Dutch Landwacht impression

[NickG]

Thanks guys.
It was brought to my attention by a Dutch member that VCD actually means "Verkeers Controle Dienst..= Traffic inspection Service.
So the duties were broader.
They were manning check points. Of course civilian traffic in 44-45 consisted mainly of bicycles and these men were after contraband of black market goods TO INCLUDE FOOD but also resistance propaganda, guns, ID documentation checks etc...in support of the Polizei.

[NickG]

The same Dutch member shared this (recent?) Ratisbon auction...

[NickG]

He was assigned to duties with the Bahnschutz, again security detail in support of a German unit.

[NickG]

What he was issued...Breeches not marked...for some reason were not checked off...
Many used their NSB black shirts and black breeches. Originally these men wore civilian clothes
with an armband
or NSB uniform with armband, later switching to field gray...

[Paulus_Gun]

I was offered that Soldbuch a while ago. Also then the seller (not Ratisbons) would not share his name, but it was not that hard to find out that his name was Wilhelmus Johannes Antonius Becx. Did I just spoil the surprise?

A very nice presentation as well!

[Zauberflöte]

Hi Nick; is this a rebadged tunic with the proper ghosts?


Indeed no fellow countrymen to be proud of, but these obscure units I always find interesting.

[NickG]

Hi Nick; is this a rebadged tunic with the proper ghosts?


Indeed no fellow countrymen to be proud of, but these obscure units I always find interesting.

Yes restored. The tunic had a very clear ghost of a cuff title but no other clear indicators.
The wide collar is to me indicative of SS use but it never had an SS sleeve eagle, just like Landwacht!
(Never had an Army chest eagle either btw...)
It could have had tabs handstiched on leaving no marks...Now its restored to match the uniform in the picture
of the Landwacht prisoner. Tunic is CM 1939 marked in 2 spots and has German size stamps added.
Since it has belt support holes it was never intended for officer use, but has a wide collar...(SS tabs)
(too wide for enlisted Heer-Army litzen), so it certainly fits the bill perfectly of this para military organisation!

Here displayed with my NAD (Dutch RAD) impression in M42 Dutch uniform and my (only surviving) NOC officers tunic
"Nederlandsche Oost Compagnie" (displayed with NSB cap), my 3 Dutch collaboration displays!

[Zauberflöte]

Certainly makes sense!

[c.rotte]

Nice and fascination thread, Nick!!

[NickG]

Contribution from Nico.Heitman; (translated from Dutch)

March 1943 The Reichskommissar for the occupied Dutch territories (Seyss-Inquart) recommends the establishment of a domestic protection unit. This will be named Landwacht. This unit is from the beginning a MILITARY unit, intended for possible battles within the Netherlands. The unit is set up within the Waffen-SS (admittedly many German police officers are involved) and is given the name SS-Grenadier Regiment Landwacht Nederland. Drawn up in The Hague, Vught, Roermond etc.
On October 16, 1943 the unit is renamed as SS grenadier regiment 1 Landstorm Netherlands.

However, the need was still felt to set up a protection unit for the protection of supplies, etc. This became the "Stad en Landwacht Nederland" (City and Land Guard Netherlands), often abbreviated to Landwacht Nederland.

The organisation was set up late 1943 through 1944, taking into account the different currents in the NSB. The compromise that was reached was that Van Geelkerken was appointed Inspector-General of the "Stad en Landwacht Nederland" (City and Netherlands Land Guard), while Zondervan (WA Dietsche movement) and Feldmeijer (GSS, German movement) were appointed Inspectors with the rank of Landwacht-Standaard leider. (Landwacht Standarten-Fuhrer).

In the Netherlands, some 5 regions were established (more or less with the same composition as the German Alg.SS) and provincial commanders existed within these regions. A Landwachtkompanie was established in every province. In addition, about 3 urban commanders were introduced (Amsterdam, Den Haag and Utrecht)
So Region I comprises Zeeland and South Holland, Region North Holland and Utrecht, Region III Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe, region IV Overijssel and Gelderland, region V Noordbrabant and Limburg.

Later the organization changes and Battalions are established in these regions.
From the start of the "Stad en Landwacht Nederland" there are 2 German Verbindungsoffiziere (liason officers) originating from the Polizei at the staff of the Units. The original Landwacht (Land Guard) members were often trained at the Police Training Battalion in Schalkhaar. Later, training schools were set up in each region.

In post # 7 you can see interesting uniform characteristics such as collar tabs and even a flaming grenade in an oval field on the left arm (similar to the Odalrune patch worn by General Arthur Phleps of the Prinz Eugen Dvision) etc.
Indeed there is a lot of variation in uniform badges, varying types of armbands/ cuff titles, and varying flaming grenade designs (post 7 and 11) etc


VCD actually means Traffic Control Service (verkeers Controle Dienst). This Service existed before the creation of the unit and was incorporated into the Stad en Landwacht in 1944. An official VCD group was added to each regional staff afterwards. (I guess this explains the cuff title modification, later "added" VCD embroidery)

So with that said: 3.43-10.43 WAffen SS unit "Landwacht Nederland" eventually became Landstorm Nederland (military unit)

The in Nov 1943 created "Stad en Landwacht Nederland" ("City and the Land watch Netherlands" (aka Landwacht) was strictly to be seen as a Polizei auxiliary unit, in support of Police security functions.

So to summarize you had "SS Grenadier Regiment Landwacht Nederland" a combat unit which eventually became "Landstorm Nederland" a W-SS unit,
as well as "Stad en Landwacht Nederland" abbreviated known as "Landwacht Nederland", a Polizei auxiliary unit.

Hope I got it right!

[Martin Simon]

Very nice impression Nick, well done and thanks for posting it for all of us to enjoy!
Martin

[TP Alexander]

[Winkelman]

A big hands up for Nick .. !

[Nick E]

Yes restored. The tunic had a very clear ghost of a cuff title but no other clear indicators.
The wide collar is to me indicative of SS use but it never had an SS sleeve eagle, just like Landwacht!
(Never had an Army chest eagle either btw...)
It could have had tabs handstiched on leaving no marks...Now its restored to match the uniform in the picture
of the Landwacht prisoner. Tunic is CM 1939 marked in 2 spots and has German size stamps added.
Since it has belt support holes it was never intended for officer use, but has a wide collar...(SS tabs)
(too wide for enlisted Heer-Army litzen), so it certainly fits the bill perfectly of this para military organisation!

Here displayed with my NAD (Dutch RAD) impression in M42 Dutch uniform and my (only surviving) NOC officers tunic
"Nederlandsche Oost Compagnie" (displayed with NSB cap), my 3 Dutch collaboration displays!

Hey Nick,its Nick! Used to be wewelsburg here! Just coming back what a great set of uniforms ! Hope,your doing well buddy!!

[NickG]

Thanks for the thumbs up guys!