SS RANK INSIGNIA.

Insignia badges of rank for all SS members were worn on the collar until WW2 when Wehrmacht shoulder straps were also worn. The rank was on the left collar by all ranks up to and including Obersturmbannführer, and on both collars by Oberführer's and above.

The badge on the right collar worn by all ranks below Oberführer was either a deaths head (Totenkopf) or SS runes General & later Waffen-SS, The patch was left blank for SD personnel which wore a 'diamond' shaped cloth patch with the letters 'SD' on the lower left sleeve cuff (see below 'Specialists"). Commandants of KZ's also had a small "K" denoting "Kommandant" beneath the skull (Totenkopf).

During WW2, (on uniform without shoulder straps like camoflage dress), Wehrmacht/W-SS rank was worn on the sleeve in a different pattern. NOTE: The deaths head was not used after 1943 except for Totenkopf Regiments. In the KZ Camps a blank patch was worn for a period and later the SS runes were used like all other SS! SS Police units had their own collar patches.

According to regulations, all officers had white piping on their head dress, including the side cap, whilst general officers had silver piping. General ranks also had grey lapels on their greatcoats.

Arm of service colors (Waffenfarbe) was worn as piping on the shoulder straps the same as for the Wehrmacht, with additional colour brown for Concentration Camp staff.

Unofficially, some officers and OR's wore colored piping on the peaked cap, but according to regulations piping on the peaked cap was always white and not in the arm of service color.

Specialists (like the SD) wore a diamond shaped badge on the left cuff.

In the W-SS, a Stabsscharfuhrerdiensttuer, (known as a SPIESS)-in English, an Acting Sergeant Major, was identified by two silver cuff-rings could be worn by NCO's below this rank. In this case permanent rank insignia was worn.