Condition: Exc
Measurement: Approximately 2-1/2 inches tall by 1-3/4 inches wide
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Product Description: This is a beautiful, issued and worn example of the very rare SS Legal Officer sleeve diamond. It was worn by “Führer in Gerichtsdienst” (Leader in Court/Legal Service). The SS Gerichtsdienst was the legal branch of the SS; they had their own court to enforce their laws and codes, and this patch was worn by judicial personnel. It features a blossom with five petals, hand embroidered in bullion wire. It is an officer pattern patch. This was removed from a uniform and still has a couple of small threads from the stitching used to affix it to the uniform sleeve. The bullion embroidery is of the highest quality, very neatly rendered, and showing some wear from use. The backing material is typical black SS wool, with a textbook buckram stiffener visible on the reverse. There are some spots of old glue on the reverse as well. This SS Legal Officer sleeve diamond measures approximately 2-1/2 inches tall by 1-3/4 inches wide, and remains in excellent condition. It’s a very desirable relic of the SS justice system.
Historical Description: The uniforms worn by the various SS branches before and during WWII used a variety of insignia to indicate rank, unit assignment, and role, including collar tabs and shoulder boards, cuff titles, and sleeve diamonds. The sleeve diamonds were initially authorized in October 1935. Each had a distinctive letter, symbol or emblem, with its own unique meaning. SS sleeve diamonds were used to indicate which SS organization the wearer was assigned to, specific roles of SS personnel, special achievements such as proficiency in sports or marksmanship, or to recognize former service in other Nazi Party organizations. Some diamonds were specific to certain SS branches, such as the Allgemeine-SS, Waffen-SS, or the SS-Totenkopfverbände. Other sleeve diamonds could be worn by a member of any SS branch. The materials and construction of original sleeve diamonds varied. Some were either hand-embroidered or machine-embroidered on black wool, while others were “Bevo” machine woven on a rayon base. Generally, silver-gray thread embroidery was used for enlisted ranks and NCOs, while officers wore hand embroidered wire bullion. Diamonds could be edged with silver-colored twisted wire cord for officers, or black and silver twisted cord for NCOs. Originals existed with paper or cloth RZM tags on the reverse, or were unlabeled. In total, there were dozens of different types and variations of these made between 1935-45. Some were produced in limited numbers, and others are more commonly encountered today, but all are desirable and collectible pieces of SS regalia.
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