This remarkable ensemble of uniform insignia and a certificate of possession constitutes a historically significant grouping directly linked to the highest echelons of the Schutzstaffel (SS). The collection comprises a pair of collar tabs, a shoulder board, a cuff title, and a Besitzzeugnis (ownership certificate) for the Ehrenzeichen der Alten Garde (Honor Badge of the Old Guard) — all associated with the rank of Reichsführer SS and attributed to Heinrich Himmler.
The Rank of Reichsführer SS
Reichsführer SS served as both a title (1925–1934) and subsequently the highest rank within the SS (1934–1945). Heinrich Himmler (1900–1945) held this position from 1929 until his death in May 1945. He was among the most powerful figures in Nazi Germany, controlling the SS, the Gestapo, and the concentration camp system. From 1943 he additionally served as Reich Minister of the Interior. His NSDAP membership number was 14,303, and he was a recipient of the Golden Party Badge. From 1934 to 1945, Himmler was the sole holder of this rank.
The Collar Tabs
The collar tabs display the unique Reichsführer SS design: three oak leaves within an open laurel wreath, executed in hand-embroidered metal thread with small metal beads sewn onto the laurel wreath. The base is black velvet with silver cord piping. From December 1, 1933, collar tabs for ranks of SS-Standartenführer and above were manufactured on black velvet rather than black wool. From 1934 onward, officer collar tabs were embroidered with aluminum wire and piped with solid aluminum twist cord. The pair remains in its original cardboard box bearing the black imprint “Reichsführer SS – Alu.” and is accompanied by an RZM seal (Plombe).
The Shoulder Board
The single shoulder board features heavy two-color silver braid on a black cloth base, with the distinctive metal device of three overlapping oak leaves unique to the Reichsführer SS. It is constructed for sew-in installation, complete with a nickel-plated shoulder button. On the black M1932 Dienstrock (service tunic), only one shoulder board was worn on the right shoulder, while two were worn on the field-gray uniform. Notably, Heinrich Himmler was the sole exception among SS generals who continued wearing silver braided shoulder boards with oak leaves after April 1942, when all other SS generals transitioned to Wehrmacht-style gold boards.
The Cuff Title
The cuff title follows the Hauptamtschef (Head of Main Office) pattern, woven in aluminum brocade with black edge borders, measuring 44 cm in full length. These rank-indicating cuff titles were worn by the Reichsführer SS, Amtschefs, and Hauptamtschefs of the three main SS offices. According to museum sources, there were only twenty Hauptamtschefs within the entire SS hierarchy. These particular rank-indicating cuff titles were discontinued in 1939–1940 and replaced with the standard “Reichsführung-SS” inscription.
The RZM System
All insignia bear markings of the Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM), the central Nazi Party procurement and quality control office established in Munich. From 1934, the RZM licensed all manufacturers and required marking of all Party and SS uniforms and insignia. By mid-1934, approximately 15,000 licensed manufacturers were registered. The shoulder board carries the label “RZM 38/36 SS,” where 38 denotes the manufacturer code and 36 the year 1936. The shoulder button is stamped “SS RZM 63,” indicating a separate licensed manufacturer. The cuff title bears an RZM/SS paper label.
The Besitzzeugnis for the Ehrenzeichen der Alten Garde
The certificate documents the award of the Ehrenzeichen der Alten Garde to “Himmler, Heinrich München.” It is dated September 10, 1933, in Bayreuth, and bears the original signature of Hans Schemm (1891–1935), Gauleiter of Gau Bayerische Ostmark. This Gau was formed on January 19, 1933, through the merger of the Gaue of Oberfranken, Niederbayern, and Oberpfalz, with Bayreuth as its capital. Schemm simultaneously served as Bavarian State Minister for Education and Culture from March 1933. He held the Golden Party Badge, was an SA-Gruppenführer, and served as the founder and Reichswalter of the National Socialist Teachers League (NSLB). Schemm perished in an aircraft crash on March 5, 1935.
The Ehrenzeichen der Alten Garde honored the so-called “Alte Kämpfer” (Old Fighters) who had joined the NSDAP or its affiliated organizations before January 30, 1933. The award distinguished these early adherents from opportunistic members who joined after the Nazi seizure of power, recognizing their loyalty during the so-called “Kampfzeit” (Period of Struggle) from 1925 to 1933.
Historical Context and Post-War Legacy
The black SS service uniform (M1932 Dienstrock) was introduced in 1932 and remained in use through 1945. The RZM markings and production characteristics of these insignia are consistent with a dating of circa 1938–1939, a period that also aligns with the discontinuation of the Hauptamtschef cuff titles around 1939–1940. Following Nazi Germany’s defeat in May 1945, all SS uniforms, insignia, and NSDAP awards and decorations were prohibited in Germany. Specific legislation, including the Law on Titles, Orders and Decorations of July 26, 1957, governs these restrictions. Such artifacts are classified as verfassungsfeindliche Propagandamittel (unconstitutional propaganda materials) under German law. Their trade and display remain legally restricted in Germany and Austria.
