Schutzstaffel unit insignia

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SS unit insignia was a form of uniform insignia used by the German Schutzstaffel between the years of 1932 and 1945. SS unit insignia was displayed on an SS member’s right collar and was worn opposite the badge of SS rank. The exception to this was in the case of those officers ranking Standartenführer and above who wore rank on both collars and did not display a unit insignia collar patch. The SS also used cuff titles, sleeve diamonds, and shoulder patches as additional versions of unit insignia.

[edit] Collar patches

Collar patch	Description	Definition
	Sig Runes	General and widely recognizable SS unit insignia. Sig Runes which were first worn by the Leibstandarte in 1933. By 1943, the Sig Runes had become the standard SS unit insignia authorized for the entire SS.
	Blank Collar Patch	Established in 1932 as the unit insignia for the SS Headquarters. From 1933-36 also the members of the SS-Totenkopfverbaende carried these badges reciprocally on their uniform collars. After 1934, became the Collar Patch used by the Gestapo and SD. After 1939, worn by all members of the RSHA and certain members of the SS-Hauptamter (Main Offices).
	Death's Head	After 1936, worn by all members of the SS concentration camp service, the Totenkopfverband. Also used after 1941 by members of SS Division Totenkopf.
	Numbered Sig Runes	Worn from 1934 to 1938 by units of the SS-Verfügungstruppe. SS(1) was worn by members of the Deutschland Regiment, SS(2) by the Germania Regiment, and 2nd SS Das Reich Regiment.
	Numbered Death's Head	Worn between 1941 and 1945 by members of the SS Division Totenkopf. The number displayed indicated the Regiment in which the SS member served. Also authorized for certain officers of the Concentration Camp service who were full members of the Waffen-SS.
	General SS Patch	Worn from 1930 to 1945 by members of the Allgemeine-SS. General SS patches displayed a members Standarten (Regiment) Number and were worn in combination with cuffbands to denote the wearers Abschnitt (Brigade) and Oberabschnitt (Division).
	Auxiliary SS Patch	Worn between 1944 and 1945 by members of the so called "Auxiliary SS", who were non-SS members conscripted to perform such duties as Concentration Camp service and administrative support.

[edit] Waffen-SS foreign legions

After 1942, Waffen-SS began forming a number of divisions composed of members from allied or conquered nations. A wide variety of "national insignia" thus developed which was worn as the standard unit insignia for Foreign Legions of the Waffen-SS.