Grim Reminder of a Terrible History

Insignia from elite military units of any country is always highly sought after but none more so than that of Hitler’s ‘death’s head’ force, the Waffen SS. Michael Burroughs of Anything Militaria will have these on sale at the Market this Saturday and has passed on details which attest to their authenticity.

The smaller Totenkopf are collar patches worn by other ranks or non-commissioned officers. They are machine embroidered on black doe skin and would be worn oppposite a collar patch showing the soldier’s rank.

The larger full size patch has the traditional buckram backing while its smaller counterpart may have been removed from a summer tunic shirt. It has the white inner backing cloth normally found on insignia made in occupied Belgium and France.