Wilibald wrote:Danke vielen Egon!
I must admit that even though I consider myself reasonably knowledgeable about SS uniforms, the SS-Weisser Rock (thanks for the correct terminology) always puzzled me quite a bit...
Now your much appreciated reply brings some additional questions...*lol*
I was initially under the impression that the weisser rock was a Summer variant of the A-SS rock, which could have been used throughout the late 30s... I have seen many pictures of SA officers\leaders wearing a white tunic, and I assumed the pre-war SS had an equivalent, However, if the SS Weisser rock was so short-illed (being officially issued/allowed throughout 1939 only) that woul dmean that the few white SS shirmmutzen surfacing from times to times are part of a different uniform... which becomes more and more confusing! *lol*
So basically, if I understand well, the SS weisser rock was an OFFICER ONLY piece of uniform? No EM version as a dress uniform?
And then, what would have been the correct matching headgear\shirt\trousers? Regular schirmmutze w braun hemd (or white?) and feldgrau\erdgrau langhosen... white piped black straight legs dress trousers + shoes... OR black breeches and riding boots.. OR fedgrau breeches??? *lol* As you can see, I am trying hard to figure it all! Hope you and the other fellow board members can help me out... once again!
Gratefully,
Wilibald
Wilibald
will attempt to address the Q.'s in order.
1) Yes. the SS-weisser rock was cut in the same pattern as the black M32 bluse. Worn only between April 1 to September 30.
2) Yes. Photos can be found during the prewar period of Algemeine "fuhrers" (not sure about SA). The A-SS weisser rock was not actually officially authorized for wear, by Himmler, until 1939, along with the W-SS. However it was employed, without any apparent restriction.
3) No. The SS-VT did not have their "own" weisser rock prior to 1939, as it was technically part of the Algemeine. Use of the Algemeine version is likely, as the A-SS version was itself not "official", until the W-SS became an independent service, and got their own.
4) White "summer" SS-schirmutzen, if original, would certainly be unauthorized, private purchase items, worn against regulations. Either Algemeine or W-SS. Not part of any SS uniform. Officially.
5) Yes. Definitely Officer only for Waffen-SS. By 1939, and the official adoption, it was designated for officer summer wear only (EM's had drilich, and/or Tropical). There is some indication that "leaders" of various senior "NCO" equivalents of the Algemeine, may have bought themselves the weisser rock, when it was "unauthorized" wear. There was no EM's "weisseranzug", for service or dress wear.
6) There was actually no white "summer" uniform of any sort, dress or otherwise, for SS officers. The regulations allowed only for the jacket alone. However this did not prevent some from wearing private purchase white trousers, and/or white topped schirmutze also.
7) Regulation wear was with "undress" Ausgehanzug- White shirt, black tie, Black hosen (not breeches), Black schirmutze.
The SS-weisser rock was private purchase (from various materials) prior to 1939 by some officers in Algemeine-SS. In 1939 the official SS-Weisser Rock was authorized, for both Waffen-SS and Algemeine SS officers in regulation white linen. Authorization was withdrawn in 1940. From 1940 onwards some officers continued to employ them as private purchase, against regulations, tailored from various materials. A factor in contributing to the rarity of surviving official SS-Weisser Rocks, compared to unauthorized private purchase versions,(apart from the short period that they were made for regulation wear), was that the majority were dyed, and employed as "summer", lightweight jackets on the front lines, or for training etc.
