S00854 PANZER SS-HAUPTSTURMFÜHRER'S SHOULDER BOARD. (Schulterstücke)  

BACKGROUND: Originally shoulder straps for Allgemeine-SS personnel were introduced on May 26^TH 1933 at the same time as the SA shoulder straps were introduced. These first pattern shoulder straps were also worn by SS-VT, SS-Verfügungstruppe, (SS-Special Purpose Troops), and, SS-TV, SS-Totenkopfverbände units, (SS-Deaths Head units), which were to become the nucleus of the Waffen-SS. On their introduction the shoulder straps for both SS and SA personnel were identical. In July 1935 the first army style shoulder straps for EM/NCO’s were introduced to distinguish the armed SS-VT and SS-TK personnel from the political Allgemeine-SS personnel. Army style shoulder boards for Officer’s were introduced in early 1938 and distinguishing branch of service, (waffenfarbe), colors were adopted in 1939. The transition to the army style shoulder boards/straps was pretty much complete in late 1938 or early 1939 and these army style shoulder boards/straps would be worn by all Waffen-SS personnel. Of Note: Company and Field grade Officer’s ranks originally utilized bright silver/aluminum Russian braiding on their shoulder boards until regulations of December 1939 discontinued the bright braiding for a more subdued, less visible matte braiding for camouflage purposes although the change over was never complete accomplished.  

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Sew on shoulder board of matte silver/aluminum Russian braid, with two stamped, silver washed, alloy rank pips, and pink wool waffenfarbe on a black wool base. The shoulder board shows light chafe wear to the Russian braid, moderate to heavy age and usage toning and minor nap war to the black wool bases. The shoulder board represent the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer serving in a panzer unit.