Personalities of the “Leibstandarte”:
SS-Hauptsturmführer, ‘Theodore Wisch’:
Theodore ‘Teddi’ Wisch was born at Wesselburener Koog in Holstein on 13 December 1907. He joined the ‘SS’ in 1930, and after serving for some time as an NCO in SS-Standarte 53 we were commissioned an SS-Sturmführer in July 1933. By this time he was attached SS-Sonderkommando Berlin. In October of that year, he was further promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer, and by the outbreak of WWII, he was in command of 1. Sturm (Company) of the ‘Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler’. During the Polish campaign, Wisch won both classes of the Iron Cross.
SS officers had the option of purchasing formal-dress uniforms, such as this Mess-Dress, with a civilian-like cut tail coat (without the tails) worn with a white or black bowtie and waistcoat. This uniform also featured silk-faced lapels, SS shoulder boards, collar patches, a Totenkopf Breastpin (only ever used on this type of uniform), and white piping (broad silver-grey trouser stripes of general officers). Officers were also permitted to wear the white SS-visor service cap with this uniform. The uniform is shown as it would have appeared at the end of the Polish Campaign, with his newly awarded Iron Kross I and II as well.
I can’t explain how this part of the collection came together, they just sort of doo, made its category, and represent some uniform possibilities rather than factual but I like them, and tell a story.
Ritterkreuzträger SS-Hauptsturmführer, Rudolf von Ribbentrop 6./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 ,,LSSAH:
Rudolf von Ribbentrop was the son of the German diplomat and Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop. Joining SS-Infantrie Regiment “Deutschland” the day Germany invaded Poland, 1. September 1939 and fought in Holland in 1940. Earning the Eiserne Kreuz II. Klasse u. Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz he was promoted to Sturmmann. Following the Western Campaign, Ribbentrop was sent to the SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig in order to gain training as a platoon leader. He was commissioned on 20. April 1941 as an SS-Untersturmführer.
First given command of a platoon in 1. Kompanie in the Aufklärung Bataillon “Nord" fighting in Finland. Wounded a second time, upon recovery he was re-assigned to the newly formed Panzer Regiment 1 “LSSAH” on the Ost Front. On 15. Juni returned to field command and was appointed commander of 6. Kompanie. Fighting, and being wounded yet again, Ribbentrop was awarded the Ritterkreuz for leadership and bravery in Juli 1943.
In August “LSSAH” transferred officers and NCOs to become the cadre of the newly formed 12. SS Panzer Division “Hitlerjugend”. Ribbentrop was put in command of two Junior officer training courses. Four months later he was appointed commander of the 3. Kompanie, I./SS-Pz.Rgt. 12. On 3. Juni 1944, heading back to Le Neubourg following a training exercise, his car was attacked by a Spitfire, and von Ribbentrop was wounded for the fourth time.
By 9 Juni, he was back in command of his Kompanie. During the defensive battles in Normandy, Ribbentrop was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz In Gold and the Panzerkampf Abzeichen. Following the breakout from Falaise, von Ribbentrop was made the Regimental Adjutant to SS-Panzer-Regiment 12. It was in this capacity that he saw action during Operation Wacht Am Rhein.
On 20. In Dezember he was wounded for the fifth time with a shell fragment in his mouth. He was given command of I./SS-Panzer-Regiment 12. He commanded this Abteilung until the division surrendered to the Americans on 8. Mai 1945. Made from Russian cotton cloth the Ost Bluse was worn by von Ribbentrop and many others. It is worn with a Feldmütz für Offizier.
SS-Obersturmbannführer, Joachim Peiper, l./ SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolph Hitler":
Peiper's history is too long to cover in this area. He was a long-term SS officer, fighting on all fronts, surviving the war to be murdered in France in the 70s. A Knight's Cross winner with the additional awards of Oak Leaf and Swords, Peiper was a long-term warrior of the SS.
The uniform speaks for itself with campaigns from the Sudatenland to Russia. Peiper's awards included the German Cross in Gold, the Close Combat Clasp in Silver, the Iron Cross I and II Class, the Infantry Assault in Bronze for Armored Infantry, and the Tank Destruction Badge.
