Maria Therisa Waffen-SS Division

In September 1939, German Panzer Divisions made mincemeat out of Poland’s finest Hussar formations. With the advent of this type of mechanized warfare., the downfall of the horse cavalry seemed to be assured. But the Russian-German War was to alter that judgment.

The wide open steppes, wild marshes, and thick forests of Russia, required a certain type of mobility that motorized vehicles, dependent upon fuel and roadways, were unable to provide. When utilized properly, both the Russian and German cavalry formations fulfilled this requirement. For example, the German conquest of the Pripet Marshes in 1941 was achieved largely by cavalry units.

The Red Army enjoyed an overabundance of cavalry troops but generally used them in a reckless manner. The carnage and toll taken of the Soviet Cossack forces was so great that the Germans were almost convinced that horse cavalry units were an anachronisms. As a result the Wehrmacht began upgrading its cavalry into motorized formations. By l943, the excellent 1st. Kavallerie Division had been reshaped into the 24th Panzer Division.

On the other hand, the Waffen-SS had employed “traditional" cavalry regiments in Russia from l941 onward. By 1943, four SS Kavallerie Regiments in two brigades were fighting in Russia as part of the 8th SS Division "Florian Geyer”. This division, under the command of SS Brigadefuhrers Bittrich and Fegelein, traveled nearly 1500 miles deep into Russia and considerably distinguished itself.

In 1943, when the Waffen-SS began a major expansion of its foreign units, the lesson learned from "Florian Geyer" was not forgotten. The cavalry offered a cheap, efficient way to obtain high mobility without having to worry about good roads, vihicle parts and petrol.

Most of the East European SS Divisions being formed were basically foot infantry. This alone made them inferior to the motorized, panzer or panzer-grenadier elite formations. Thus the prospect of forming cavalry units offered a way to bridge the gap between the grenadier and the panzer-grenadier troops.

1. Waffen—SS collar patch for the 22nd SS Kavallerie Division.

2. Official vehicle identification shield for "Maria Theresa".

3. Unofficial vehicle identification sign of the 22nd SS.

All of the insignia above bear the design of a "Karstblume" which became designated as a Cornflower.

VI. DIVISIONAL INSIGNIA

In early I944, the supply office of the 22nd SS Division received a shipment of collar patch insignia bearing the design of the Alpine Karst flower. Considering these to be the new "Maria Theresa" insignia, they were distributed to the troops. As it turned out the Karstblume collar patches were ment for the 24th Waffen-Gebirgs Division der SS “Karstiager", operating in Italian Tyrol. They had been accidently sent to the wrong location. “Karstjager" never did get them and "Maria Theresa" wore the patches for the rest of the war. Once it became apparant that the 22nd SS Division was stuck with the Karstblume insignia, it was decided to identify the design on the patch as a variety of cornflower. It was felt that this would be more appropriate

for a “lowland" formation.

Inevitably, the Katstblume or cornflower was adopted as the Divisional emblem and appeared on vehicles and directional signs: Two different designs of varying format were used. One showed the flower enclosed in a shield and the other showed the flower without the shield.

While the Waffen-SS never awarded a cufftitle to the 22nd SS, post-war manufacturers issued them "posthumously". As a result several bogus designs of "Maria Theresa" cuffbands are in circulation today. There are no other distincttive Divisional insignia known.

For photographs of the Divisional collar patch and members of the unit, see Waffen-SS, Its Divisional Signs, by Beadle and Hartmann, (Bromley, England: Key Publications) 1971.

Richard Landwehr,"SS Cavalry: 22nd Fieiwilligen Division der SS "Maria Therisa", 1944-45", Military Collector's News, 1972

The Kriegsmarie "AFRIKA" Cufftitle

One seldom encountered, yet interesting cuffband, is the German naval version of the "AFRIKA" band which exists in the form of a unit title and as a campaign title. There is, however a lack of detailed information on this cufftitle in its naval form.

What we do know:

It was issued as a unit title to designate actual service with North African based units. It was later considered a naval version of the official campaign service decoration, differing in color from the standard, proscribed pattern issued to the other branches of the Wehrmacht.

Unit Title:

It is known that for a limited time the use of the Army pattern "AFRIKAKORPS" was permitted to be worn by naval personnel, being listed in orders dated 18 July 1941 and again in orders dated 4 November 1941 .

The next style of "AFRIKA" cuff-band was the Latin capital letter pattern for the Luftwaffe units serving in Africa. A number of photographs have been observed showing Kriegsmarine members wearing this pattern having white lettering on cornflower-blue. In addition, examples exist of this style in a naval color pattern of golden-yellow on dark blue. All unit patterns and the Army"AFRIKAKORPS" pattern were worn on the right cuff, and were not allowed to be worn after the wearer had left the African theater. The right to wear these titles was entered into the man's Soldbuch. It was not considered a campaign decoration and as such had no presentation or formal award document (Urkunde).

Campaign Award:

An official commemorative campaign cuff-band was instituted on 15 January1943 and was awarded to those in all branches of the Wehrmacht who had served in the African theater of operations. The pattern was rendered on tanbrown material with silver-grey lettering and matching silver-grey palm trees at either end of the word "AFRIKA". It also had a silver-grey soutache border strip at both top and bottom of the band.

This band was to be worn on the lower left sleeve where all campaign titles were worn. In addition to the title itself, an award document was presented as this was an official campaign decoration. The cuff-band was authorized to be worn on any uniform, and unlike the unit designator pattern, did not have to be removed if no longer serving in Africa.

Naval Variation: ****

For some unknown reason, there exists a naval variation of this campaign title, it appears in naval colors of darkblue with golden-yellow embroidery. The pattern is almost identical in design to the standard pattern, except for its colors. These titles were also issued with an award certificate, most often signed by Konderadmiral Meendsen-Bohlken, Commander of Kriegsmarine forces in Italy (see example of ink-stamped signature on illustrated document).

The following is a translation of the regulations relating to this cuff-band from Marineverordnungsblatt 74, Berlin,1943:

1. The cuff-band was to be awarded via the German Naval Command italy, in the name of the Kriegsmarine High Command.

2. The cuff-band will be awarded with a recipient's document, the said document to be procured from the German Naval Command Italy. A recipient must have fullfiled one of the following requirements:

a. Honorable service in the African theater for ground operations, or for operations at sea from firmly established ports for at least six months.

b. Being wounded in theater during ground operations or operations at sea while operating from firmly established ports.

c. By contracting an incapacitating tropical disease after at least three months. The award is not to be awarded to foreigners. The award is to be entered into personal papers.

3. The award is to be worn on the lower left arm, on tropical, blue and fieldgrey uniforms.

4. All former organizational cuff-bands are to be withdrawn, i.e., the "AFRIKAKORPS" cuff-band.

5. The supply of cuff-bands is to take place via the Naval Superintendant Service Post in Naples.

Variations:

As with all things military, although a regulation may be "etched in stone"variations exist - out of some basic need (greater demand than supply) or the desire to have a better-made and better looking item. A number of unofficial variations exist of the "AFRIKA" pattern cuffband in all forms using different materials (gold bullion embroidery, for example). These naval patterns differ in lettering and borders, base material used, and were normally locally produced. The best proof of originality is still a photograph of the variation in actual use.

Richard W. Mundt, "The Kriegsmarine "AFRIKA" Cuffband", The Military Advisor, 2006

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