BACKGROUND: Originally shoulder straps for Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), EM/NCO’s were introduced on May 26^TH 1933 at the same time as the SA ,Sturm Abteilung, (Storm Troops), shoulder straps were introduced. These first pattern shoulder straps were also worn by SS-VT, SS-Verfügungstruppe, (SS-Special Purpose Troops), and, SS-TK, SS-Totenkopf units, (SS-Deaths Head units), which were to become the nucleus of the Waffen-SS, (Armed-SS). 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. By 1938 the transition to army style shoulder straps was pretty much complete and these army style shoulder straps would be worn by all EM/NCO’s of the Waffen-SS. In 1939 the Waffen-SS adopted waffenfarben, (Branch of Service Colors), with each branch of service being allocated a specific identifying waffenfarbe, which was displayed as piping on the shoulder straps with pink being chosen for Panzer, (Armored), personnel. Of Note: Originally NCO ranks utilized a bright silver/aluminum tress on their shoulder straps and collars until April 25^TH 1940 when a new subdued matte blue/grey tress was introduced to replace the highly visible, silver/aluminum tress, although the change over was never complete accomplished.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Black wool construction slip on shoulder strap features bright silver/aluminum, diamond patterned, NCO’s tress to all the outside edges, a single, silver washed, stamped alloy, rank pip and pink rayon waffenfarbe piping. The bottom of the shoulder strap is in field-grey wool while the narrow slip on retaining tongue is in black wool with a ribbed black cotton twill reinforcement panel machine stitched to the reverse. The strap is in overall fair condition with light to moderate nap wear to the wool and moderate chafe wear and some oxidization spotting to the NCO’s tress.

GRADE ***                             PRICE $295.00