BACKGROUND: The command structure of the SS was a multi-tiered organization with the basic regimental sized units being subordinate to a District headquarters which in turn was subordinate to a Main District headquarters, all under the ultimate command of the SS-Reichsführung, (SS High Command). Originally all recruitment and training was the responsibility of the SS-Hauptamt, (SS Central Office), until a reorganization in August 1940 when the newly formed SS-Führungshauptamt, (SS-Operational Headquarters), became responsible for all training and controlled the SS=Dv., SS=Druckvorschriftenverwaltung, (SS Regulations Administration), which was responsible for producing all the appropriate training manuals, regulation booklets and additional training support items including films. The SS went to great lengths to ensure its personnel were provided with the best in-depth training that was available at the time. The training took many forms and in an attempt to replicate the most realistic combat conditions possible the Germans used live fire training exercises and found a one percent training fatality rate as acceptable, reasoning it was better to remove inadequate personnel in training as opposed to having them risk other lives in actual battle. Besides the live field training and exercises the Germans also established a variety of schools including the SS-Unterfuhrerschüle, (SS-NCO’s School) to train enlisted personnel for NCO positions. 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 1/8" long, full length, RZM pattern, machine woven black rayon construction cufftitle featuring machine embroidered SS runes and Latin script with an umlaut and hyphen, "SS-Unterführerschule" in silvery/grey rayon threads. The cufftitle is bordered at both the top and bottom edges in seven strand, horizontally woven, bright, silver/aluminum flat-wire threads. The full length cufftitle has folded over, machine stitched ends and the reverse has a small paper remnant. The cufftitle is in overall very good condition with minor age and usage toning and a couple of loose threads to both the top and bottom edges where it was removed from a tunic.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $2,995.00