(SA) Sturmabtielung:

SA Officer:

OMG, what a whole other can of worms! I’ll get a story in here, but they disappeared as Hitler came into power.

SA Officer #2:

“Story back” SS~Mann, 18th Panzer Artillery, 18. Panzer-Grenadier Division “Horst Wessel”:

Formed in Hungary in 1944, mainly of “Volsdeutsche” (Ethnic Germans, not living in Germany), the division was an expansion of the 1st SS-Motorized Infantry Brigade, which had been fighting in the East since 1942. The Division was named after an early NAZ Party hero who was killed in the street, fighting German Communists. It was a fully equipped decision. “Horst Wessel” was finally ended in the fighting around Prague.

This SS-Mann wears a standard SS cut feldgrau armored uniform complete with the “Horst Wessel” cuff title. A new soldier, but he has already seen enough action to be awarded the General Assault Badge. Wearing an M43 cap, by this time, has become the cap of choice (I’ve added an overseas cap, as this was still fairly common, and the helmet needed a home, and often used by self propelled artlillerymen, as they were often open topped vehicles, that were converted from captured tanks, with the upper hull having a 75mm and 76mm weapon installed on them. These “open-cab” assault-gun troops also commonly wore their camouflaged smocks, of shelter quarters in while sitting in the vehicle, as there was little heat, and they were exposed to the weather as well.