Das Reich CT

[DKNYC71]

Dear Fellow Forum Members,

I would appreciate your valued opinion on this Das Reich CT. Many Thanks in advance!

Best Regards,
Dave.

[A c h t u n g !]

Nice original

[Richard P]

Very choice enlisted RZM version of the Das Reich CT. Congratulations once again.

Richard

[biohazard69]

[Felix]

I agree, very nice original Das Reich cuff!

Cheers,
Felix

[DKNYC71]

Thank you very much fellows for your valued opinion!

[Gary Symonds]

What I find very interesting is the black wide mesh "cheese cloth" reinforcing panel on the reverse. This is standard on hand embroidered bullion cuff titles. I have only seen these stiffening panels used on very early gothic machine embroidered Adolf Hitler cuff titiles from 1933-34.

We know "Das Reich" the 2nd SS Division was not raised until 1942. It was in approximately 1942 that the SS removed itself from RZM jurisdiction. Since use of the reverse added cloth panel was not standard RZM machine embroidering practise, this cuff band could very well be an example of the Waffen SS contracting on its own, outside the RZM, for insignia.

A significant piece in my opinion.

[Philipson]

Did they not wear a "das reich cuff" in the period the division was called "reich"?
This is before mai '42 and post 21. Dezember 1940 ?

[A c h t u n g !]

What I find very interesting is the black wide mesh "cheese cloth" reinforcing panel on the reverse. This is standard on hand embroidered bullion cuff titles. I have only seen these stiffening panels used on very early gothic machine embroidered Adolf Hitler cuff titiles from 1933-34.

There is another well-known original RzM Totenkopf cufftitle with the same construction that you might find interesting as well:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=364796

[Felix]

Did they not wear a "das reich cuff" in the period the division was called "reich"?
This is before mai '42 and post 21. Dezember 1940 ?

No, they did not wear any Das Reich cuff title officially until september 1942 when it was issued to the division. Unofficial versions could exist before that, but it is not verified for sure. The rzm cuff titles for Das Reich should therefore be used from september 1942 an onwards.

The SS got control of their own production of cloth and metal insignias in late 1942 (or turn 1942/1943) and the Rzm standard was after that not effective any more. There exists a few Das Reich Rzm cuff titles with tags, such as the version showed in this thread. I also got one that is uniform removed and has a partial rzm tag ( in the same style as above)

The reinforcement cloth on the reverse is a common trait on early bullion cuff titles as mentioned. However there also exists many enlisted early gothic cuff titles without this extra cloth on the reverse. Therefore I think this special trait for machine embroidered Rzm style cuff titles is due to the technique used by a few embroidery factories, and not age frame.

I have seen Nordland, Das Reich, Reinhard Heydrich and Totenkopf cuffs with this backing supportive cloth. I suspect some Wiking cuffs could have it as well.

//Felix