Deutschland Regiment:
SS-Mann, I./ SS-Standarte, “Deutschland”:
SS-Standarte “Deutschland” was formed in 1934 as Standarte 2/Verfügungstruppe from Politische Bereitschaft Württemberg, Politische Bereitschaft München, and Hilfswerk Schleissheim (Austrian Volunteers). It was soon renamed SS-Standarte 1 / VT when Hitler ordered that the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler would not be included in the numbering sequence. It was renamed Standarte Deutschland at the Parteitag at Nuremberg in 1935, and at the same time, it also received its Deutschland Erwache Standard.
The command of this unit was transferred to the Army during the mobilization in October 1938. It participated in the Annexation of Austria and later the occupation of the Sudetenland. It was in Bohemia and Moravia in March 1939. Hitler ordered that it should be expanded into a Division, but it was postponed when the War broke out. It took part in the Invasion of Poland while attached to the Panzer-Division Kempf, and following that campaign, it was used to form the SS-Verfügungstruppe (which was later renamed Das Reich).
This SS Soldier wears the first-pattern VT uniform, which was noticeably different from the Heer-pattern tunic of the period in that it did not have the bottle green stand and fall collar, as it was meant to be worn open with a shirt and tie, and matching wool trousers. This uniform also has lower slash pockets and a back fitting much like the Black SS tunic. He wears black leather Y-stap “web-gear” and belt with an enlisted buckle, over his smock, along with his bread-bag, water flask, and gas mask container. Stuck in the belt is a stick grenade, and he carries the 96K 7.9mm rifle, along with black hob-nailed marching boots.
The uniform seen here is covered in the “Plain Tree” Camouflage Smock, also used on his helmet’s cloth cover. The SS camouflage patterns had been designed by Johann Georg Otto Schick, an art professor in Munich and the new director of German SS-Camouflage research, as requested by SS Major Wim Brandt, in command of the SS-VT Reconnaissance section. These early 1937 blotch, or spot pattern, reversible smocks were tested by the SS-Standarte Deutschland. They used the “Pain Tree” (blotch pattern) with a green dominant “Spring Pattern” on one side, and a brown dominant “Autumn Pattern” on the other. A year later, this became available for the helmets in the form of a cloth cover that fit over the front edge, and had 3x spring hooks around the back to attach it firmly to the helmet.
A note to all the Black and White pictures at the bottom: Notice all the variations of the insignia as the uniform evolves, but they were just before this one, and they were evolving by the month, it appears.
SS–Unterscharfüher. Ewald Ehm, 16. Panzerpioneerabteilung “Deutschland”:
Historical data about SS-Unterscharführer Ehm is slim. What is known about him is that he was a bold and aggressive leader and combatant, and was the commander of the 16. Kompanie of the Panzerpioneerabteilung of the 2. SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Das Reich” in early February 1943. Part of the III. Bataillon of the Abteilung fought with SS Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment “Deutschland".
He was recognized as the first member of the division to single-handedly destroy a 58-ton T-35 tank in August 1941 near Yelnja. In February 1943, he was awarded the Eiserne Kreuz I. Klasse for his decisive leadership in mounting a counter-attack against a Soviet night attack. Ehm moved his troops quickly through eight different positions, deceiving the enemy into thinking his Kompanie was a regimental-strength unit. Out in front during the attack on Otrada on 19 February, Ehm and his men located and marked mines to ensure the regiment's armored spearhead could attack without major casualties.
At Kharkiv, on 12 February, Ehm and his men were one of the first divisional units to penetrate the western edge of the Red Army defense. On 22 February, Ehm individually destroyed another Russian tank, and then on the 24th at Pavlograd, Ehm and his group broke into a strong point of about 50 Russians and wiped them out to the last man in bitter hand-to-hand combat.
Ehm was awarded the Deutsche Kreuz in Gold in September 1943 and was then sent to officer training. He returned to his old command as an SS -SS-Untersturmführer. Wearing the wartime Dienstanzug Model 1940 while sitting for his DKG portrait, he wears a white piped Schirmmütze für Unterführer. He may well have had a black piped Feldmütze für Unterführer for field use.
“Added Pictures” SS-VT Deutschland, “Customised Smock”:
Again, sorry, there is no story other than it’s a modified battle smock. The SS were the first armed forces to use camouflage to a large extent and as an issued item, but it was with helmet covers and their shelter quarters. Then came the Smock, customized smocks, and 4-pocket jackets came from there. Last-minute issue uniforms were coming out all over with whatever patterns were available then.
But it’s worn with just a shirt now, no jacket underneath, it’s like a windbreaker jacket. This was not standard practice by any means and was non-regulation and with the use of the company tailor, or a locally acquired one. These things did happen, generally from necessity, and this is one of those overlooked ones.
The Smock was, as I said, a garment to be worn over the uniform with all the gear. This Smock was now the coat, and likely his gear would have been worn over this. , with the Green side out of the SS-Oak Pattern. It’s been customized with the zipper, though; a collar was added, and shoulder boards with the later-war subdued tress, and over them, cipher slides (loop) with a white chain-stitched “D” centered on them.
The uniform has adapted 2 caps for use with it, an oak-pattern camouflage M40 type hat, and a light-summer-weight overseas cap, with typical SS insignia. Both would be acceptable, but even more so would be a Steel Helmet, with a similar pattern camouflaged cover on it. The Trousers were wool, but as it seems, it was a time of warm weather, he could have had a set of HBT trousers and low boots rather than the marching boots.
