NSDAP Political Leader Candidate Armbands Confusion
A few years I decided to focus my WW2 German collecting efforts on NSDAP rank armbands. I continue to have some successes in my efforts. I am "big" on documentation which, in my opinion, is sparse on these two specific Political Leader Candidate armband versions.
Why is this even an issue now in 2019? It seems a relatively simple issue and should have been resolved and documented 40+ years ago!
The two hardcopy "Bible" references, both of which I have are: LTC (Ret) Angolia's (now deceased) "Cloth Insignia of the NSDAP and SA", 1985 First Edition, pages 63-71 and Mr. Jeff Clark's "Uniforms of the NSDAP", 2007, organizational selected pictorial references pages 170-194. Both are most excellent references.
However, there always has to be a "but" it seems. The subject armbands in this discussion are which I refer are the two differing "Politischer Leiter Anwarter" (Political Leader Candidate)(PLC) design armbands.
The first example, which was required for all organizational levels differing only in the piping color for each level, was WITHOUT the gold cord outline around the roundel and swastika. I named this first example the "BASIC" design.
The second example, which was required for all organizational levels differing only in the piping color for each level, was WITH the gold cord outline around the roundel and swastika. I named this second ex-ample the "REVISED design.
Both armband's designs are valid.
Now the first "but". LTC Angolia's (now deceased) book displays a color Ortsgruppe Political Candidate Leader armband (page 63) as the (REVISED)(my name id). Unfortunately, he did include a picture or text annotation or footnote of the (BASIC)(my name id) which also is a valid armband.
Now the second "but". Mr. Jeff Clark's book displays two color pictures of a Political Candidate Leader armband. The first color picture on page 172 is Ortsgruppe Poliitical Leader Candidate BASIC(my name id) and on page 189 is REICH Political Candidate Leader BASIC(my nameid). Unfortunately he also did no include a picture example or text annotation or footnote of the (REVISED)(my name id) which also is a valid armband.
Making matters worse within the recent past, I have noticed when browsing selected dealer websites, that on three sites the (REVISED)(my name id) PLC armband either eas being offered for sale or auction as the "Mitarbeiter(Collabrator)" rank which obviously was wrong. One of the dealers also was advertising a legitimate "Mitarbeiter" armband as a "Leiter Einer Hilfstelle" rank. I emailed each dealer informing them of his mistake. One dealer pulled his ad and surprise, surprise the two other dealers never replied.
My argument for the (REVISED)(my name id) is soon after the BASIC(my name id) was approved and distributed in 1939, for whatever reason(s), probably after a year of complaints from the PLC group of being made to feel inferior in THE ruling political organization of the REICH.
Subsequently, the leadership, most likely Dr. Ley, decided the (REVISED)(my name id) design was a more appropriate and consistent design for their political organization rank and the (BASIC)(my name id) design was no longer to be issued. Somewhere in the German Uniform Regulations files there should be documentation as to the date when the (BASIC)(my name id) armband was discontinued and the (REVISED)(my name id) armband date was effective.
In summary, can anyone provide a reliable source which discussed and documented specifically the history of these two valid armbands and not result in begging more questions? Thanks.
w4uvv
John
Why is this even an issue now in 2019? It seems a relatively simple issue and should have been resolved and documented 40+ years ago!
The two hardcopy "Bible" references, both of which I have are: LTC (Ret) Angolia's (now deceased) "Cloth Insignia of the NSDAP and SA", 1985 First Edition, pages 63-71 and Mr. Jeff Clark's "Uniforms of the NSDAP", 2007, organizational selected pictorial references pages 170-194. Both are most excellent references.
However, there always has to be a "but" it seems. The subject armbands in this discussion are which I refer are the two differing "Politischer Leiter Anwarter" (Political Leader Candidate)(PLC) design armbands.
The first example, which was required for all organizational levels differing only in the piping color for each level, was WITHOUT the gold cord outline around the roundel and swastika. I named this first example the "BASIC" design.
The second example, which was required for all organizational levels differing only in the piping color for each level, was WITH the gold cord outline around the roundel and swastika. I named this second ex-ample the "REVISED design.
Both armband's designs are valid.
Now the first "but". LTC Angolia's (now deceased) book displays a color Ortsgruppe Political Candidate Leader armband (page 63) as the (REVISED)(my name id). Unfortunately, he did include a picture or text annotation or footnote of the (BASIC)(my name id) which also is a valid armband.
Now the second "but". Mr. Jeff Clark's book displays two color pictures of a Political Candidate Leader armband. The first color picture on page 172 is Ortsgruppe Poliitical Leader Candidate BASIC(my name id) and on page 189 is REICH Political Candidate Leader BASIC(my nameid). Unfortunately he also did no include a picture example or text annotation or footnote of the (REVISED)(my name id) which also is a valid armband.
Making matters worse within the recent past, I have noticed when browsing selected dealer websites, that on three sites the (REVISED)(my name id) PLC armband either eas being offered for sale or auction as the "Mitarbeiter(Collabrator)" rank which obviously was wrong. One of the dealers also was advertising a legitimate "Mitarbeiter" armband as a "Leiter Einer Hilfstelle" rank. I emailed each dealer informing them of his mistake. One dealer pulled his ad and surprise, surprise the two other dealers never replied.
My argument for the (REVISED)(my name id) is soon after the BASIC(my name id) was approved and distributed in 1939, for whatever reason(s), probably after a year of complaints from the PLC group of being made to feel inferior in THE ruling political organization of the REICH.
Subsequently, the leadership, most likely Dr. Ley, decided the (REVISED)(my name id) design was a more appropriate and consistent design for their political organization rank and the (BASIC)(my name id) design was no longer to be issued. Somewhere in the German Uniform Regulations files there should be documentation as to the date when the (BASIC)(my name id) armband was discontinued and the (REVISED)(my name id) armband date was effective.
In summary, can anyone provide a reliable source which discussed and documented specifically the history of these two valid armbands and not result in begging more questions? Thanks.
w4uvv
John
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