Kriegsberichter Kp.", (SS-War Correspondent Company). In 1941 the War Correspondents company was expanded to battalion strength and a new cufftitle was introduced with the script, "SS-KB-Abt". Shortly after another cufftitle with Gothic script, "SS-Kriegsberichter", was introduced but the script was soon altered to the Latin style. The "SS-Kriegsberichter" cufftitle was worn by individual correspondents assigned to a Waffen-SS unit, as opposed to correspondents who served in the actual SS War Correspondents unit. Of Note: Further expansion increased the War Correspondents battalion to regimental strength in 1943 and following the death of "Das Schwarze Korps", editor Kurt Eggers in December 1943, the regiment was allotted the honor cufftitle "Kurt Eggers".
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 1 1/8" tall, 17 5/8" long, full length, machine woven, black rayon construction cufftitle with machine woven, (Bevo), SS runes and Latin script, "SS-Kriegsberichter", (SS-War Correspondent), in silvery/grey rayon threads. The cufftitle is bordered at both the top and bottom edges in vertically stitched silvery/grey rayon threads. The reverse of the cufftitle has the typical, repeating, "salt & pepper" pattern reverse. The full length cufftitle has folded over, machine stitched ends and one end of the cufftitle has the machine woven, manufacturer’s trade name, "Bevo-Wuppertal", also in silvery/grey rayon threads indicating manufacture by Bandfabrik Ewald Vorsteher of Wuppertal. The cufftitle is in overall good condition with minor age toning, small spots of light fraying to both the top and bottom edges and a small tear near one end. Of Note: It is believed that the BeVo woven pattern cufftitles were introduced for War Correspondents in early 1943.
GRADE ***1/2 PRICE $979.00
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