Numbers CYPHERS on shoulder boards

[pep]

All we know about letters (cyphers) on SS regimental/divisional shoulder boards/straps. but, what about the numbers???
In the past I heard that this just was proper to early TK tunics. I've seen around some combat SS officer tunics with numbers. I mean not TK ones. is this correct??. did some combat units bear numbers on shoulder boards???

[Fritz]

Numbers were worn on NCO straps and officer boards during the war and up to the last day of the war. Regulations were widely ignored and the use of numbers was by no means uncommon.

Cheers

[Bob Hritz]

I have a pair of SS medical major rank shoulder boards with silver number eights on them.

Bob Hritz

[pep]

and what do they mean??? ... regiment or batallion ID??

[Johnny R]

Usually the numbers will indicate the regiment but they also can indicate both smaller and larger formations.

[M Bando]

re: W-SS numbered boards

When doing Mike Beaver's Insignia book project, I saw examples
of Lt boards with a metal '1' atached for the TK Oberbayern Regiment.
Usually divisonal numbers were only worn by support units, such
as the artillery regiment or recon battalion. This was also not
universally done, but spottily done by some members of some
units. It seems to have been far from a standard regulation.
Members of the Das Reich 2nd Panzer Regiment appear in vintage
photos wearing a metal '2' on nco and officer boards. Again. this
was optional on the part of individuals within that regiment.
Photos show that Sgt Ernst Barkmann and Lt Walter Kniep wore
the white metal and gilt metal '2' on their boards, while others like
Fritz Langanke told me that he didn't bother with such details.
When Fritz was promoted to Lt, he wore a twin claw belt buckle
and claims he never bothered to obtain a round SS officer's buckle.
To some individuals, such refinements were totally unimportant.

[Fritz]

he wore a twin claw belt buckle
and claims he never bothered to obtain a round SS officer's buckle.
To some individuals, such refinements were totally unimportant.

Actually I was told that these (army) belts were much more practical in the field as the ss ones had a tendency to open.



You will find period pictures of many individuals attached to units incl. panzer and infantry/grenadiere that used numbers.

Often the "core units" had their own special cyphers (LAH,D,G,DF,N), yet, in a number of cases even individuals serving in these units used numbers in lieu.


Cheers

[John Pic]

The SS Cavalry Brigade in the beginning wore numbers .

[Ian Hulley]

Actually I was told that these (army) belts were much more practical in the field as the ss ones had a tendency to open.

Including Michael Wittmann

[pep]

good feedback. thanks to everybody!!!

[Ludwig]

All we know about letters (cyphers) on SS regimental/divisional shoulder boards/straps. but, what about the numbers???
In the past I heard that this just was proper to early TK tunics. I've seen around some combat SS officer tunics with numbers. I mean not TK ones. is this correct??. did some combat units bear numbers on shoulder boards???

Yes, absolutely! 5 for Wiking (Panzer, Aufklärungsabteilung), 10 for Frundsberg (Aufklärungsabteilung), 11 for Nordland (Aufklärungsabteilung) I can recall right now.

[istra63]

Within the Division "Das Reich" it would be possible to find the following ciphers worn by its members:
D G DF 2 along with gothic A

[Fritz]

Within the Division "Das Reich" it would be possible to find the following ciphers worn by its members:
D G DF 2 along with gothic A

G (Germania) was attached to the Wiking by that time.

Cheers