Latvian SIPO/SD uniform?

[Panzermahn]

Hi folks

I found a set of 3 pictures of a member whom I believed is a SIPO/SD personnel from Latvia from the internet (apologies I can't recall where I saved the pictures). Since I could not post any pictures, I would try to describe the uniforms

Shoulder claps = Ostvolk style

Sleeve eagle = SS style

Latvian arm shield = I believed it is BeVO but I am not too sure but it does not had the word "Latvija"

Collar patch = a inverted "L" tresse at the corner of the black collar patch with a star

Tunic = Open collar SD style tunic

I have checked with one of my Latvian friends who had the 10 volume history of the Latvian Legion and he told me he had never seen such uniforms before.

Does Angolia's or Mollo series on SS uniforms cover SIPO/SD uniforms?

Many thanks for any help
Joachim

[Alex]

Obviously you are talking about this uniform. In latvian reference books thay are called: SD helpers and some times KZ lager guards. I found some picures in net.

[Alex]

image

[Panzermahn]

Hi Alex

Yes. That is the uniform I am talking about. There is another two pictures of the same man but without the star at the collar patch. I wonder what rank does a single star in this picture signifies.

Joachim

[Alex]

I do not know. He is NCO fo sure.

[Panzermahn]

Hi Alex

Do you know what Latvian books that had references to this uniform?

Joachim

[Dr. Strangelove]

Scratchy

Man I get itchy looking at that thing. No Undershirt? What a Barbarian!

[Alex]

I do not remember exactly. may be The Holocaust in Latvia, by Ezergailis. Latvian legion by A.Silgailis. I had group picture of 4 sd helpers. All men were without undershirt. Obviously they had some style..

[Panzermahn]

Hi Alex

I am pretty sure it's not from Latvian Legion by Arturs Silgailis. Silgailis (ex-Standartenfuehrer of the Latvian Legion) only mentioned mostly about Latvian SS legion and a some volunteers in the flakhelfer.

Could you post the group picture of the 4 SD helpers?

Many thanks
Joachim

[Alex]

Please. These men have german insignia. Not like prevous one.

[Ian Hulley]

Please. These men have german insignia. Not like prevous one.

Except the metal cap skull that looks like the locally made one.

Ian

[Panzermahn]

Please. These men have german insignia. Not like prevous one.

Hi Alex,

Their uniform insignia are totally different from the guy of in the first picture. But thanks again for posting the photo.

One guy in the group photo does not even had shoulder boards and three of them had kragenspiegln blank black tabs with white stripes border, the same style used by the pre-war Allgemeine SS

Joachim

[SiPo]

Alex, superb picture.

I have seen several pics of Latvian SD, and quite a few of them appear to like wearing jumpers under their tunics.