Why the black stripes on SS armbands?

[Bill D.]

Anyone know the answer to this?

I leaned the reason a few years ago while reviewing an unpublished manuscript from 1939. I didn't recall ever seeing the reason published before, and I haven't seen anyone identify the reason since. So I was just curious as to whether anyone on the Forum knew the answer. I'm sure that its been published someplace previously; I've just never seen it.

[Gary Wood]

Bill,
its all quite in here , its a good question, alas I do not know the answer
cheers
Gary

[billbert]

My guess is that the black trimmed went along with the new black uniforms..when they were wearing brown shirt and breeches with cap this would be an obvious way to tell the difference between an SA brownshirt from berlin(black trimmings plain armband) and an SS member..Billbert

[Panzer Rob]

My guess is that the black trimmed went along with the new black uniforms..when they were wearing brown shirt and breeches with cap this would be an obvious way to tell the difference between an SA brownshirt from berlin(black trimmings plain armband) and an SS member..Billbert

I agree - the black stripes were to help differentiate between SS and SA

Rob

[Bill D.]

Well, here's the answer:

The black stripes were added to the standard party armband by the commander of the Munich detachment of the "Stosstrupp Adolf Hitler" well before the SS was created. He wanted the members of the Stosstrupp to be differentiated from the rank and file brownshirts. When the SS came into being they traced their origin to the Stosstrupp formation, and to reflect that "tradition" the SS adopted the style of armband worn by the Munich Stosstrupp detachment.

I learned this from the content of an unpublished manuscript by a Stosstrupp veteran that was written in 1939. A copy of the manuscript was provided to me by his son in Germany several years ago.

[Panzer Rob]

Well, here's the answer:

The black stripes were added to the standard party armband by the commander of the Munich detachment of the "Stosstrupp Adolf Hitler" well before the SS was created. He wanted the members of the Stosstrupp to be differentiated from the rank and file brownshirts. When the SS came into being they traced their origin to the Stosstrupp formation, and to reflect that "tradition" the SS adopted the style of armband worn by the Munich Stosstrupp detachment.

I learned this from the content of an unpublished manuscript by a Stosstrupp veteran that was written in 1939. A copy of the manuscript was provided to me by his son in Germany several years ago.

Very, very interesting information that I was unaware of, Bill. The manuscript - will it (or portions of it) ever be published? I for one would be very interested in reading it.

Thanks for sharing this with us!
Rob

[Bill D.]

Rob...

I do not know whether the son or any family member will ever seek publication. It certainly would be a very interesting addition to the literature of the period.

The manuscript was ready to publish. It even had all of the photos that were to appear in the book. In fact, the son told me that portions of the manuscript had been sent to Hitler for his review before publication. But the war broke out in 1939 and it was never published.

[Chris_Werner]

Well, there is some important history "in the rough" that cries out to be published.

[Panzer Rob]

Well, there is some important history "in the rough" that cries out to be published.

I agree 100%

[Panzer Rob]

Rob...

I do not know whether the son or any family member will ever seek publication. It certainly would be a very interesting addition to the literature of the period.

The manuscript was ready to publish. It even had all of the photos that were to appear in the book. In fact, the son told me that portions of the manuscript had been sent to Hitler for his review before publication. But the war broke out in 1939 and it was never published.

What a shame. Bill, have you tried contacting the family to see if perhaps anything will ever be done with it?

Do you still have that copy of the manuscript? Sorry for all the questions, but just think of the information and history contained within those pages...

Rob

[Bill D.]

Rob...

Yes, I still have the manuscript copy. I met with the son several times in Germany and corresponded with him at length. But the issue of publication (not to mention translation of the manuscript from the german text) was a little too daunting for me to tackle.

[HunterSS]

Great thread Bill, I assume he may still have the original photos that were to accent the proposed book? These might show the earliest wearing of the armband in it's existance. That would be awesome to take a gander at.