BACKGROUND: As early as 1938 Reichsführer-SS, (National Leader of the SS), Heinrich Himmler and the Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), began recruiting volunteer "Germanische", (Germanic), personnel who were considered to be suitably "Nordic", to serve in the SS-VT, SS-Verfügungstruppe, (SS-Special Purpose Troops). Originally these Germanic personnel were drawn from Dutch, Belgian, Danes and Norwegians but with only minor success. In March 1940 with the formation of the Waffen-SS, (Armed-SS), recruitment of the Germanic personnel began to increase slightly and with the outbreak of WWII additional Germanic volunteers came forward to join the ranks of the Waffen-SS. The invasion of the Balkans in 1941 brought forward another pool of suitable Volksdeutsche, (Ethnic Germans), personnel available for voluntary enlistment in the Waffen-SS. The invasion of Russia on June 22^ND 1941 and the war against Bolshevism resulted in the Waffen-SS experiencing another surge in recruits willing to serve with the Germans in the fight against communism. As the war continued and man-power shortages became severe the standard criteria for acceptance into the Waffen-SS was decreased dramatically and numerous personnel who would have been unacceptable in 1939 were readily conscripted into service with the Waffen-SS. By the end of the war more then half of all the personnel serving in the Waffen-SS were non-Germans. In February 1943 the Germans began the formation of a new division to be manned by Latvian volunteers and conscripts. Originally designated, 15. Lettische SS-Freiwilligen-Division, (15^TH Latvian SS Volunteer Division), it would eventually evolve into the 15. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (lettische Nr.1). As with other foreign "volunteer" units an identifying, national, sleeve shield was designed and produced for wear by all divisional personnel with the design being based on the Latvian national flag which dates back to 1279. The Latvian "volunteer" sleeve shield was produced in no less then five, slightly different, variants and this example was allegedly produced by the Lente firm of Riga and reportedly utilized by Latvian, Schutzmannschaften, (Protection Troop), personnel. In May 1943 a second unit of Latvian "volunteers" began formation and would eventually evolve into the 19. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (lettische Nr.2). Latvian personnel of this division were also granted the wear of the Latvian sleeve shield. Also Of Note: Due to the non-Germanic status of most of the personnel serving with the two Latvian, Waffen-SS divisions, authorization for wear of the SS runic collar tab was prohibited and personnel of the divisions originally wore a blank collar tab until March 11^TH 1943 when a swastika collar tab, also referred to as the Latvian "Fire Cross", was introduced for wear. In the autumn of 1944 a new "sunburst" patterned collar tab was introduced with the design being based on, what was allegedly, the first Latvian coat-of-arms and a traditional Latvian army emblem that had been worn during the 1918-1920 wars of liberation. The Latvian Fire Cross, (swastika), collar tab continued to be worn by personnel of the 19^TH Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (lettische Nr.2), after the 15^TH Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (lettische Nr.1), adopted the "sunburst" collar tab. Line drawn and photographic examples of this type of shield can be seen in D, Littlejohn’s book, Foreign Legions of the Third Reich volume 4 listed as "b" on page, 189, and H. P. Taylor and R. J. Bender’s books, Uniforms, Organization and History of the Waffen-SS, volume 4, listed as "E" on page 101 and volume 5, listed as "E" on page 45. Of all the Latvian sleeve shields we have had this is the only example of this type that we have ever encountered! 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 2 3/8", (6cm), tall, 2 1/4", (5.7cm), wide, machine woven, red, white, black and golden yellow, vertically ribbed, rayon construction, flat topped, scalloped sided, pointed bottom, shield shape base features a red shield with a pointed bottom tip with a central white diagonal bar and a horizontal, black bar on the top edge with the woven, golden yellow, block, Latin script, "Latvija". The outer edge of the shield has a dual, fine, border stripes that are white encompassing the red and white shield portion and golden yellow encompassing the top, horizontal, black bar with script portion. The shield still has sections of it’s original rayon factory roll to the outer edges and is in overall excellent, unissued, condition with minimal age toning and some minor fraying to the outer edges of the factory roll. Very seldom encountered shield in overall excellent condition. The owner has also sent in various photos and other paper related that belonged to the original owner of the shield. See photo for details. The Latvian SS issue diary/calendar is quite scarce.

GRADE ****3/4                                                         PRICE $1,449.00