einsatzgruppen uniform

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muller3
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Joined: 03 Jul 2007, 21:14
Location: Chicago, IL

einsatzgruppen uniform

#1

Post by muller3 » 11 Jul 2007, 17:21

What patches would a member of the einsatzgruppen wear? Also what decals would be on their helmets?

Thank You

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mty
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Joined: 21 Oct 2003, 00:24
Location: Finland

#2

Post by mty » 14 Jul 2007, 17:02

EG were officially titled as Einsatzgruppen der Sicherheitspolizei und SD. In practice their manpower came from a vast pool: Waffen-SS, Schutzpolizei, Gestapo, Kripo, SD and Wehrmacht. Thus their personnel can be seen wearing quite a mixture of different uniforms. During the Polish campaign; EG units were only staffed by Sipo and SD members and thus wore grey Allgemeine-SS uniforms with SD sleeve diamonds and blank right collar tabs. I think that was also the official EG uniform still during the East Front campaign but some EG members retained their old police or even army uniforms. Also many foreign auxiliaries kept wearing their specific insignia.

If one would need to portray a typical EG member for display purposes, then a good choice could be either an open-collar tunic (A-SS style) or a field grey Waffen-SS tunic with blank SS collar tabs, SD sleeve diamond either with or without piping, M35 steel helmet and marching boots. EG officers almost always had their background in SIPO/RSHA and would thus wear SD sleeve diamond usually with piping along with toxic green shoulderboards (or post-1942, police style shoulderboards) and white-piped infantry officer's peaked cap or SS officer style side cap.
Usually no cuff titles were worn. There are not too many photos available on this subject but I suggest you to take a look at "Field Men" by French McLean and "German Security & Police Soldier" (Osprey Warrior series, nr. 61 / Gordon Williamson) since they have some.

Hope this helps a bit,
Mikko


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