DUMB A-SS Question I Should Know

[Thorsten B.]

Maybe this is another dumb-ass question which immediately popped to my mind and for which I never really found something in detail - maybe because I do not own that much of collector´s literature about SS in english language, except of Robin´s books, of course.

Is anyone here able to provide pictures of these early erdbraun SS-TV uniforms?

I never ever found pictures with SS-members wearing that colour - did I miss something in /black-white coloured) pics or documents which is common for uniform collectors or are such pieces just so extremely rare that there aren´t any pieces in collector´s hands?

I am really curious if someone can share helpful infos about that!

Sorry - a bit off-topic but still fits somehow into this thread, I believe.

Thanks in advance!

[Robin Lumsden]

Thank you for that. Do you have any idea of within the culture of the SS which was the "cool" uniform?

Within the SS, the black was definitely the 'cool' uniform. It symbolised the 'real' SS.

The war was just a short-term inconvenience, in Himmler's overall plans!
Once it was over, the 'real' SS would revert to black.

To the general public in Germany, however, the grey was the 'cool' uniform, because they thought of the 'black SS' as shirkers from military duty.

[Johnny R]

Within the SS, the black was definitely the 'cool' uniform. It symbolised the 'real' SS.

The war was just a short-term inconvenience, in Himmler's overall plans!
Once it was over, the 'real' SS would revert to black.

To the general public in Germany, however, the grey was the 'cool' uniform, because they thought of the 'black SS' as shirkers from military duty.

Did they have a term like "Golden Pheasants" for the Black tunics?

[DonC]

Did they have a term like "Golden Pheasants" for the Black tunics?

"Black Labs."

[gregM]

So "Where Eagles Dare" had the uniform for the SS guy's all wrong?

[Kurn]

I've seen a couple of newsreels,mainly on the History Channel,showing the black uniform in Volkssturm parades.I'm assuming late 44-45.

[Pascal Bernhard]

here with a pic of the strassburger A-SS dated 1941...
oberburgermeister Dr Ernst (Standartenführer) and a NCO of Standarte 122.

[wewelsburg]

Actually, brown and erdgrau were two different colors:

erdgrau (earth grey) = worn by the SSVT
erdbraun (earth brown) = worn by the SSTV

...plus feldgrau (field grey) for the LSSAH before everything was consolidated into field grey for all of them.

Yes my german isnt good! Indeed erdbraun is what I was after for TK not erdgrau which is other VT besides LAH.

[wewelsburg]

So "Where Eagles Dare" had the uniform for the SS guy's all wrong?

No I believe he was SD,who wore the black wartime also their is a pic here somewhere of grey and black SD men wearing their uniforms.
Also on the WARRELICS forum their is a whole post on ergrau AND erdbraun uniforms with examples of each,most commonly found of teh erdbraun stuff in collections today would be teh overseas type small buttonTK caps m-34 ,you can find pics here of teh erdbraun uniform I believe Lorenz owns an example and there is also a photo album here of early TK stuff showing teh uniforms.Its a rare beast but you can find examples if you search here and there.

[DonC]

I am glad I started this thread - I have learned quite a bit!

Don

[PMan]

So "Where Eagles Dare" had the uniform for the SS guy's all wrong?

Yea, that was a stretch. I think he had a DK on his tunic as well. Hollywood thought it made him look way more sinister. It looked good. I was impressed at the time, rest assured!!

[Dr. Strangelove]

RuSHA

Well I wouldn't jack with the old Dude in Post #5 with the Race and Settlement Cufftitle and what's in tucked in his Belt? A 9? Looks like a Pistol.

[DonC]

what's in tucked in his Belt? A 9? Looks like a Pistol.

Nah, he's just happy to see him!

Actually, it's just the clip for his cross strap.

Don

[Dr. Strangelove]

Story

I like my Story better.

[DonC]

Suum Cuique, Herr Strangelove, Suum Cuique.

Don