SS General Gabardine overcoat, one shoulder board?

Anyone know why they were only given one shoulder board? seems every other uniform of the Third Reich had two shoulder boards.

 

Hello DarkIce,

in May 1934 the single SS shoulderboard was introduced to all members of the armed SS.
However soon afterwards the respective SS Generals could convience Himmler to adopt the Wehrmacht/military style of wearing two shoulderboards.
In March 1938 the SS shoulderboards were replaced with Wehrmacht schoulderboards.
Only the members of the SS Hauptamt and the SS Staff Officers attached to the SS Reichshauptamt were allowed to carry SS shoulderboards until 1945 alongside their "grey" uniform.

Regards
Kruska

 

very interesting, thanks for the input.

 

Welcome

Regards
Kruska

 

Nice info, thanx Kruska!

Any idea about the Waffen-SS eagle's head, which seemd to change direction ca 1934. Any reason for that or just a coincident? Thanx for any extra info!

 

Hello Kai Petri,

Sorry I only noticed your question as by today,

One has to separate between State and Party, as such “point of view from eagle” if the State is represented the eagle will be facing right, if the Party is represented the eagle will be facing left.
For example:
The Wehrpass: The basic field personnel record is a national/state document and therefore the eagle faces right. The same applies to the Soldbuch: The basic pay and identity document, were the eagle faces right. State agencies such as the Reichswehramt displayed a chop with the eagle facing right.

On the NSDAP membership party book, the eagle faces left. In regards to all NSDAP organizations such as SS, SA, HJ, etc.etc. the eagle faces left. Hitler being the leader of the NSDAP therefore used a chop or letterhead with the eagle facing left.

Notably the Wehrmacht eagle on the Uniform however faces left, despite the Wehrmacht being a state and not a party organization.
The reason is that the last President – Hindenburg – ordered by decree on 17. Feb. 1934 that all Reichswehr units that are being transformed into Wehrmachtunits are to apply the NSDAP symbol to there uniforms (Therefore the eagle faces left).

Hitler also ordered on 17th Feb. 1934 that starting from 1st of May 1934 the Hoheitszeichen/Hoheitsadler –State eagle- needs to be displayed generally on the uniform and headgear. Since these two orders contradicted each other, but Hitlers orders had off course to be obeyed by the NSDAP organisations even the Totenkopf SS and Waffen SS units initially displayed the State eagle facing right - which was corrected after 20th of July 1934 were Hitler announced that due to the sacrifice in regards to the Roehm Putsch the SS was now officially placed as an independent formation within the NSDAP.


The Aermeladler before 1937 were more of a private purchase issue since the Aermeladler was only officially introduced on 7th March 1936 and issued in 1937. A new Aermeladler (same as on the cap - longer spread wings) was introduced in 1939 but the old version can still be seen on photos dating until 1945. (However all new and old facing left).

One can now assume, that Hindenburg who despised Hitler and therefore the Reichswehr/Wehrmacht being used as an instrumentalism by Hitler should not display the German State symbol, but rather the party – But I would not have a proof to this theory.

This Hindenburg “mistake” was reconfirmed in the Dress order code dated 14th Nov. 1934, and again confirmed by the Reichskriegsminister – Reichswarminister – on 9th April 1936, exceptions being the eagle on the Helmet facing forward or the eagle facing towards the pole (for example downwards or straight) if mounted on a Banner pole.

Regards
Kruska

 

Thanx Kruska!

That explains it all then, I think!!

 

The epaulette (not shoulder board) on the right side only is an inheritance from a military dress tradition going back to the 17th Century, when sashes for military orders started to be be used, which ran from the right shoulder, across the breast and back, and tied up in a knot by the right hip. Only one epaulette was needed to help retain the sash in place.

Here is an example of the sash in use in civilian dress.


Later on as epaulettes started being used as rank designators, for obvious reasons they started being used in pairs.

Couldn't find any image from 17th Century, though, sorry.

 

I wonder where the wide Shoulder Hanger (for swords) figures in that explanation , as it likely predates Epaulettes (?) and was certainly still in style in the c18th. Though it would normally hang from the right shoulder.

Cheers,
Adam.

 

If you Gents would look closely-you can see that the "Heneral" is wearing an Allgemeine SS uniform (General SS) which is Black and not the Grey-Green uniform of the Waffen SS (Armed SS) and-the correct term for is rank insignia is Shoulderboard-not shoulderstraps or epaulettes. Also, the Allgemeine SS only wore one Shoulderboard-not two-as the Waffen SS wore.

Steps off his soapbox--for now-and walks out the door.

 

It is a known fact that Colonials being devoid of History like to simplify things.

 

:lol: :lol: