Collecting Basics - Fake Nazi Cloth Items

The Nazi Regime in Germany, found that more manpower was needed, to prosecute their war of aggression.

The amount of forces they opposed as well as controlling the vast area of conquered territories, was simply too much for their own German teutonic supermen to handle unassisted.

Policies were enacted, which brought foreign legions into existence, composed of volunteers from other nations. These Legions often received insignias to identify them and give a sense of community as well.

In this article, we will look at some examples of the sleeve shields of various freiwilligen (Volunteer) Foreign Legions, of the German Army and the Waffen SS.

First up is a collection of various authentic, original shields. Every item pictured in this one photo is the genuine article. Some are fairly easy to locate and affordable. Other shields are extremely rare. Their availability compared to the demand for them, has caused their true value to reveal itself.

Many are approximately $250, but scarcer patterns can sell from $750 to $1250.

All Third Reich insignias, have been reproduced in counterfeits by forgers for decades, and sleeve shields are no exception. For instance here are 2 originals, under different lighting conditions and having seen different use and wear. Still it is obvious that the two insignias are the same pattern.

And here is a printed Fake. Many of the printed sleeve shields have been reproduced..

Original printed variations did exist of many shields, but Screen printed repros have been widely distributed throughout the hobby. They are inexpensive and if you do not know what real ones look like you may get stuck with fakes.

An original Bevo Don Kossack, and a fake "Local made side by side.
The one on the right was made to fool a collector, and it did.
Someone bought a humped up tunic with this shield upon its sleeve.

Local Variants abound, and that reality is used to sell fakes, which are made up to seem local made.

Cloth Freiwillige Abzeichen came in several accepted forms. 1st is the machine woven or gewebt production type commonly know as Bevo.

Here is an original BEVO pattern Turkistan ( a unit that was involved in Normandy). Next to it is one of the new high quality woven fakes made specifically to fool a collector.. So Bevo is not foolproof and safe.

As far as I can determine the bevo models are safe to buy, if they compare favorably with a known original. The replica bevo patterns make several types of errors. Be sure and compare not only the design and stitching, but the rear details and also the base colors.

Charles Warriner, "Collecting Basics - Fake Nazi Cloth Items", Militaria Blog, 2009

"TREU TAPFER GEHORSAM" The Schutzmannschaft

When the German armies pushed into Russia in June of 1941, they were virtually unchecked until the winter months of November and December of that same year. By this time, large areas of the Ukraine, White Russia, and the Caucasus had been overrun. The German armies stood within 20 miles of Moscow, but due to snow, ice and temperatures of 18 degrees below zero, the push was completely halted and the front stabilized.

The German plan for the invasion of Russia had called for the men and material to succeed in the initial push to the east. More than 120 divisions had participated in the thrust. What the High Command had badly miscalculated was the amount of manpower which would be needed to police and secure the rear areas of the newly won territory.

Reserve police units in Germany were immediately pressed into service, and moved into the rear areas through out all of conquered Russia. Partisan activity, though not prevalent in the early months of the invasion, had steadily increased during the months from September, 1941 through early 1942. In October of 1941, the Central Office of the SS and Police realized an increasing shortages in manpower. It was decided at this time, to make use, if possible, of local personnel who could be counted upon to work with, and have an allegiance to their German occupiers. Thus, the Eastern SCHUTZMANNSCHAFT was born.

In the fall of 1941 Schutzmannschaft battalions and regiments were established in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, followed by the areas of theUkraine and White Russia. These volunteer legions were selfsustaining in the areas in which they were formed. They were grouped into four major categories: the first included men in individual protection units for their cities, the second served in the outlying land areas. These men were armed cadred by German personnel, each company had an interpreter; category three was the fire

Above: Ukranian volunteers of the Schutzmann-schaft receive their Eastern Peoples Medal forbravery against the Russian partisans. Note the arm and shoulder insignia, the rank insignia on the collar differ from any German rank identification symbols. The man in the foreground has the medal in two grades of the second class, bronze and silver, the latter in this case indicates a second award.

protection police, the last was the Hilfer Schutzmann-schaft. The men in the fourth catagory worked in close unison with the field police of the German army, who by this time had been almost completely committed to fighting partisans.

There were some 48,000 men recruited by the fall of 1942. At this time the designations were changed from four to two major types of Schutz-mannschaft, hereafter referred to as "Schuma". First there were the Schuma Wach Bataillonen and secondly were the Schuma Front Bataillonen. The former served in the rear areas as local security while the latter were used to actively search out and fight the partisans.

These units began to take on the appearance in both rank and organizational breakdown of German SS and Security Police (SD) units. Corresponding ranks, though not given the same titles, paralleled their German counterparts. The units were issued German uniforms of the same type worn by the regular German Field Police.The field equipment and steel helmet were the standard German army issue, as were the small arms; however, the readily available Russian small arms were used extensively by the Schuma battalions. Eventually, special insignia was issued, this distinctive insignia first appeared in 1943.

