Totenkopf Collar Tab with Number Removed

[Bob Hritz]

This is an example of an early numbered Totenkopfverband collar tab that had the number removed, the skull centered, and a piece of material added to the top. The material matches perfectly and is probably excess material from the bottom of the tab when the skull was repositioned. This is half of a matched pair, but another collector owns the other side. We have never been able to work something out to mate them back together.

Bob Hritz

[Bob Hritz]

Verso

[Guy]

What a nice thing Bob!

I hope you manage to reunite them eventually.

Yours, Guy.

[Paul Carter]

Tab

There is just no mistaking early quality embroidery. Very nice Bob.

[Donald Abenheim]

danke vielmals

Colleague Hritz always has great treasures, and this piece speaks to my question as to when came the order to remove the numerals. Was this a wartime security measure, or was it done earlier? Or, did the chap transfer out of the guard Hunderschaften in the full bore military echelons of what then became the division "Totenkopf" and hence there was no need for such #'s? Immer Fragen auf Fragen....

[tgn]

I have a TK tab exactly like this and came to the same conclusion that it was a numbered tab with the number removed. This is an excellent example of how frugal the Germans were (and are). Why throw away perfectly good hand embroiderey work when all we have to do is just add a little material to the top and re-center it.... I can just see the manufacturer working this out with his employees on how to save the embroidery work aready invested in the suddenly discontinued numbered tabs.
Tom

[Donald Abenheim]

aber, aber......

I have a TK tab exactly like this and came to the same conclusion that it was a numbered tab with the number removed. This is an excellent example of how frugal the Germans were (and are). Why throw away perfectly good hand embroiderey work when all we have to do is just add a little material to the top and re-center it.... I can just see the manufacturer working this out with his employees on how to save the embroidery work aready invested in the suddenly discontinued numbered tabs.
Tom

Such embroidered badges were fairly expensive, and once the war began, I am sure the owner was eager to preserve the regalia for extra wear. However, when was the order given to remove the Hunderschaft Nummer? With the outbreak of war? There are photos of "Oberbayern" somewhere in the Tschechei in either 1938 or 1939 with collar patches solely with the Totenschaedel without a company #. Were these for troops no longer in the guard detachments and now organized as a regular line combat unit?

[Robin Lumsden]

This is an example of an early numbered Totenkopfverband collar tab that had the number removed, the skull centered, and a piece of material added to the top. The material matches perfectly and is probably excess material from the bottom of the tab when the skull was repositioned. This is half of a matched pair, but another collector owns the other side. We have never been able to work something out to mate them back together.

Bob Hritz

Luvverly!

[Robert H]

A very nice collar tab from Bob H. It is always good to see a real one, thanks for sharing Bob

Donald, Angolias SS Cloth Insignia book II.edition p.205 shows one of my favorite pictures (wonder who is the owner of this photo) with one Thuringen & one LAH officer. The Thuringen officer wears one horizontal Officer TK tab w/o a number, just the skull. I think they still continued this style of skull tabs in the Guard Units.

[Gary Wood]

but another collector owns the other side. We have never been able to work something out to mate them back together.

Bob Hritz

Bob,
Its a shame that they could not be re-united.
cheers
gary

[Donald Abenheim]

Dnake vielmals

A very nice collar tab from Bob H. It is always good to see a real one, thanks for sharing Bob

Donald, Angolias SS Cloth Insignia book II.edition p.205 shows one of my favorite pictures (wonder who is the owner of this photo) with one Thuringen & one LAH officer. The Thuringen officer wears one horizontal Officer TK tab w/o a number, just the skull. I think they still continued this style of skull tabs in the Guard Units.

My friend, the image was originally in Wenn alle Brueder Schweigen, and it was likely taken on a Berlin street. That is, the two officers in Ausgehanzug. However, I am given to understand that officers after a certain point had merely the Totenkopf badge, vertically, without any further Zusatz. The enlisted ranks showed the Hunderschaft #, at least circa 1937-1938 or so. Maybe no answer exists? Allen viel Sammlerglueck!

[Mr.Jerry D]

Thanks for posting that Bob, I have and 'NCO' unpiped one like that I always assumed may have been a "Reject".

[derek]

According to my notes the SS-TV hundertschaften numbers and the regiment numbers were abolished in May, 1940.
Derek

[Mr.Jerry D]

Thanks Derek,
do you know when the twist piping was discontinued?

[Donald Abenheim]

danke vielmals

According to my notes the SS-TV hundertschaften numbers and the regiment numbers were abolished in May, 1940.
Derek

Dear Colleague, as ever you are the authority. Many thanks. DA