The uniform insignia is all officer-quality embroidery. Matching black wool panzer trousers are worn with the SS-style cut jacket. This uniform is matched with a panzer piped Schirmmütze.
SS-Sturmbannführer, Heinrich Kling, Commander 101 Panzer Battalion.
Heinrich Kling was an SS-Sturmbannführer the equivalent of which is a Major in most armies, but in the Waffen-SS (very different than most armies, and it was formed for political reasons). His SS number was 39 402, and he was assigned to the Liebsandarte-SS Adolf Hitler.
In the Autumn of 1942, the 1st SS Motorised Division LSSAH was upgraded to the status of Panzer-Grenadier Division, and a 13th Company was added, equipped with Tiger Tanks. The 13th Company was to be commanded by then SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain) Heinz Kling.
Training in Paderborn in Germany, and then in Ploermel in France with the new tank the Pz.Kfw. VI Ausf. E Tiger (It later became known as the Tiger I) In late 1943, LSSAH was transferred back to do their work on the Eastern Front.
While in command of the II./ Battalion, SS-Panzer Regiment 1 on the 29th December 1943 he was awarded the German Cross in Gold and then awarded the Knights Cross on 23 February 1944. He later went to command the 101st Schwere Panzer-Battalion “LSSAH” where he stayed till the end of the war, by the end he had scored a total of confirmed 51 tank kills to his credit.
While under his command the men of the 13th Company had more Knights Cross recipients than any other panzer company and had such famous crewmen as SS-SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann (with 138destroyed enemy tanks, and at least 132 antitank guns), and SS-Unterscharführer Franz Staudegger (the 1st Tiger commander to be awarded the Knights Cross, having destroyed 22 tanks on 8 July 1943), and also SS-Rottenführer Balthasar Woll (who had been Wittmann’s gunner) and later commanded his own tank., and SS-Obersturmführer Helmut Wendorff.
Kling could well have had one of these custom-leather jackets made as a private purchase item. Showing only his rank and divisional affiliation the jacket provides Kling with protection from the elements, as well as abrasion and fragments. No awards were placed on the jacket, a practical thing, as they can easily hang up on the edges of the hatches, and all kinds of things in the interior, and would tear the jacket when they did catch on something, and break the badges or rip the cloth, and the last thing you need to worry about if exiting the vehicle after it took a hit! or if your searching for the enemy through tiny vision slits. He wore just the Knights Cross at his throat, and that says enough right there.
I’d be the first to call “BS” here, But as will all the uniforms on the site, there is a pile of research behind this uniform, and we don’t fix them up these uniform’s and take the time to get them squaring away, without a lot of researching on them.
The fact that the collection continues to grow, is largely due to the odd-ball uniforms, although, there was a tone of similar uniforms, like the M-36s, that multiplied the collection, all done using real shoulder boards I had. Sometimes, we assume they did something when there is just no photographic evidence of them, so they don’t get on the site then. In this case, it’s been pretty hard to find any pictures of a custom leather wrap, but there is this one that shows two Heer-Panzer commanders in it. Many claims to have been in use, but are the leather U-Boot jackets in use, with the 12th SS, and some with the 1st SS-Panzer Crewmen in Normandy? One or Two show leather wraps, but with no use of insignia, this seems quite a likely situation as it is hard to sew threw the leather. This is another of the uniforms I should re-shoot pictures of, with a nicer Officer Schirmutz cap. The picture at the bottom is Heinrich Kling, and the second picture is leather wraps on decorated Heer, Wehrmacht Officers. Rare uniform for sure, but leather would have been preferred with chainmail over it, during the First World War, had they not been way too hot, and locked in an exhaust smoke-filled hull, the bullets went through anyway, it is quite debatable.
Unterscharfuhrer, Michael Wittmann, Sturmgeschutz Abt. 1. SS Division "LAH Adolph Hitler":
Michael Wittmann is a legend of the armor warrior. The son of a farmer, he became an SS officer through merit and metal. Before the SS divisions became Panzer Divisions the only armor assigned were recon armored cars and assault guns. Wittmann began with the Reconnaissance Vehicles, but the legend starts with him as a commander of an assault gun. He served in an early StuG III with the short-barreled 75mm weapon. The SS style cut in Feldgrau here is piped in red for artillery branches, as these guns were just that, then, supposed to be mobile artillery for use as close support for the infantry and against bunkers.
