Questions about portraying SS Helferin

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ErikaSchneider
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Questions about portraying SS Helferin

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Post by ErikaSchneider » 29 May 2015, 22:38

Greetings all! I’m just getting into reenacting, and I am still in the process of finding information about my impression. I am with a late war unit and I would like to do an SS Helferin impression. I am by no means an expert, but I would like to make sure that my impression is as correct as it can be. I haven’t come across many others who portray SS Helferin, or I would have asked them these questions in person first!

Forgive me if some of these things have been mentioned elsewhere. I have done some reading and haven’t yet come across answers to these questions so I figured I would inquire here just to make sure that my information is correct. I hope that this thread will help other reenactors as well.

Many thanks in advance!


1) the white kerchief in the pocket – was it mandatory? What kind of kerchief was it?

2) I assume it would be incorrect to wear stockings for a late war impression, and Helferin during this time probably wore ankle socks instead?

3) I am trying to figure out a way to combat the problem of destroying footwear in muddy camps. I realize that this would not have been a problem for actual Helferinnen, but I must go from point A to point B and I either destroy my shoes or go barefoot. I am wondering if there might be a period correct alternative? What would Helferin have worn in the wintertime from getting to point A to point B? Regular 1940s winter boots?

4) So only instructors at the school wore the "Reichsschule" cuff title? Who wore the “SS Helferin” cuff title? I have seen photos of women with no cuff title.

5) In 1943, Himmler gave the order that SS Helferin were not to wear the eagle on the blouse – did they wear it there before? I have never seen an example.

6) Would all Helferin from every branch (including SS) have dog tags? What information would have been included?

7) Paper ID examples seem a bit hard to find examples of. What would have been carried?

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