SS Police Sleeve Diamond

Product Description: This is a very rare and desirable SS Police Sleeve Diamond. This pattern indicated an organizational assignment, and was worn by Fachführer and Fachunterführer (Officer and NCO specialists) of the “Fachgruppe SS- und Polizeiwesen” (specialist group for SS and police matters). These men were personnel of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt, the Reich security main office, and served with the higher SS and Police leaders, outside Reich territory. This sleeve diamond was instituted with an order of 1 December 1942; there were not many men authorized to wear this diamond, and it was authorized relatively late in the SS timeline, which accounts for its rarity. This one is a machine embroidered variant (Bevo woven types were also produced). It’s about 3 inches tall, and 2 inches wide. It depicts the SS runes over the wreathed eacle and swastika emblem of the German police. The embroidery is in light gray thread, on a black wool base. There is some age toning, but no indication this was ever attached to a uniform. The reverse has some glue and paper remnants, probably from having been pasted in a veteran’s scrapbook. This hard to find SS Police Sleeve Diamond is in excellent condition.

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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