Article about: Bill Petz posted this pic showing a member of the SS Heimwehr Danzig in captivity in Ottawa Canada (pic is presumably taken during the war, given that they are all wearing the national eagle
Bill Petz posted this pic showing a member of the SS Heimwehr Danzig in captivity in Ottawa Canada (pic is presumably taken during the war, given that they are all wearing the national eagle).
The H-D was dissolved at the end of the Polish campaign, so how would this TV member have been captured wearing it?
(Further, this is the only pic I am aware of right now showing a full SS uniform being worn on the North American continent.)
“Show me the regulation, and I’ll show you the exception.”
Well, the SS-Heimwehr Danzig was absorbed into the Totenkopf-Division after the end of the Polish Campaign. The Totenkopf-Divison did only receive its divisional cuff title "Totenkopf" in September 1942. (The one with the "death's head" emblem was a carryover from the "Oberbayern" standarte and not the first pattern cuff title for the SSTK.)
Within the Waffen-SS, it was common practice (and eventually officially authorized) to continue wearing one's old cuff title when transferred to a unit that did not have one of its own. So, I would say that this is what we see here: A former Heimwehr Danzig member serving in the Totenkopf-Division who was taken captive at some point prior to the autumn of 1942.
Nice image, by the way; thanks for sharing!
Well, the SS-Heimwehr Danzig was absorbed into the Totenkopf-Division after the end of the Polish Campaign. The Totenkopf-Divison did only receive its divisional cuff title "Totenkopf" in September 1942. (The one with the "death's head" emblem was a carryover from the "Oberbayern" standarte and not the first pattern cuff title for the SSTK.)
Within the Waffen-SS, it was common practice (and eventually officially authorized) to continue wearing one's old cuff title when transferred to a unit that did not have one of its own. So, I would say that this is what we see here: A former Heimwehr Danzig member serving in the Totenkopf-Division who was taken captive at some point prior to the autumn of 1942.
Nice image, by the way; thanks for sharing!
Very interesting photo , although all the thousands of wartime photos taken of Totenkopf in the field i've never seen one showing a Heimwehr Danzig cuff title in wear before.
The gates of hell were opened and we accepted the invitation to enter" 26/880 Lance Sgt, Edward Dyke. 26th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers , ( 3rd Tyneside Irish )
1st July 1916
Thought shall be the harder , heart the keener,
Courage the greater as our strength faileth.
Here lies our leader ,in the dust of his greatness.
Who leaves him now , be damned forever.
We who are old now shall not leave this Battle,
But lie at his feet , in the dust with our leader
Well, the SS-Heimwehr Danzig was absorbed into the Totenkopf-Division after the end of the Polish Campaign. The Totenkopf-Divison did only receive its divisional cuff title "Totenkopf" in September 1942. (The one with the "death's head" emblem was a carryover from the "Oberbayern" standarte and not the first pattern cuff title for the SSTK.)
Within the Waffen-SS, it was common practice (and eventually officially authorized) to continue wearing one's old cuff title when transferred to a unit that did not have one of its own. So, I would say that this is what we see here: A former Heimwehr Danzig member serving in the Totenkopf-Division who was taken captive at some point prior to the autumn of 1942.
Nice image, by the way; thanks for sharing!
This analysis is quite sound. Too bad you do not own said uniform.
Come to think of it, I posted my thoughts on the photograph half a decade ago. A bit scary how time flies...
How true, dear Andreas. Merry Christmas to you and yours. We are the richer that you have toiled in these vineyards all this time and I thank you for it.
The machine causes these old threads to re appear, and there is some merit to revisit an old issue with new insights.
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