Some very cool pictures...

[-=Grenadier=-]

estonian SS soldiers in Tartu (10.02.1944)

estonian SS officer Harald Riipalu...wearing SS collar tab

[antwerpx]

Beautyful pics!

[HPL2008]

bulls***...i have a lot of original period photos where estonians are wearing SS runes!

Well, it is correct that generally only "Germanic" SS formations were allowed to wear the runic collar patches, the others were supposed to wear a "blank" right hand collar patch or a special version.
It is, however, also a fact that these regulations were often ignored; many photographs exist of foreign "non-Germanic" Waffen-SS troops wearing runic collar patches.

[-=Grenadier=-]

here are some more period pictures from my collection...all soldiers on the pictures are estonians and one with blank collar tabs

[CHRISCHA]

You have some very nice photos there.

[-=Grenadier=-]

thanks

[Tapani K.]

Grenadier, one of the pitures is named Lellest pärit (pärast sõda oli kommunist).jpg. Sounds interesting. Do you have any more info of his post-war (or war-time) career?

regards,
Tapani K.

[-=Grenadier=-]

i know that he died some years ago and that's all...but i can ask from one man who might know

[Tapani K.]

That would be very interesting. Suur tänu.

regards,
Tapani K.

[vogelbird]

Very nice photographs you have submitted there Grenadier. They go to prove that there were and are always exceptions to the rules. I take it at least part of your collection has an Estonian slant?
Regards Vogelbird

[-=Grenadier=-]

yes i'm very much interested of estonians in german army (Wehrmacht, Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe) and i'm looking these items such has insignas, pictures and things like that.

[Snafu]

Well, it is correct that generally only "Germanic" SS formations were allowed to wear the runic collar patches, the others were supposed to wear a "blank" right hand collar patch or a special version.

Hm, I've never been that very interested in uniforms and that sort of thing, so I'm no expert, but could it not have been that "allowed", like in the SS jealously guarding some 'rune privilege' on ethnic grounds, is simply a superfluous term here? Maybe it was simply that foreign volunteer formations, like the two Estonian Waffen-SS grenadier divisions for example, were only meant to wear special collar badges, but because of material scarcity and chaotic war conditions they were often just issued normal SS-private insignia instead?
Thus, no 'rune prohibition' was ever involved?

By the way, as I've recently been to the "lost battalions" homepage, I've learned a lot abot German uniforms (...err) and can inform you all that another sign of these men being issued army uniforms is represented by the eagle chevron worn by some above the right chest pocket. Waffen-SS was supposed only to have the left arm eagle. Too bad because I think it looks real sharp.

[Tapani K.]

The matter of Estonians wearing runes in collar was discussed in this thread some time ago:

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... sc&start=0

Another matter: Rebane's battalion was transferred to the SS from the Wehrmacht and many of them wore some Wehrmacht items for some time after the transfer.


regards,
Tapani K.

[-=Grenadier=-]

that is why i posted the pics to show these SS soldiers wearing some WH insignas
this is alfons rebane battallion!!!

[Mak Los Mien Schnitzel]

Did you say that they were wearing wehrmacht helmets? How can you tell? (I see no black/white eagle nor tricolour)

in fact the only pic appears (I could be wrong, pic aint clear) to be a swastika shield, heer shield was dark on the outside of the shield...