Elongated diamond tresse - myth versus reality

[CWP]

Many different styles of tresse were used on Heer/SS uniforms during the Third Reich. Some of the tresse that was used had elongated diamonds in the pattern, though most patterns used square shapes. After the war, the East German NVA used a very similar tresse to the elongated diamond type used pre-1945. This has caused a lot of confusion, with some collectors erroneously believing that any tresse with elongated diamonds is fake or postwar. The real elongated diamond tresse can be seen in many reference books, for example "Uniforms of the Waffen-SS" by Michael Beaver p. 360-362. There is a difference between original elongated diamond and NVA tresse: the original stuff is made out of real aluminum wire, while the NVA used a synthetic material that looks and feels different. I will post some photos that illustrate different tresse designs and the subtle diffeences between the original stuff and the similar postwar tresse. Here is the first photo. On the left is original WW2, on the right East German NVA. The NVA tresse is made from the same synthetic material as the pictured NVA lanyard. Note that it photographs differently from the real elongated diamond tresse on the left.

[CWP]

A better view of the difference between the tresse on an original strap and the NVA tresse on a repro strap.

[CWP]

It should not be a surprise that there are variations in original tresse. Here are 2 distinctly different types of the standard design.

[CWP]

There were variations in rayon piping as well, naturally.

[CWP]

Four variations of original tresse, elongated diamond on the bottom.

[CWP]

One last photo showing the difference between this elongated diamond type and some kind of post war tresse (NVA or fake, I don't know).

[Fred Green]

Tresse

Chris,

I am very , very happy to see this thread.I had enquired earlier on the forum with no luck. I was very happy to see the different styles of rayon tresse also .This gives me alot more to go on when looking at my chevrons. Thanks much for enlightening me on this subject.

Fred Green

[Glenn Barbaritz]

great examples Chris. Glenn

[Gunbunny]

Nice bit of research. Thanks.

[david stone]

This post has got me to looking at my old NVA boards. There seems to be a difference in NVA tresse as well. The newer stuff seems to have rather long diamonds...but looking at a set of Stasi boards I just got, old ones with the wool underlay, the diamonds are much more square and wider. These boards are probably late 60s vintage.

I do have a question though - I have never seen NVA tresse made from plastic fake silver like the lanyard you pictured. Marksman lanyards and officers aguilettes were made fron nice aluminum wire till some time in the late 70s when they began to be made from cheaper synthetic. But I never saw synthetic officers cap cords, nor silver tresse.
NVA tresse for subdued uniforms seems to be made of rayon, and not dederon or polyester - it burns, not melts. But all you pictured seem to be metallic silver, not synthetic. If you have some synthetic silver, I'd like to see a closer photo of that...and I'm sure the fellows on the East German forum would too.

[Daniele C]

Thanks to Chris for the lesson!

[TONY Q.W.]

Chris, excellent job in clarifying the delicate tresse subject.

[jacquesf]

Chris, thanx a lot, I have learned a lot and clarified some tresses on ss unterscharfuhrer boards on a m43 tunic that I have. jacques

[Daniele C]

Chris can we see someperiod picture of soldiers wearin those elongated tresse?i still haven t seen them and i hope to see one so ill be convinced!

[hoggtannlars]

Is the tresse used on the parade uniforms different from the ones used on the field uniforms?
They look wider on the parade uniform.
Any known examples of parade tresse on field uniforms?

HT