Post your Swedish SS armshields!

[dominator]

Dear Collectors,

I would like to show you a close-up of an original Swedish armshield that I've got. I guess about 700 Swedes volunteered for the Waffen-SS. I don't know how many of these armshields that still exist. It would be interesting to see how many of you that has one of these in your collection.

Thanks!!

Dominator

[Vinland]

is that not a galician (ukrainian) volunteer shield?

[Felix]

Dear Collectors,

I would like to show you a close-up of an original Swedish armshield that I've got. I guess about 700 Swedes volunteered for the Waffen-SS. I don't know how many of these armshields that still exist. It would be interesting to see how many of you that has one of these in your collection.

Thanks!!

Dominator

Like stated above its a Galizien shield for the volounters from Ukraine.
Up to this date, as of my knowledge, there are no existing original Swedish sleeve shields. There are vague reports about them being seen at late stages of the war. They were certainly planned, but likely never factory produced. I guess it could have been field made ones that the vague reports refer to.

700 Swedes in WSS is on the high side. About 250-300 confirmed but it could be as high as around 500.

[dominator]

You are right about that one, Vinland
Thanks for you clarification, Felix!

[Anders S]

Up to this date, as of my knowledge, there are no existing original Swedish sleeve shields. There are vague reports about them being seen at late stages of the war. They were certainly planned, but likely never factory produced. I guess it could have been field made ones that the vague reports refer to.

700 Swedes in WSS is on the high side. About 250-300 confirmed but it could be as high as around 500.

Agreed.

[Antonio Scapini]

Some information... I hope this help!

Sweden was strictly neutral during World War 2, and did not allow the belligerent powers to recruit from amongst its population. However, the government did allow some 10,000 men to fight for Finland against the USSR during the Winter War, and when Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, the Swedes allowed Finland to recruit a further 1500 volunteers. A few individuals are known to have joined the Wehrmacht between 1939 and 1941. After the invasion of Russia, the Waffen-SS began a clandestine recruitment programme, working through the German Embassy in Stockholm and funnelling any such volunteers through Norway.

Propaganda for swedish recruiting for finnish war against Russia


There are several estimates of the number of Swedes who fought for the Germans, ranging from 150 to 330 (Felix told the real number ). Swedes are known to have served with the 5th SS-Panzer Division Wiking, the 11th SSFreiwilligen Panzer grenadier Division Nordland, and the 23rd SS-Freiwilligen Panzer grenadier Division Nederland. It is known that 11 Swedish SS men went through the SS Officer School at Bad Tölz. Several Swedes worked as SS war correspondents. One unit, the 3rd Company of Nordlands Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion, had a large proportion of Swedes; so many that the 4th Zug (platoon) of the company was known unofficially as the Swedenzug.

The Swedenzug, along with the other Swedes in the Nordland Division, were among Hitler's last defenders in the Battle of Berlin. After seeing action in the Baltic and Courland late in 1944, it was withdrawn to the Oder front early in 1945. It was practically wiped out in an attempt to break out of Berlin on 2nd May 1945.


I think thi one is the better book were find informations about swedish volunteers is this one:



I hope to be of help!

[dominator]

Awesome, antony.s !!!

Many thanks for your excellent and very interesting comments!

Rgds

dominator

[Anders S]

This famous photo is said to show Gösta Pehrsson's vehicle which were hit on Friedrichsstrasse the last day during the Battle of Berlin. The dead soldier to the right is said to be Ragnar Johansson from Skövde.

[dominator]

What a photoshot! Respect.

Many thanks, Anders S.

Rgds

Dominator

[Gaspare]

Dominator, The 14th SS shield if original is a rare piece in itself! Is it attached to a tunic?

[Antonio Scapini]

Great picture Anders... I never saw it before.
Really great.

[jotuntroll]

Hi
I do not believe swedish armshilds was ever produced or islandic ones.
Anyone backing that up?
cheers
Jotuntroll

[Antonio Scapini]

there are no existing original Swedish sleeve shields. There are vague reports about them being seen at late stages of the war. They were certainly planned, but likely never factory produced. I guess it could have been field made ones that the vague reports refer to.

As Felix wrote I don't know anything about Svedish armshield

[Anders S]

And I've already agreed with Felix.

[Vinland]

didn't one of landwehr's books deal with some of the personalities of the swede volunteers?