In need of some quick clarification about SS cap piping

[locloc08]

Wilkins states in his book that the piping system for the SS resembled the Luftwaffe in that other ranks were branch piped while officers shared the universal piping (white in the case of the SS), and the order of 1940 allowed officers to wear waffenfarbe officially for a short period of time in that year.


However, I was under the impression that the SS did not implement branch piping top to bottom and the 1940 order allowed all ranks, officer and otherwise to make the switch for that short period of time (officially).

[BenVK]

Hi Tony,

All ranks of the Waffen SS were officialy allowed to wear Waffenfarbe other than white from May to November, 1940. But, as we know, the official regulations were ignored right up until the end.

Some period photos with definite dates from both ends of the date scale.

First one is probably one the finest images of WSS headgear I've every seen. Christmas 1940. Notice all the Heer style leather chinstraps.

Second is of a very tall WSS Officer surrendering to the Americans after crossing the half destroyed Elbe river bridge in Torgau, April 1945.

[BenVK]

And some from inbetween.

Sturmbannfuhrer Arzelino 'Lino' Masarie, 3rd SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion, April 43. This could be a converted Heer schirmmutze though, the band seems a lighter shade than his tabs.

Press photo of Erwin Meierdrees wearing his branch piped visor (red piping?) in late 1943.

[locloc08]

Thanks for this, and for the great images. So Wilkins was mistaken then? We know that branch piped caps were worn after the official period, is it known if makers actually produced them after the end of the official period?