SSVT Bayonet Portepee Collection

[Jay V.]

Doug
Can you post a photo of the portapee bottom row 5th from the left,Thanks Jay

[SCHUPO]

Doug,

I have found no official authorization or designations for the enlisted SS VT Troddel colors. However, if we extrapolate the color system used by the Wehrmacht it would be:

1 = white
2 = red
3 = yellow
4 = blue
5 = white (repeat color sequence through 20)

This would mean that the colors of the slider, stem, & crown could be the same as the Heer Troddel indicators. The slider and crown are typically the same color and indicate the individual company, squadron, or battery. The stem indicates the battalion. We assume the black and white ball indicates the SS. One caveat is that the color combinations changed slightly over time as unit compositions evolved and changed. Translating Heer designations to Allg.-SS and SSVT might also constitute some problems in terminology and structure.

I hope this is helpful.

[DougO]

Thanks Derek and George. Great information.
Doug

[derek]

Thanks George for the information. The white stem would fit with Oberbayern, being the 1st batallion of the TV, but on a contradictory note Eicke notes in a letter of April, 1936 that the TV would not wear the army pattern as they had their own flat, black bayonet knot.
Here is the relevant extract.
Derek

[derek]

This is the knot Eicke is referring to being worn by a member of Oberbayern in 1936.
Derek

[Admiraal]

I got a copy of and original period booklet about pre-war/early-war uniforms/insignia used in Germany, in it is a page about the WH Portepee colors.
I´ve scanned the page, hope it helps:

[derek]

I have looked at a few more photos and they would suggest that the SS-TV probably adopted the army coloured stem system when they were organised into regiments in 1937.
The system was definitely used by the SS-VT as numerous pictures show them wearing that style of knot.
Derek

[Robert H]

another photo I found today, from mid 1936

[Robert T.]

Over the years I've picked up a few SS-VT bayonet porepees. I was wondering if anyone has a reference on what color combinations were used by particular units?
Thanks, Doug

Refer to "Exploring the dress daggers and swords of the German SS" by Thomas T. Wittmann, page 607 to 622.

_________
Robert