The basic arm insignia of the Schuma batallions was a large oblong swastika, surrounded by the words “TREU TAPFER GEHORSAM” (fidelity, bravery, obedience). A wreath of oakleaves surmounted the motto. There were four patterns issued, the first and most widely seen, was the silver or grey swastika with the motto and wreath of the same color, all on a black background. The other patterns include green symbol, motto and oak-leaves on a light green background, orange symbol, motto, and oakleaves on a light green background and finally a rose red colored symbol, motto and oakleaves on the same light green background. These last three color schemes paralleled the German police color schemes exactly, Schutzpolizei, Gendarmerie and Feuerschutzpolizei respectively.

The shoulder insignia bore the swastika in the center and had the corresponding color of piping around the edges. The hat insignia was the same for all arms, a small oblong swastika surmounted by a wreath of oakleaves. This insignia was worn on the 1943 model visored field cap, no insignia was put on the steel helmet.

These Schuma battalions played a very important role in the fight against the Russian partisans. They continued to contribute to the German activities in Russia until they retreated in the fall of 1944. At this time a number of the Schuma police and security units were integrated into the late formed Waffen-SS divisions. These volunteers, due to their allegiance to the German conquerors, no longer had a homeland. They retreated toward the west. Now formed into automonous assault brigades and battlegroups, little is known of their activities after they left Russian soil. The confusion of the many withdrawals had swallowed them up. Some isolated units did appear in the orders of battle in the west as late as February of 1945, however they could no longer be considered a potent fighting force. Many of these units fell into American and British hands at the end of hostilities and were returned to the Soviet Union where many were tried and sentenced to death or prison for treason against their homeland. The fate of those who disappeared is unknown.

Richard E. Deeter, "Treu Tapfer Gehorsam", MILITARIA, 1969

The Waffen-SS Indian Legion

Collecting items from the era of the Third Reich is interesting. Research on these events reveals much about the nature of the individuals and formations who participated in the war. Many examples can be found, of men in desperate situations who earn respect with their actions, even from the enemies they fought against. Other formations earn shame, notoriety, and eternal disgust for their despicable and inhuman behavior.

In the closing stages of World War II, as Allied and French resistance forces were driving Hitler's now demoralised forces from France, three senior German officers defected. The information they gave British intelligence was considered so sensitive that in 1945 it was locked away, not due to be released until the year 2021. Thousands of Indian soldiers, who had joined Britain in the fight against fascism, betrayed the oath to the King of England. They then swore to serve Adolf Hitler. This betrayal threatened to rock British rule in India, known as the Raj. The story the German officers told their interrogators began in Berlin on 3 April 1941. This was the date that the left-wing Indian revolutionary leader, Subhas Chandra Bose, arrived in the German capital. Bose, who had been arrested 11 times by the British in India, had fled the Raj with one mission in mind. That was to seek Hitler's help in pushing the British out of India. Bose hoped to raise a force of about 100,000 men which, when armed and kitted out by the Germans, could be used to invade British India. He decided to raise them by going on recruiting visits to Prisoner-of-War camps in Germany which, at that time, confined tens of thousands of Indian soldiers captured by Rommel in North Africa.

This photo shows a battle equipped unit of the legion. Various uniforms, overseas caps, trousers are in uses. Of particular note are the supposedly "Luftwaffe" or "SS" or Heer Tropical boots, and the use of grenade bags. None of them seem to be wearing the sleeve shield.

The Legion Freies Indien / Indisches Infanterie Regiment 950 was organized as a standard German army infantry regiment of three battalions each of four companies. They were issued Standard German Army tropical uniforms and weapons. Many wore the traditional Indian turban , others chose the Hats, caps, and helmets of the German army.

The Indian Legion Flag

All commissioned officers of I.R. 950 (ind) were German, but after a brief course some Indian NCO's were commissioned, in October 1943.

The unit was partially Motorised, being equipped with 81 motor vehicles and 700 horses, and was later referred to as Panzergrenadier Regiment 950 (indische) presumably to reflect its semi-Motorized status.

Members of the Free India Legion during training for duties on the Atlantic Wall, circa 1943.

The German High Command despatched them first to Holland and then south-west France, where they were told to help fortify the coast for an expected allied landing. The Legion Freies Indien was deployed in France on coastal defense duties in the area of Lacanau near Bordeaux where they were inspected by Generalfeldmarschall Rommel. Rommel was responsible for their original capture in North Afrika.

On 8th August 1944 the Free Indian Legion (now comprising about 2,300 men), like all the national legions of the German Army, was transferred to the control of the Waffen-SS as the Indische Freiwilligen Legion der Waffen-SS. A new commanding officer, SS Oberführer Heinz Bertling, was installed.

Despite the change in authority from Army to Waffen SS, the Indian Legion continued to use Army ranks and uniforms. The notorious SS map of February 1945 does show SS collar tabs featuring a tiger's head for the Free Indian Legion but it is unlikely that it was even manufactured and almost certainly it was never actually worn. However the Sleeve Shield for the legion was widely worn, though not universally.

