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S008757 "TOTENKOPF" EM/NCO'S CUFFTITLE. (Ärmelstreiffen)
BACKGROUND: The origins of the 3RD SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf" can be traced back to the formation of the SS-Wachverbände, (SS-Guard Units) in March 1933 which was redesignated, SS-Totenkopfverbände, (SS-Death’s Head Units), on March 29TH 1936. In October 1939 personnel from the SS-Totenkopfverbände were recruited to compose the cadre of the newly forming SS-Totenkopf-Division. The SS-Totenkopf-Division was upgraded and redesignated, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Totenkopf" on November 9TH 1942, and on October 22ND 1943 it received its final designation as 3RD SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf". Originally personnel assigned to the SS-Totenkopf-Division from the SS-Totenkopfstandarte 1 Oberbayern unofficially wore a cufftitle of their former unit that utilized the SS style Totenkopf, (Death’s Head), and crossbones. On September 1ST 1942 a new honor cufftitle scripted, "Totenkopf" was introduced for wear by all ranks. Of Note: Although unofficial for the SS-Totenkopf-Division the early Death’s Head cufftitle proved quite popular and saw limited wear for the duration of the war. 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, 19" long, full length, RZM pattern, machine woven, black rayon construction cufftitle featuring machine embroidered, Latin script, "Totenkopf", in silvery/grey, cotton threads. The cufftitle is bordered at both the top and bottom edges in seven strand, horizontally woven, bright, silver/aluminum wire threads. The full length cufftitle has folded over, machine stitched ends and the reverse has dual, white, paper RZM/SS tags with black printed script and the purple and blue inkstamped manufacturer’s numerical codes to each. The printed script to the tags includes both the RZM logo and the SS runes within circular borders. Of Note: One of the RZM/SS tags would indicate the cufftitle manufacturer while the other tag would indicate the embroiderer. The cufftitle is in overall excellent, unissued, condition with minimal age toning.
GRADE ****1/2 PRICE $ SOLD
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