BACKGROUND: The evolution of the SS-Totenkopfverbände, (SS-Death’s Head Units), can be traced back to March 1933 with the formation of the SS-Wachverbände, (SS-Guard Units), as an integral component of the Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), who were assigned as guards at the Dachau concentration camp. On March 29^TH 1936 the SS-Wachverbände were redesignated SS-Totenkopfverbände. Originally the SS-Wachverbände, consisted of five Sturmbanne, (Battalions), until a restructuring on July 1^ST 1937 reorganized it into three Standarte (Regiments), which included the SS-Totenkopfstandarte 1 Oberbayern which was assigned to the Dachau concentration camp. In March 1936 personnel of SS-Totenkopfstandarte 1 and personnel serving on the Commandants staff of the Dachau concentration camp were allotted an identifying cufftitle with Gothic scripted title, Oberbayern. In September 1938 a new pattern cufftitle was introduced for all personnel of SS-Totenkopfstandarte 1 and personnel serving on the Commandants staff of the Dachau concentration camp that utilized the SS style Totenkopf, (Death’s Head), as introduced on October 6^TH 1934. Of Note: On introduction of the second pattern, Totenkopf cufftitle there was a surplus of roughly three thousand of the earlier Oberbayern cufftitles and it was decided that the Oberbayern cufftitles be worn on the field-grey uniforms and the Totenkopf cufftitle on the black uniforms. Also Of Note: The SS-Totenkopfstandarte 1 was disbanded in late 1940 with most of its personnel being assigned to the newly forming, SS-Totenkopf-Division which eventually evolved into the 3^RD SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf". Photographic evidence indicates some of the SS-Totenkopfstandarte 1 personnel continued to wear the Totenkopf cufftitle after assignment to the SS-Totenkopf-Division although it was never officially sanctioned. Also Of Note: The RZM, Reichzeugmeisterei, (National Equipment Quartermaster), was official founded in June 1934 in Munich by the NSDAP 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 a cloth RZM/SS approval tag. The dimensions and design of these cloth tags was altered in 1935 and this second pattern tag remained in use until early 1938, when it was replaced by a paper tag. 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: Roughly, 1 1/8" tall, 18 1/4" long, full length, machine woven, black rayon construction cufftitle with a central, hand embroidered skull and crossbones in bright, silver/aluminum flat-wire threads. The cufftitle is bordered at both top and bottom edges in horizontally woven, six strand, bright, silver/aluminum wire threads. The reverse of the cufftitle has the typical "salt and pepper" pattern and a woven, protective, black fabric backing is handstitched to the reverse of the embroidery. The is in overall good condition with light age and usage toning and some minor fraying and some loose threads to the top and bottom edges where it was removed from a tunic.

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $5,785.00