Legion members wearing the shield on their greatcoats .

After D-Day, the Free India Legion, were in headlong retreat through France. They suffered their first and only combat casualties during this retreat while being engaged by French resistance fighters. They lost one man dead and a few wounded.

It was during this time that they gained a loathsome reputation amongst the civilian population. The former French Resistance fighter, Henri Gendreaux, remembers the Legion passing through his home town of Ruffec: "I do remember several cases of rape. A lady and her two daughters were raped, and in another case they even shot dead a two-year-old little girl."

Here are genuine original examples of the special sleeve insignias manufactured and issued to the members of the Indian Legion. Any other varieties should be considered reproductions.

The Printed Version on Linen

Three legion members wearing various tunics, with the legion shield on their right upper sleeves.

The "BEVO" Woven Version made with Rayon

Legion members in the Westwall Dunes.

Sandar e Jang (War Lord) Breast Badge, for "great personal bravery against the enemy". Obviously Manufactured, but likely never presented considering their battle history.

The 2nd class medal . A version without swords, Vir i Hind (Hero of India) was to be awarded for "distinguished service"

Charles Warriner, "The Waffen-SS Indian Legion", Militaria Blog, 2009

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

SS-Heimwehr Danzig

"DEARER DEATH THAN TO BECOME POLISH" The SS-Heimwehr Danzig
Danzig, one of the largest ports on the Baltic Sea was founded in the 13th century as the capital of Pomerania, it became a part of the Hanseatic League in the 15th century. Being of primary importance as an open water port, the Russians took Danzig early in the 18th century, later in this same one hundred year span Prussia made the city a part of its empire. From 1807 to 1814 Danzig was a free city, being reclaimed at the end of that time by Prussia to become the capital of West Prussia. Danzig remained the capital until the Treaty of Versailles in 1918 made it a free city again until such time as it could be given to Poland.

On January 22, 1920 the last large military parade was held in the Danzig Square, marking the end of German rule in the city. By February 17th all the German troops, including Danzig's own regiment, the "Liebhusaren" were out of the city. The dictates of the Versailles Treaty had stipulated that there were to be no soldiers within the city, it was to be a completely neutral "Free City". By June of 1921 a German "Freikorps" had been formed to prevent the Polish government taking over the city. Like the other Freikorps groups in Germany at this time, the "Danziger Freikorps" had no legal basis for its existence and like the others, it was composed of beerhall toughs, exsoldiers and malcontents. The only thing that held the members in common bond was the fact that they were all intensely nationalistic.

From the time Hitler came into power in 1934 until the outbreak of war in 1939, he raged about the peace treaty, the loss of German territory around the world, and the "Polish Corridor". The ban on rearmament was of course openly flaunted. It became quite evident that Hitler was not going to admit the loss of Danzig when he made it a Gau of Nazi Germany under the supervision, of Gauleiter Albert Foerster. A "Gau Abzeichen" was ordered struck and consisted of an oval badge with an outline of oakleaves, inside this border was found the Danzig crest, consisting of two Maltese Crosses with a crown at the top, behind this emblem appeared the swastika. The words "Alter Kampfer" were also on the badge.

Through all the years since the end of the war in 1918 the German people were led to believe that Danzig was under constant harrassment and pressure by the Polish government. Poland could do nothing to stop this propaganda because Hitler had complete control of the German news media.In early 1938 Hitler ordered Totenkopf Standart III to be formed and to be headquartered in Danzig, under the direct command of the Berlin office.. In the summer of 1938 Standart III was nicknamed "Goetze" after its commander, Lieutenant Colonel Goetze.
In the middle of 1939 men and equipment began to come into Danzig from the East Prussian areas. Inside the city a company of men was formed and called itself "SS-Heimwehr Danzig". The uniforms were Waffen-SS and the arms were modern. They paraded openly in the streets in full military regalia, defying the Versailles Treaty .

On August 18, 1939 Gauleiter Foerster presented a unit flag to lieutenant colonel Goetze with the slogan "Dearer death than to become Polish". This flag was one of a kind, in the center, over the front of the swastika was an SS skull, two diagonal black rays crossed the flag, one with the SS insignia, the other with the Danzig crest. This flag was to be "Flown in honor at the head of the SS-Heimwehr Danzig" On September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland, the 1500 men of the SS-Heimwehr Danzig fought in and around the city until the 5th when they were transferred to the Westerplatte area where they saw action until the 19th when they became absorbed by the Totenkopf division.

From the time of its conception in 1938, the SS-Heimwehr Danzig left no question as to its allegiance. Unlike some Polish units which were composed of Volksdeutsch and went over to the German army at the first opportunity, the SS-Heimwehr Danzig was openly pro-German.

Deeter/Odegard, "The SS-Heimwehr Danzig", "Militaria" 1969