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/Assault Detachment), 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, (Armed-SS). In 1939 the Waffen-SS adopted waffenfarben, (Branch of Service Colors), with each branch of service being allocated a specific, identifying, waffenfarbe, with pink being chosen for Panzer, (Armored), personnel, which was displayed as piping on the shoulder straps. 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. The RZM, Reich Zeug Meisterei, (National Equipment Quartermaster), was officially founded in June 1934 in Munich by the NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), 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 the appropriate RZM/SS approval marking. 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: Black wool construction, slip on shoulder strap featuring subdued, matte, blue/grey rayon, diamond patterned, NCO’s tress to all but the slip on end and pink rayon waffenfarbe piping. Rank tress application is a little sloppy, so probably a promotion. The bottom of the shoulder strap has a light weight, protective grey cotton reinforcement panel machine stitched in place, which is relatively unusual. The narrow, slip on, retaining tongue is in black wool and has a black cotton reinforcement panel machine stitched to the reverse. The strap is in overall very good condition with minimal age and usage toning and nap wear.