Dachau pattern shields in wear

[NickG]

In reference books you see fakes...
Here a fake shield...a dubious put-together Westland Feldgendarmerie...

[Kurt Meyer]

First time ever I see the dachau Dutch shield in wear , you sure these are period images ?

[NickG]

An internet image...no source info...Sorry!
So here we have a real example of a Dachau shield...(on a questionable uniform) so was it really worn by the Dutch?

[NickG]

First time ever I see the dachau Dutch shield in wear , you sure these are period images ?

Which pictures are you referring to?
All the color images are from a movie as explained already.
All the B/W images are real period ones of course as explained!
Post 12 is the only period image of possibly a Dutch Dachau shield being worn, as explained...
(at least the only one that I know of...)
Any contributions on this topic? Dutch Dachau patterns being worn late war?

This is my favorite period Dachau shield image; an Estland trooper at Narwa! Examples of those shields in wear are easy to find!
Dutch Dachau examples...??? just not out there for some reason...(only much earlier Niederlande Legion shields you can find...)

[Mike Swan]

Here are some photos copied from one of the short-lived English language editions of "Militaria" magazine, July 1995.

This tunic was allegedly worn in British captivity by a member of the Charlmagne Division. The insignia was removed during captivity and reapplied after his return to France.

The group photo was taken at Wildflecken training camp, Lower Franconia.

I don't know how one assesses the veracity of the story.

Mike

[Mike Swan]

Two more.

[espenlaub]

What is the connection between period used shields and a modern "1944" movie?
There some wrong attachments allready seen - the dutch shield worn a bit above than cufftitle, but lower the elbow ( they placed it as the Estonian shield- below the elbow). The VT style signals diamond, rarely seen even on a early W-SS uniforms. And oficially has been never allowed to use, as much more insignia in such a Waffen Gren d.SS, however, they use there whatever they want

[Marcel Banziger]

Went through the memoires from a Dutch volunteer I have but couldn't find any photo with the Dutch shield. His Flemish colleagues did wear the Flemish shield but he, as Dutch is on no photo to be seen with a Dutch shield.

[D Davies]

more

Hi Nick in post 14 is that a Estonian tunic or a cut off from a estonian tunic?.
Cheers
Dave.

[NickG]

Nice contributions. Dachau shields in wear is a favorite topic of mine...The French did wear them in 44-45 in Prussia and Berlin battles.
The Estonian sleeve image btw is not a cut off...(post #14)

Straying from the Dutch shield topic a little bit;

Since the Balkan shield was never officially instituted (it was war time designed) some say the Croat shield was used as an honorary bandenkampf insignia...
Kind of like a "make-shift" unofficial campaign shield for anti-partisan operations in the Balkans....

This image is of Ober-Junker Jost Schneider in Prinz Eugen wearing such a Croatian shield (trimmed Dachau? or BeVo?) .
As far as I know he is a German and never served in any Croat units, so this might prove that unofficial practice.
Croats did get transferred to Prinz Eugen and could have kept their shields also...but not the case with this Officer candidate!

Anybody know of this practice? or is it just a theory?

[NickG]

This LW pilot wears a Dachau pattern Croatian shield and could also have been worn as an award (like the Ober-Junker) for serving in the Balkans during anti partisan sweeps.
On such anti partisan operations spotter planes like Fischler Storchs were used a lot to locate and report partisan troop movements in the Balkans and for his successful participation
this pilot could have been awarded this SS sleeve shield by the SS unit conducting the partisan sweeps.
It is a theory but it could be the case...as it is definitely a Dachau pattern SS shield and NOT the type of shield that a Croatian Luftwaffe squadron member would have worn
to indicate his nationality....

[NickG]

Another example...Maybe he is Garman Cadre in Handschar?? Collar tab could be a scimitar pattern...

[NickG]

Here's another great (not so well known) image of Estonian 20th Division retreating into Czechoslovakia in 1945

[Hilton]

Norwegian Dachau flag in use.

[NickG]

What is the connection between period used shields and a modern "1944" movie?

Just wanted to show that this modern Estonian movie production depicting the Narwa battle shows clearly the participation of SS General Steiner's
III SS (Germanic) Panzer Corps :
-11th SS Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland"
-4th SS Panzergrenadier Brigade "Nederland"
-20th Estonian SS-Volunteer Division (Estland)
hence the Dachau style shields being worn a lot in the movie, especially by the Estonians who are the main theme of course...something you don't see much in other
war movies and those "not in the know" (general public) about this practice of using nationality shields would now get acquainted with this practice! That's all!