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. The shoulder straps underwent minor manufacturing variations during the war. In 1939 the Waffen-SS adopted waffenfarben, (Branch of Service Colors), with each branch of service being allocated a specific, identifying, waffenfarbe, with lemon yellow being chosen for Nachrichten, (Signals), personnel, which was displayed as piping on the shoulder straps. Enlisted Signals ranks shoulder straps indicate the ranks of, SS-Funker, SS-Oberfunker, SS-Sturmmann and SS-Rottenführer inclusively with the collar and/or sleeve insignia indicating the specific rank. Slip on shoulder strap slides for wear by EM/NCO’s were originally introduced for army personnel on January 24^TH 1940 for economic and security reasons. The slides were cheaper and easier to produce then full shoulder straps and could be exchange easily if an individual was transferred or removed in the field to conceal unit designations. The shoulder strap slides generally had a unit numeral or specific designation letter chain stitched or embroidered in the appropriated waffenfarbe color. In May 1940 the Waffen-SS followed the army’s lead and also introduced slip on shoulder strap slides. Although regulations indicated that the Waffen-SS was to use the appropriate waffenfarbe color for the shoulder strap slides it appears the order was generally ignored as most are found with silver/grey embroidery. The shoulder strap slides were utilized by the ranks of SS-Anwärter up to and including SS-Scharführer. Regulations of April 1^ST 1944 discontinued the shoulder strap unit insignia for all Waffen-SS units excluding the Leibstandarte SS-Adolf Hitler. The 1.SS-Panzer-Division LSSAH, (Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler), the premier unit of the Waffen-SS, had evolved from the Stabswache (Headquarter Guards), that were originally formed in March 1923. From its original inception it served under numerous designations until the tenth anniversary of the failed Beer Hall Putsch on the night of November 8^TH/9^TH 1933 when Hitler bestowed them with the honor title, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, (Life Regiment Adolf Hitler). The LSSAH underwent further expansions and designation until October 22^ND 1943 when it received its final designation as 1.SS-Panzer-Division LSSAH, (Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler). On June 6^TH 1935 LSSAH personnel were authorized wear of a distinctive shoulder strap/board cypher consisting of the letters, "LAH". Originally the cyphers were in a florid, baroque style with the overlapping letters, "LAH" until a second pattern was introduced in 1939 that utilized squared off Latin style lettering. Originally the ranks of SS-Anwärter up to and including SS-Scharführer utilized an embroidered cypher in silver/grey threads while the ranks of SS-Oberscharführer up to and including SS-Sturmscharführer used silver metal cyphers and the ranks of SS-Untersturmführer up to and including SS-Obergruppenführer utilized gilt metal cyphers. Of Note: 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: Roughly, 4 1/8", (10.4cm), long, 1 3/4", (4.4cm), wide, black wool construction slip on shoulder strap with lemon yellow rayon waffenfarbe piping. The bottom of the strap is in field-grey wool while the narrow, slip on, retaining tongue is in black wool with a ribbed, black, rayon reinforcement panel machine stitched to the reverse. The strap comes with a separate, roughly, 1 3/8", (3.5cm), tall, 1 7/8", (4.7cm), wide, black wool construction, slip on shoulder strap slide with the machine embroidered, second pattern, (Circa 1939-1945), stylized, overlapping, squared off, Latin style lettering, "LAH" cypher in silvery/grey rayon threads. The slide has a machine stitched, vertical, seam to the reverse. Both the strap and the slide are in overall good condition with light age and usage toning and light to moderate nap wear to the shoulder strap.