BACKGROUND: The, SS-VT, SS-Verfügungstruppe Standarte 1, (SS-Special Purpose Troops 1^ST Regiment), originally evolved from an assortment of regional units based on the PBW, Politische Bereitschaft Württemburg, (Political Readiness Detachment Württemburg), that was formed in May 1933. By the autumn of 1934 the PBW had amalgamated with other units to form the SS-Standarte 1/VT. At the NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), Nürnberg rally in September 1935 the SS-Standarte 1/VT was allotted the honorary title, "Deutschland", (Germany), and in November 1935 personnel of the Standarte were authorized wear of a cufftitle with the Gothic scripted title. In October 1939 the Standarte became a component of the newly formed SS-VT-Division (mot.), which would eventually evolve into the 2^ND Panzer-Division "Das Reich" and personnel retained the authorization to wear the cufftitle. Originally the cufftitle was manufactured with Gothic styled script until December 1939 when the script was altered to Latin style script. The Standarte underwent three name designation alterations during its time of service, receiving its final designation as, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 3 "Deutschland" on October 22^ND 1943. Of Note: The RZM, Reichzeugmeisterei, (National Equipment Quartermaster), was officially founded in June 1934 in Munich by the NSDAP as a Reich Hauptamt, (State Central Office), and was based on the earlier SA, Sturm Abteilung, (Storm/Assault Detachment), 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. Of Note: 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, 15 1/4" long, pre-December 1939, RZM pattern, machine woven, black rayon construction cufftitle featuring machine embroidered, Gothic script, "Deutschland", in silvery/grey cotton threads. The cufftitle is bordered at both top and bottom edges in horizontally woven, seven strand, bright, silver/aluminum flat-wire threads. The reverse of the cufftitle has folded over, hand stitched, vertical seam and the interior has a machine woven, black rayon RZM/SS tag with the silvery/grey, machine woven, manufacturer’s numerical code, "23", positioned above the date, "37", indicating an unknown manufacturer in 1937. The manufacturer’s numerical code and date are flanked by the RZM logo and the SS runes, both within circular borders. The cufftitle is in overall very good condition with light age and usage toning and a couple of loose threads to both the top and bottom edges.

GRADE ***3/4                                 PRICE $2,850.00