EBJ

I'm still working on posting photos. My files are too big. FYI: the rectangular stamp in the helmet lining reads, "SUD 1935 SS-Na.1" (with umlaut above the u). This is for SS Oberabschnitt Sud, which was earlier SS-Gruppe Sud. Na.1 was SS-Signal Battalion 1, stationed in Munich. This Oberabscnitt was the longest in existence, established on 1/30/29. EBJ

The Waffen-SS included documents in personnel files to support issuance of driver's licenses. I have an interesting such document signed by SS-Oberscharfuehrer (officer candidate) Otto Skorzeny, who, at the time, was motor officer for an SS Germania Regiment artillery battalion. With the armistice in France, the unit had paused in Amersfoort, Holland in mid-1940 and was using that time to, among other things, qualify vehicle drivers. Otto had previously qualified as a driving instructor. The document indicates the various tests that were passed. As an engineer, he was also in charge of designing ramps for loading vehicles onto barges in preparation of Operation Sea Lion. When that operation was cancelled, his unit left as part of the Das Reich Division and was later deployed to the Balkans. You know much of "the rest of the story!" I also have the SS contract for the SS-mann signed by Sepp Dietrich. He was initially assigned to the LSSAH. EBJ

The daggers are SA Gruppe-marked, not NSDAP Gau-marked. I believe you will find that the boundaries are not the same. Just my two-pence worth! EBJ

kapten, I am just learning my way around this forum. I retired recently (at 71) and have more time to spend on the web. I recently discovered this site and like it. It is much better than some of the US sites, which are filled with many "expert" novices. I will try to post some photos. EBJ

Spaz, I have a similarly-marked SA dagger for Nm Brigade 16. The upper scabbard band is marked the same as the lower dagger crossguard. I think what happened to this dagger and my Pommern dagger is, when the SA Brigades were incorporated into the NSKK, the SA scabbards were replaced with the unmarked NSKK scabbards. My Pommern NSKK also does not have the Brigade markings on the upper scabbard band. I know the Pommern is good as I got it from a very prominent SA dagger authority. Just my thoughts. EBJ

I have an SA lagermuetze that is pictured in "Headgear of Hitler's Germany, Vol. 3", pp 316 and 584. It is a direct vet acquisition from Gr Hochland with eagle and edelweiss on the side. It is unique in that it has "unofficial" blue and white cord piping. The piping is original to the manufacture of the muetze, not added later, as it is properly tucked in and sewn. Has anyone seen another piped lagermuetze from this or any other SA gruppe? I assume it may have been made for an officer. EBJ

Spaz, According to my 1/11/35 reference of SA "Brigaden-Gruppen-Standarten", Pommern Brigades were 7, 8, 9, 107, 108, Marine Brigade 1. There is no Brigade 10 listed; 11 and 12 were assigned to Gr Hansa. So, I speculate that, perhaps, an SA Motor Brigade 10 might have been created for Pommern. Then, when the NSKK came along, the scabbard was changed to black. Only a guess! I have been unable to locate a later SA "Standort-Berzeichnus" than the 1935 copy. EBJ

I may still have some photos I can get copied. R.J. Bender was going to do an article about AP badges years ago, so I sent him photos of all mine. As I am an "old timer", I have been thinning down my collection and only have the gold one remaining. EBJ

I have an early black transitional double-decal SS parade helmet picked up by the vet along a road in Nuernberg toward the end of the war. It is the lightweight variety that typically have a shiny black finish. It has the early liner, which is stamped inside to a Munich Signal Regiment. I have seen a couple in books, also unit stamped. The stamp is similar to the typical SS clothing and equipment stamp. These SS helmets have a variety of finishes; some shiny but many very dull. I have not seen this type unit stamp in reissued M-1918 etc helmets. I assume these were purchased by the units. Any thoughts? EBJ

How many gold ones have you seen? I have been colleciing for 55 years; this is the first gold one I have seen that has provenance. EBJ

I have a Unit-marked SA dagger with matching numbers on both crossguard and upper scabbard band. One of the numbers on the scabbard, a "4", is stamped sideways! I agree with Tom Wittmann that there was not always great care in stamping these numbers. EBJ (new member, exploring the sites)

I have had three original silver badges; one with fat pin and two with round pins. All pins were blued. I have a gold badge documented as taken from a POW toward the end of the war in Italy. It has a fat pin and an Assmann TM behing the swastika. Any thoughts?! EBJ

I have considered that, perhaps, the daggers were initially numbered corresponding to the bearers' ausweiss numbers; hence no dolch number entries in some ausweisses. However, that seems counterintuitive, as why would one want to have a dagger with someone else's ausweiss number?! I have also seen a Pommern dagger with matching three digit numbers. The Franken dagger is the first numbered one I have seen from Gr Fr. However, Bigades 14-16 were in Gr Nordmark. Mine are Br 15 and 16. My Pommern is unusual as it is numbered to Brigade 10. Since there was initially no Brigade 10 in Pommern, it may have been added later as a Motor Brigade. It fits in the Brigade number sequence for Pommern. I will work on some photos. EBJ

There has been much speculation about the numbered SA daggers from Group Nordmark. The "experts" say the numbers following the Brigade numbers are ausweiss numbers. I have several numbered Nm daggers, as well as a numbered NSKK dagger from Pommern, all with matching scabbard numbers. The Pommern number is only 4 digits. I also have an SA Group Nm ausweiss that has an entry for the Dolch Nr as well as the Ausweiss number. They are different! Some may correspond to ausweiss numbers; I'd like to see an auswess that has matrching numbers for both.