Swedish Volunteer for an SS Unit

[Mallaguat]

Hello Tony,
I am trying to put together a uniform that would have the correct cufftitle,armshield and collartabs for a swedish volunteer for the SS.My grand father was that volunteer and I want to re-create his uniform to display in my museum.I am curator for the Roy historical Museum and just can remember a few things he told me about his time on the Russian front with the 5th SS.If anyone out there can help me and give suggestions I would much appreciate it.Thank you and advise away.Thanks for the hlp I certainly need it..
Regards,
Mallaguat
Paul Dixon-curator

[NickG]

There were no units with just Swedes... only the "sweden-zug"
more here:
http://www.waffen-ss.no/sweden.htm

where it states:One unit, the 3rd Company of Nordlands Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion, had a large proportion of Swedes; so many that the 4th Zug (platoon) of the company was known unofficially as the Swedenzug.

They did not have specific Swedish insignia, no arm shield existed...Sweden was neutral so they did not push that idea too hard...
I guess you could do a Nordland collar tab/cuff title but nothing specifically Swedish...

Insignia: see here:
http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=42



.

[Lasse L]

Hello,

I have actually written a book about the Swedish SS-volunteers in English which will be published next year (http://www.helion.co.uk/hitler-s-swe...waffen-ss.html). As said, there was never any real Swedish SS-insignia, however - if you would give me the name of your grandfather, I might actually have a picture of him in the SS so I can describe his uniform to you, or give you some information concerning his service.

But also, it might be added: The whole "Schwedenzug" is not known to have been used as a war time unofficial name, but probably a post war mock up. Between 1941-43, most of the Swedes fought within the "Wiking" Division, where they were scattered all over the sub units. Then after 1943 it was planned to create a Swedish company within the Nordland Division (which was raised that year). There was never a whole Swedish company, but most of the Swedes were gathered into the 3./SS-Pz-Aufkl-Abt 11. However, given the quite small number of Swedes who actually enlisted, Swedish volunteers could be found scattered over quite many units: the "Nord"-Division, war correspondents of the SS-Standarte "Kurt Eggers", LSSAH, SS-Pz-Brig "Gross", "Nederland" and so on. Also several within the SS-Hauptamt and SD/SiPo, and then in late 1944 there was plans to try creating a Swedish company within the Jagdverband Nordwest, this was a complete failure to.

National insignia within the SS: Well, there was probably planned to create a Swedish national insignia, and some of the members of the Swedish company within the Jagdverband Nordwest claims to have been given sleeve shields. Non of these have survived and no photos exists of them, it was most probably on personal initiative from the commander (and likewise Swede) Gunnar Eklöf (SS-Ustuf). Some Swedish insignia was however worn; Swedish army sportsbadges, Swedish Nationalsocialistic party badges and often Finnish awards - since many of the Swedes had been volunteers in Finland during the winter war in 1939-40 and the continuation war in 1941-44.

[Rene Chavez]

Here are some of the Swedish related badges that were worn by Swedish volunteers.

Rene Chavez
www.foreignvolunteerlegion.com

[AndyC]

Its the Swedish Army Field sports brand and the Ski brand badges


Andy

[Lasse L]

And the volunteer who is seen sporting them is Hans-Caspar Kreuger, member of the Allgemeine-SS between 1941-42 and the Waffen-SS between 1942-45, first in the "Wiking"-Division and later as war correspondent of the SS-Standarte "Kurt Eggers". His final rank was SS-Ustuf, and he was under investigation from the SS for accusations of homosexuality.

[NickG]

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Looking for swedish SS Volunteer items
Hello,
My name is Paul and I am the curator for the Roy Historical Museum here in Roy Utah.We have a fairly large museum and I have been trying to convert the downstairs into a bunker type place where you start at one end and go around till you reach the other end with displays all around.I need more WW2 bolt action rifles (i Have an Arisaka and WW1 SMLE enfield,Gewehr WW1 and need pistols (clip and revolver),anything third reich or Japanese,and all other sorts of WW2 ephemera I can use to make this place a good draw and something special.We are just on the other side of the fence from the Hill Air Force Base museum and people all the time come over and ask what we have that is anything except AF.They want to see WW2 Army,Navy,USMC,Any Axis items IGerman,Italian,Hungarian,Romanian,and all other axis members and foriegn volunteers.Lots of people do not know there were SS volunteers who fought for Hitler against the Reds.I need to get my Swedish M-1945 tunic from Sweden converted to a swedish SS volunteers.My grandfather was that officer who did this.He was called a traitor when the war was over but emigrated to the US.I display my own collection and militaria all the time and when we are in season and open.I want to make up my grandfathers tunic very much.He mentioned a blue patch with 2 crowns in gold above a lion facing to the right and a crown at the bottom under the lion.All Crowns above and below the lion were in gold. I cant remember what his cuff title was but he was a leutnant? Or the SS version anyway.Thank you all.
__________________________________________


Reposted here.... from the "wanted" section (same member who started this Swedish SS themed thread!)


Was this really done I wonder? I have strong doubts...Swedish Lion shield??? Galician yes...but Swedish???
Wanting to find out more about this intriguing post (from the "wanted" section) and related to this post!!

[Lasse L]

Hello,

That does not sound as any Swedish shield to me, but rather the Galicien shield of the 14. Waffen-Gren-Div. Conversions of Swedish tunics sounds odd too - I know several Swedes who left Sweden dressed in their Swedish army uniforms, but all of them had theirs replaced with German ones as soon as they enlisted in the Waffen-SS. It was much easier to hand out a uniform than to convert one.

Best regards,
Lars

[Felix]

Lasse L:
Interesting book you have published! I think it can make interesting reading. Are there many pics? Does it cover all Swedes of the SS?

Best regards,
Felix

[AndyC]

Lasse L:
Interesting book you have published! I think it can make interesting reading. Are there many pics? Does it cover all Swedes of the SS?

Best regards,
Felix

Yes Lasse show us more


Andy

[Felix]

Here is a finnish medal from the estate of Swede Ynge Helleborg. Its an example of a medal that could have been worn by a Swedish SS volunteer. As said a lot of Swedes participated in the war in 1939/40 when the Soviet union attacked Finland. In Sweden, back then, it was said that the finnish sake is ours. (The nation of Sweden). As some in Sweden felt is was their brother nation.

//Felix

[Lasse L]

Lasse L:
Interesting book you have published! I think it can make interesting reading. Are there many pics? Does it cover all Swedes of the SS?

Best regards,
Felix

Thank both Felix and Andy! It contains some 150+ pictures, many previously unpublished ones Unfortuenatly I cant show more at this moment since I dont have it layouted yet, the publisher has only published the pre-order info. It does not cover every single Swedish SS volunteer, but around 140-ish of them is mentioned and covered, out of the possible 180-200 volunteers. Those left out are in many cases either such volunteers who enlisted and was entlassen within a few weeks, or in those cases where information is lacking.

Best regards,
Lars