SS Shoulderboard Identification

[Remy Spezzano]

During one of my lengthy photo research trips i came across this powerful image filed away at the US National Archives Still Photo Department.

This photo was taken on April 2, 1945 in the German town of Harswinkel by a US Army Signal Corps photographer. The tank driving past is from the US Ninth Army.

My first assumption is that this poor soul was from a quickly thrown together SS battalion from one of the local NCO training schools? Look closely at the cypher on his shoulder board. Does anyone have any idea what unit or school the cypher is from? I will post a close up shot for a better look. Comments on what unit this soldier could be from are most welcome.

[Remy Spezzano]

Close up shot for a better look at the cypher.

[Robin Lumsden]

Looks like the '5' associated with 'Wiking' divisional-level units.

[Jens]

Shoulderboards

He was definetely Killed not long before this photos was taken. Look at the great amount of blood at the street in a otherwise dry street.. It looks like a NCO from the Wiking div. Altough this is not a sure thing as a lot troops kept their insignia although assigned to a (ersatz ? / Kampgruppe ? / stragglers/ ) new unit.

Jens

[Basil]

Possibly a 6 rather than a 5? The 'Nord' division is a possibility for this time and place.

Baz

Looks like the '5' associated with 'Wiking' divisional-level units.

[Steiner]

That man lost a lot of blood. Even his tunic couldn't absorb it.

Mehr sein als scheinen