However, the value of tank killers was soon noted and exploited. Wittmann had participated in prewar campaigns, and fought in Poland, France, and the Balkans, but then came Russia and it was a completely different proposition an overwhelming one. He would use his Sturmgeshutz as not a support gun, but in using thought-out tank traps, and with hit-and-run tactics against the Russian Armored Forces, he effectively pounced on the enemy, lined up for just a moment- and dashed away, worked for him and his crew to deal with the enemy armor best they could. For this, he was recognized, promoted, and sent to officers’ school, then brought to train on the Tiger Tank. This shows his uniform before the first Russian winter of 1941-42. He has been awarded the I and II Class Iron Cross, the Tank Battle Badge, and the Black Wound Badge. He will be awarded the Russian Campaign Medal as well as others.
Panzer-cut Feldgrau wool trousers would be issued with this uniform, but here we have reed green HBT summer weight, not an entirely uncommon situation with StuG crewmen, and battle, dealing with being to hot or freezing conditions. The NCO crusher with cloth visor is piped in red for Artillery. Im showing the mothing holes it received, it was in a box, under the house, but they still got to it. several uniforms were eaten, and some list ribbons and the like that way. I could change ribbons, but not fix the holes on it, so we’ll call them, burn holes from battle, bummer though.
Michael Wittmann at (OCS):
Untersturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann proved his leadership in combat and was sent to officer training in 1942. After graduation, he was assigned to train the new tank units being formed for the new SS Panzer Divisions. Coming out of school and prior to assignment to a tank unit, he would have worn a standard service uniform piped in artillery red. Later this uniform would change to the rose piping of the panzer arm. Michael Wittmann's service uniform shows his military history to 1943.
Wittmann had participated in prewar campaigns of the Sudetenland and Austria, then Poland, France, the Balkans, then into Russia. This shows his uniform prior to the first Russian winter of 1941-42. He has been awarded the I and II Class Iron Cross, the Tank Battle Badge, and the Black Wound Badge. In 1942 he was awarded the Russian Campaign Medal and the Bulgarian Soldiers Cross of the Order of Bravery II Class. The service uniform is worn with Feldgrau breeches and boots. With this uniform is a standard Waffen SS officer cap with a soft visor and chin cord. (I originally had a Red Piped Crusher with the cloth visor, and a crusher cap, but the piping on it shrunk up like crazy like and tweaked the darn thing out …. still have it, and has been even used with a couple of uniform photoshoots, as it was available at the time, but leaves something to be desired.
This uniform and several others somehow, while in one of the storage sheds it had been stored in, was attacked by mites or something, and they went after the ribbons, woven or wool areas, thread around button holes and such, total bummer, but I re-made the ribbons (that he rarely wore in photographs) and insignia, and the little stuff best I could, but these things happen.
Hauptsturmfiihrer Michael Wittmann 1st SS Panzer Division "Adolf Hitler":
Third, in the series of Wittmann's uniforms in your collection, this uniform is post-1943 as he rolled up his reputation as the greatest tank ace of all time. The black Panzer uniform shows Wittmann's military history. Wittmann had participated in prewar campaigns of the Sudetenland and Austria, then Poland, France, the Balkans, then into Russia.
This shows his uniform prior to the first Russian winter of 1941-42. He has been awarded the I and II Class Iron Cross, the Tank Battle Badge, and the Black Wound Badge. In 1942 he was awarded the Russian Campaign Medal and the Bulgarian Soldiers Cross of the Order of Bravery II Class. The panzer uniform is cut in black, in the tradition of the Hussars. The panzer uniform is worn with a shirt, open at the collar showing Wittmann's Knight's Cross and Oakleaf. He wears a standard Waft en SS officer crusher cap
Wittmann’s Leather jacket:
This would represent Michael’s last uniform thought to have been worn the day of his death. As he rode off on his final mission, knowing his days were numbers as well as the 3rd Reich’s. He tried to protect Germany from the on-slot he knew damn well was coming, with The English Forces, Canadians, and the rest under the UK command, as well as American, and Free Frech forces.
