Here's another wild period SS uniform image

[NickG]

Here's another wild period Waffen SS uniform image!
Either he's a very young volunteer or the son of an Estonian volunteer...
"dressing up", wearing a civilian shirt + tie.
Note that he's an "Unterfuhrer" anwarter (NCO Candidate)

Other notes of interest:
{besides the Estonian"E+ sword" tab & sleeve shield with trimmed black edge}

(1) Modified Dutch cap, note seam ! (arrows)
(2) pinched Heer cap eagle
(3) Baltic made "Tartu" pattern (skinny) SS cap skull
(4) improvised rank tab (home made braiding?)
(5) NCO candidate shoulderstraps, note braiding
(6) ribbon bar (with service medal ribbon) pinned on pocket??
(7) boy scout belt+buckle (most likely)

[NickG]

A similar modified Dutch cap from my collection! (marked "Mol Breda")

[NickG]

BTW I do not own this (web) image... but thought it was well worth sharing!
If the owner recognizes it and wants it removed please let me know! Thanks!

[vbergman1]

cute kid! I wonder if he survived the war. Maybe he's still around?

And just how common was this sort of thing, dressing up the kids in a mini-uniform?

Thanks for sharing!

[Mr. Scratch]

He might also be a unit mascot. Eastern units were known to pick up orphaned kids and take them along with them. Once they were "adopted" by the unit, they were often kitted out with custom uniforms that matched the men, and honorary rank.

Alex Kerzem was one such case, picked up by Latvian police unit that later went SS. Turns out little Alex was Jewish, but was not discovered to be such at the time.

Vid here, w/ interesting uniform shots:
http://www.livevideo.com/media/playv...E570577F2C2FD8

[NickG]

He might also be a unit mascot. Eastern units were known to pick up orphaned kids and take them along with them. Once they were "adopted" by the unit, they were often kitted out with custom uniforms that matched the men, and honorary rank.

Alex Kerzem was one such case, picked up by Latvian police unit that later went SS. Turns out little Alex was Jewish, but was not discovered to be such at the time.

True unit mascotte...like drummer boys during the Civil War. That was done!
Here's another example! (Estonian Heer unit)
Note colorfull knitted gloves which was common to wear in the Baltics, even while in uniform!
Image credit: "wehrmacht.pri.ee" site

[Dennis S]

This is from another thread on the Italian SS. Published photo of an Italian SS Mascot with Officers at an awards ceremony .

[Jens]

Interesting last photo yet awfull :-)

[sgstandard]

Photo

Why is it so awful? How do you know he's not a midget? Exactly what do you have against the vertically challenged? You obviously have "achondroplasiaphobia", and that's really sad.

[Dennis S]

Interesting last photo yet awfull :-)

I might agree but , I 'm not sure exactly what you are referring to.

[gnadenlose]

He might also be a unit mascot. Eastern units were known to pick up orphaned kids and take them along with them. Once they were "adopted" by the unit, they were often kitted out with custom uniforms that matched the men, and honorary rank.

Yes, that's the case with this Estonian kid. His name was Avo Põdra, 11-year old boy, who had lost his parents and was "adopted" by Georg Sooden's battalion. The uniform was made for him by battalion's tailor. If he survived the war or not is not known to me.

[Matthew S.]

Baltic made "Tartu" pattern (skinny) SS cap skull

Nope. Its the rarely seen Cyberdyne Systems T-101 version, manufactured in limited numbers at Skynet: cloth production department.

[NickG]

Nope. Its the rarely seen Cyberdyne Systems T-101 version, manufactured in limited numbers at Skynet: cloth production department.

Huh? Come again?

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...t=tartu&page=2

[gnadenlose]

Two more pics showing Avo Põdra. 20th Estonian Division 47th Regiment II Battalion (former 658th Eastern Battalion) 2nd company in Kehra (east of Tallinn) on supplementary exercise (1944). Pictures taken from the massive book "The Estonian Legion in words and pictures" (estonian/english, Grenader Publishing, 2008)
Avo in the middle front

Avo right front

[Matthew S.]

Huh? Come again?

I guess you've never seen Terminator, right?