General Seyffard and de Ruyter cuff titles

[Winkelman]

I couldn't believe my eyes either - so it's not just me .
We really owe Rove for showing us this detail - for future reference , it's from this picture ;
( Nick , I just saw you added the full picture as well , never mind - we'll be seeing it a lot from now on . A new type of CT discovered , in wear - I think it's even better than the first pics of printed sleeve eagles .. ! )

[Zauberflöte]

Very, very interesting indeed!
Would be nice - although very difficult - to identify this Ufhr (think even Ostuf based on the close-up?); and if he would be German or Dutch?

[bkossen]

Great find indeed!

Got one more puzzle for you. I found the below pictures on photobucket (unfortunately can not fully credit the owner as he is listed under the alias "nederlandwaffenss"):



Dutch SS-Sturmmann wearing the Frw. Legion Niederlande and Seyffardt cufftitles (!).



Note the spelling; seems to be the dutch spelling of the word Generaal rather than the german General.



It could be he was a soldier of the 1. Kompanie of the Legion Niederlande. After the assassination by the Dutch resistance of General Seyffardt in 1943, his memory was honored by awarding the 1st company of the Dutch Legion the honory title "General Seyffardt".

On the other hand, he seems to be wearing SS runes - not the wolf hook symbol. Maybe a vet from the Legion therefor who was transfered to the Seyffardt Rgt of the newly formed Brigade?

Regards,
Bert

[jabnus]

What a very cool topic!!!

Thanks a lot for these killer pics!

[ben haynes]

What great pic's thank you to everyone for taking time to help me, please could anyone tell me the name of the book about the Dutch waffen ss member at the battle of Arnhem would love to read it. kind regards to all and a happy new year.

[NickG]

Here's an interesting uniform image as its taken in June 1945. Close up of a uniform worn by a Dutch SS member imprisoned at the "Harskamp" POW camp where rounded up Dutch SS men were taken.

The majority of the prisoners were SS men from the Holland based "Landstorm Nederland" Division but also other Dutch SS members ended up there such as "Nederland" Division Dutchmen, perhaps on leave or more likely convalescing in Holland (after being evacuated from Narva due to injuries...)

The uniform image is interesting as it shows the old Dutch "Leg.Nederland" insignia still being worn at war's end in 1945 (the legion was dissolved in 1943) . Note walking cane definately an injured soldier, so East front evacuee based on insignia?
The uniform is a "2 hole" (belt support) m42 SS type. Perhaps depicted a "Nederland" Division soldier, who kept his old Legion insignia?

[NickG]

Some more prisoners at this POW camp. Unfortunately the cuff title is not identifiable...
Based on his awards he is either a "Landstorm Nederland" NCO who earned his awards in the "Leg.Nederland"
on the east front, later transfering to "Landstorm Nederland" and serving in the Netherlands
or he is a "Nederland Division" east front vet who was captured while in Holland. Too bad the cuff title is not clear!

[NickG]

From the same prison camp; most likely a "Landstorm Nederland" officer candidate. Cuff title appears to be in capital letters...
Might be an earlier style capitalized LANDWACHT cufftitle (possibly the spray-printed one using blank Alg.SS cuff titles)

Definately not "Nederland", "De Ruyter" or "Gen.Seyffhart"... but the search continues!
Of interest: his uniform is an M43 with straight pocket flaps and added early M36 style dark green collar for that smart look!

[bkossen]

Hi Nick,

These photographs were taken by dutch military photographer Willem van de Poll. He made a whole range of photo's at the Harskamp POW camp. The NCO on the second photo is wearing a Germania cufftitle. Here is a photo of the same person were the CT is visible:



Indeed a veteran from the Eastern Front. He is dutch - there were hardly any Germans left in the camp by the time this picture was taken. Note the absence of SS runen, ranks and the SS skull. These were forbidden to wear, but apparently the men were still allowed to wear their decorations.

By the time the Landstorm was given "divisional" status, the Germans were really scraping the barrel. To increase the Division's fighting power, some battle experienced dutch Führer and Unterführer were transfered from Wiking / Brigade Nederland.

Regards,
Bert

[ben haynes]

sorry to ask again but can anyone tell me the name of the book regarding the Dutch waffen ss soldier fighting at Arnhem as i would love to read it kind regards to all.

[NickG]

Hi Nick,

Indeed a veteran from the Eastern Front. He is dutch - Regards,
Bert

Great close up! Yes same NCO indeed. So not a Dutch unit related title after all, but yes a seasoned NCO
who earned his decorations fighting on the Russian front as I suspected, but in this case with Germania Reg
(not Nederland Div).

Here's another Dutch related cuff title, again "Landstorm Nederland" in wear.
Image probably well known among Dutch collectors but worth sharing even though it does not relate to "Nederland"
and its 2 Regiments!
Again lacking nationality shield...after the Freiw.Legion was disolved the Dutch appear to have dropped this flag wearing practice...

[NickG]

A fine example of what it looks like in BeVo "Landstorm Nederland" (not mine )
I would imagine the plain "Nederland" title as issued to its sister unit would have also been worn,
just rare to find images!

[bkossen]

Hi Ben,

Sorry for missing your question. The book about the Dutch SS volunteer at Arnheim is called "Onder de vleugels van de partij - Kind van de Führer" by Inge P. Spruit (ISBN 90 293 9667 9). Only in dutch language I am afraid...

Regards,
Bert

[bkossen]

Hi Nick,

Yes, indeed rare to find images of Landstorm Nederland CT's. I particularly like the one you showed us, because it is a late war picture of a Landstorm soldier (March 1945). Here is another one taken during the same occasion:



The Sturmbannführer sitting next to the Heer officer is wearing a Landstorm Nederland cufftitle, as seems to be the case with the Untersturmführer sitting next to him.

And here is another one taken at the Harskamp POW camp.



Strange tunic...ex-Dutch Army maybe? Can anybody identify it?

Regards,
Bert

[NickG]

Great stuff. I like the officers image! An East Front vet (ex-Legion?) now in the Landstorm Nederland.
Many east front vets who were gravely injured and unfit for front line duty were later rotated into Landstorm.
I know the story of an East Front Dutch vet who lost an eye but later called up for duty again in Landstorm,
so you'll see well decorated men in this unit.

"Landstorm Nederland" cuff images are not easy to find either!
Period image of Landstorm Nederland Feldgendarmerie, interestingly not wearing a SS Feldgendarme cuff title,
but instead his Divisional LSN title!

I would imagine the plain "Nederland" Div title (and its 2 regimental titles) as intended for issuance to its sister unit
would have also been worn, just very rare to find images!