Waffen SS Oberst-gruppenfuhrer Josef
“Sepp” Dietrich
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Oberst-gruppenfuhrer Sepp Dietrich Sepp Dietrich was one of
Hitler’s favorites from the early days, acting as an organizer of SS
districts as well as personal bodyguard to Hitler. In 1933 under the direction of
Hitler, Dietrich began assembling the first SS Guard units of Dietrich was at times a
controversial figure, both among his peers and the Allies, his fellow
Generals often of the opinion that he was inept as a commander, and the
Allies viewing him as a war criminal for responsibility in the treatment of
prisoners of war. Dietrich was known for exercising
the prerogative of a high ranking officer in his use of very distinct,
non-regulation insignia that set him apart from other General officers in the
SS. Regulation required SS
Generals to use silver (or aluminum) colored insignia for all embroidered
eagles, cufftitles and piping.
Dietrich, however, utilized custom made gold arm eagles and
cufftitles, as well as gold piping around the crown of his caps…all
typical regulation for Heer army Generals, but certainly not SS. It is this penchant for unique insignia
and accoutrements that makes Dietrich an interesting study for collectors. |
Dietrich’s
Oberst-gruppenfuhrer Insignia
(Wolfe-Hardin collection)
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Sepp Dietrich was
one of only two men in the Waffen SS that were promoted to the rank of Oberst-gruppenfuhrer,
or Generaloberst (Colonel General), which was the highest General officer
rank in the SS. The insignia was
not worn until very late in the war, August of 1944, which by combination of
the rarity of the rank and the late issue, makes this an incredibly scarce
rank to encounter as a collector. |
Shoulderboards
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Dietrich’s shoulderboards
for Oberst-gruppenfuhrer consisted of army style
General officer shoulderboards of interwoven gold bullion cord and an inner
aluminum cord. These were backed
with a light gray branch color underlay, which was the underlay color for all
General officers in the Waffen SS.
The three aluminum rank pips indicate the rank of
Oberst-gruppenfuhrer, or Generaloberst.
Notice the residual black uniform material on the boards, indicating
that this set was removed from Dietrich’s black panzer wrapper. |
Collar
Tabs
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A pair of right (top) and left (bottom) collar tabs for
the rank of Oberst-gruppenfuhrer.
These were removed from the same uniform as the above shoulderboards
and show much age and corrosion to the aluminum threads. |
Arm
Eagle
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This is the very unique SS arm eagle that was created
specifically for wear only by Sepp Dietrich. SS regulation required that all SS
officers and Generals wear aluminum or silver embroidered eagles on their
uniforms. Dietrich, for whatever
reason, chose to have special insignia made utilizing gold embroidery similar
to what his peers as Generals in the Germany Army (Heer) used. |
Cufftitle
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Another unique and personality defining element of
Dietrich’s insignia was his use of a gold embroidered regimental
cufftitle. To achieve this, a
standard officer’s aluminum cufftitle was used as a template, and then
gold bullion thread was embroidered over the top of the aluminum
lettering. Likewise, gold brocade
piping was embroidered over the top and bottom aluminum piping. The close up image below shows detail
of how this was accomplished. |
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Headgear
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Dietrich also exercised a rather unique flair in his
headgear, reflected on this crusher cap in the departure from regulation by
the addition of gold piping to the crown and cap band, as well as gold chin
cord and buttons. (Wolfe-Hardin) |
Dietrich’s
Obergruppenfuhrer Insignia
(Wolfe-Hardin)
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Dietrich displayed the rank of Obergruppenfuhrer on his
uniforms from July 1934 until August of 1944, the rank of which is shown in
the grouping above by two pips on the shoulderboard. |
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The army style General officer shoulderboards were worn by
the Waffen SS Generals from 1939 until the end of the war in 1945. |
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Another example of a custom made gold arm eagle that was
unique to Dietrich. |
Sepp
Dietrich Obergruppenfuhrer Uniforms
(Wolfe-Hardin collection)
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Dietrich’s winter coat that was used during the
years on the Russian Front. The
coat was customized by the addition of plastic buttons, as the metal snap
buttons would freeze shut in the brutal Russian cold. |
Dietrich’s overcoat with the typical Waffen SS
General officers light gray lapel facings, and the additions of his unique
insignia. |
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Yet another variation on the gold arm eagle, with black
highlight threads. |
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Obergruppenfuhrer shoulderboards of the slip-on variety. |