It was staggering odds, let alone where he had come from with the Russian masses also supplied by the English and Americans! it was a bit overwhelming, to say the least, and it had to be clear that Hitler would not give into them either, the Italian forces had crumbled, and the war had been a slaughter for all involved.
Ritterkreuzträger , SS-Unterscharführer Balthasar ”Bobby” Woll:
Balthasar "Bobby" Woll, an SS-Unterscharführer, was the only tank gunner during the war to be awarded the Knight’s Cross.
Born in Wemmetsweiler on 1 March 1922 after schooling and finishing his apprenticeship as an electrician, he reported on 15 August 1941 as a volunteer for the Waffen SS. He was posted as a machine gunner to the 3. Kompanie 1. / SS Totenkopf Infantry Regiment.
Woll was wounded during the fighting at the Demjansk Pocket and sent to hospital in Germany. While recovering from his wounds he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class and the Wound Badge in Black in July 1942.
After his recovery Woll retrained as a tank gunner and at the end of 1942 posted to the 13. / Kompanie, SS-Panzer Regiment 1, 1. / SS-Panzer Division, “Adolf Hitler” where he met his new commander Michael Wittmann.
By the time of Operation Citadel, were one of the best tank crews in the division, and in September 1943, he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class, having destroyed 80 tanks and 107 anti-tank guns and promoted to SS-Rottenführer.
Woll was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, in January 1944 the 1st and only tank gunner to receive the award, and promoted to SS-Unterscharführer.
During the combat in Normandy Woll was given his own tank to command, thus becoming the only member of the crew to survive the destruction of Wittmann’s Tiger. In October he was promoted to SS-Scharführer. Wounded again he survived the war.
Two of Woll’s uniforms are represented in this collection. First is the standard SS cut black wool armored uniform as worn on the Russian Front. Woll wears lower-rank shoulder boards with LAH slip-on cipher. The double rank stripe as well as the double chevron denote his rank at that time as SS-Rottenführer. He wears his complete decorations of Knight’s Cross, Iron Crosses I & II plus the Panzer Assault Badge and Wound Badge. On the left sleeve it the SS service eagle and “Adolf Hitler” cuff title. With this, he wears the enlisted Feldmütz, cartridge belt, and buckles with black wool armored crew trousers.
Bobby Woll’s 44-dot Wrap:
The second part of this collection is Woll’s late-war camouflage uniform. Cut to wear either as a summer uniform or over the black uniform in cold weather, this was very popular with panzer troops who now often found themselves fighting on the ground without their Panzers. Woll and other LAH Panzermanner have added shoulder boards and medals to their uniforms.
In Woll’s case he wears SS-Unterscharführer boards with slip-on LAH ciphers. He wears his Knight’s Cross, Iron Cross II, Panzer Assault and Black Wound Badges.
Major, Gustav Knittel:
SS-Brigadefuhrer, 1st SS-Panzer Division:
SS-Brigadefuhrer, I.SS-Panzer Division "LSSAH" Formed in 1934 as a bodyguard unit for Hitler the 1st SS grew into a Panzer Division in Italy in 1943. The Division fought on all fronts except Afrika, including the Normandy Invasion. Always in the thick of things, this division grew several combat leaders. The division ended the war on the Eastern Front. This officer's tunic is made from the standard Heer or Army field service uniform.
Officer grade bullion insignia has been added. The shoulder boards have the gold divisional LAH ciphers mounted matching the cuff title. This officer served in the armored units of the First World War, like the division's premier commander Otto "Sepp" Dietrich. His combat Leadership is proven, and he’s been awarded the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd CLass for leadership under fire. Remarkably lucky this man was only wounded after a very long time on the field! He has the silver bullion SS-Officer National Eagle displayed on the Left Sleeve.
This uniform is more a general representation, rather than a particular fellow, and as so, has been fooled around with over the years in the way of decorations, and details. So I don’t know if there was a real fellow like this. It was dolled up for a couple of photo shoots in the past.
