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**Gary Wood** · 07-19-2004, 06:07 PM

I also forgot there is a picture of at least one member of the short lived 21st ss Skanderbeg wearing a tropical jacket with insignia and cuff band, this photo is in cloth insignia of the ss page 361.

Does anyone else have pictures?
cheers,
Gary

**Robin Lumsden** · 07-20-2004, 03:53 AM

Other SS units in Italy included Karstjaeger ('45) - and the LSSAH for a time in mid-'43. It is also likely that the various SD and police formations dotted about the country would have worn tropical uniforms - either the Sahariana type or the Luftwaffe pattern.

**Basil** · 07-20-2004, 05:58 AM

Originally posted by Robin Lumsden

So the chances are that the SD man pictured in tropical gear above was nothing more sinister than a detective in uniform.

Well no. Einsatzkommando Tunis was sent there to identify and concentrate the Jewish community of Tunisia and to induct them into the final solution. Fortunately for them, the German presence in Tunisia was relatively short-lived. In December 42, the Einsatzkommando arrested Jewish community leaders in Tunis but it was soon realised that they would be needed to organise Jewish forced labour, so they were released after the community had been forced to pay a 20,000,000 franc 'fine'. Subsequently, the community leaders were forced to organise labour groups, which were to be fed, clothed and otherwise supplied entirely by the Jewish community: these labour groups were tasked to work on fortifications and defensive positions.

Shipping Jews back from North Africa to feed them into the European forced labour programme was a relatively low priority at this time, and so when the final German collapse in Tunisia came, the great majority of the Jews were still alive, although impoverished by systematic German extortion of community and personal property.

So, the SD personnel in Tunis were indeed somewhat more sinister than detectives in uniform.

**Robin Lumsden** · 07-20-2004, 06:16 AM

Originally posted by Basil

Well no. Einsatzkommando Tunis was sent there to identify and concentrate the Jewish community of Tunisia and to induct them into the final solution. Fortunately for them, the German presence in Tunisia was relatively short-lived. In December 42, the Einsatzkommando arrested Jewish community leaders in Tunis but it was soon realised that they would be needed to organise Jewish forced labour, so they were released after the community had been forced to pay a 20,000,000 franc 'fine'. Subsequently, the community leaders were forced to organise labour groups, which were to be fed, clothed and otherwise supplied entirely by the Jewish community: these labour groups were tasked to work on fortifications and defensive positions.

Shipping Jews back from North Africa to feed them into the European forced labour programme was a relatively low priority at this time, and so when the final German collapse in Tunisia came, the great majority of the Jews were still alive, although impoverished by systematic German extortion of community and personal property.

So, the SD personnel in Tunis were indeed somewhat more sinister than detectives in uniform.

Basil.
I have learned something today.
But the detectives still wore SD uniform.

**Mark Holden** · 07-21-2004, 01:30 PM

There is a well used photo of an LAH Feldgendarme in a tropical tunic I think in Rome or Naples. I believe it is in one of Gordon Williamson's books. Its also interesting because the Soldier is wearing his LAH and Feld gendarm Cuff band.

Cheers

Mark

Originally posted by Robin Lumsden

Basil.
I have learned something today.
But the detectives still wore SD uniform.

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Where were 'tropical' W-SS sleeve eagles used?

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