Waffen SS Oberst-gruppenfuhrer Josef “Sepp” Dietrich 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 aluminium cufftitle was used as a template, and then gold bullion thread was embroidered over the top of the aluminium lettering. Likewise, gold brocade piping was embroidered over the top and bottom aluminium piping. The close up image below shows detail of how this was accomplished.
Waffen SS Oberst-gruppenfuhrer Josef “Sepp” Dietrich Dietrich’s Obergruppenfuhrer Insignia 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 shoulderboards.
Waffen SS Oberst-gruppenfuhrer Josef “Sepp” Dietrich The army style General officer shoulderboards were worn by the Waffen SS Generals from 1939 until the end of the war in 1945. Another example of a custom made gold arm eagle that was unique to Dietrich.
Waffen SS Oberst-gruppenfuhrer Josef “Sepp” Dietrich Dietrich’s overcoat with the typical Waffen SS General officers light grey lapel facings, and the additions of his unique insignia.
Waffen SS Oberst-gruppenfuhrer Josef “Sepp” Dietrich Sepp Dietrich Insignia Grouping
Waffen SS Oberst-gruppenfuhrer Josef “Sepp” Dietrich Sepp Dietrich Insignia Grouping
Waffen SS Oberst-gruppenfuhrer Josef “Sepp” Dietrich 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)
Waffen SS Oberst-gruppenfuhrer Josef “Sepp” Dietrich
Obergruppenfuhrer Werner Lorenz Obergruppenfuhrer Werner Lorenz Werner Lorenz was personally recommended to Heinrich Himmler by Rudolf Hess to head up the “Germans Abroad” front as head of the Repatriation Office For Ethnic Germans, or VOMI. As such, he was personally responsible to Himmler and worked vigorously to establish a firm SS presence in all foreign relations. As leader of the VOMI, Lorenz had his own office and was responsible not only for the resettlement and "home-bringing" of ethnically German foreigners and German minorities abroad, but also for the "Germanization" of foreign children. Lorenz also worked vigorously to establish a firm SS presence in all foreign relations, often working in tandem with Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop.The incredibly rare evening dress jacket belonging to Lorenz that is profiled in this chapter is yet another example of how many rare artefacts can still be found “out of the woodwork”. This jacket surfaced at a U.S. flea market in 2007.
Obergruppenfuhrer Werner Lorenz
Obergruppenfuhrer Werner Lorenz Allegemeine SS style General officer shoulderboards in aluminium cord. A beautiful example of the brocade fabric that makes up the very rare cufftitle worn only by the Reichsfuhrer-SS Head Office Chiefs.
Obergruppenfuhrer Werner Lorenz 1 st Pattern SS Generals collar tabs with a single pip, indicating the rank of Obergruppenfuhrer.
Obergruppenfuhrer Werner Lorenz Above. This very rare breast badge that was created solely for use on the formal dress jacket. Typically these have a section of red felt behind the eyes, which was missing when this jacket was found. Left. The Honour Chevron, for members who joined the SS or party prior to
Obergruppenfuhrer Werner Lorenz This is the closure button and chain for the front of the jacket, with a silver wash which has finely aged. Lorenz’s original Iron Cross 1st Class, from World War I.
Obergruppenfuhrer Werner Lorenz The tailors tag with Lorenz’s name inscribed, by Holters, the finest tailor in Berlin. Werner Lorenz wearing the evening dress jacket.
Konteradmiral Karl-Jesko von Puttkamer Konteradmiral Jesko von Puttkamer As Hitler’s naval adjutant representing the Kreigsmarine, Jesko von Puttkamer was at the Fuhrer’s side throughout the war. Most famously, he was injured in the July 20 plot to kill Hitler and was presented with the July 20 Wound Badge, given only to those injured or killed in the assassination attempt. As naval adjutant, Puttkamer was part of Hitler’s inner circle and present for most high level military meetings as well as many of the social obligations. He served Hitler right up until the end of the war, being given the order to go to the Berghof and destroy all of Hitler’s personal papers. While Puttkamer did achieve rank of Admiral and had an important position as adjutant to Hitler, he had a rather modest naval career. He served on a heavy cruiser during WWI, spent time on torpedo boats during the 1920’s and was a frigate captain prior to WWII. His true talents were evidently in staff work as from 1933 until the end of the war he served as a liaison to the Reich Chancellor. The grouping shown in the following pages all came directly from Admiral Puttkamer himself. The late collector Bill McClure purchased this entire group from Puttkamer in the early 1970’s and until 2015 these items had only resided in one other collection. It is fully documented with all paperwork and customs papers from Puttkamer as well as letters from McClure and the previous owner. It is probably one of the most well-documented militaria groupings of the Third Reich.
Konteradmiral Karl-Jesko von Puttkamer Puttkamer’s white summer tunic, with removable insignia.
Konteradmiral Karl-Jesko von Puttkamer The shoulderboards from the white tunic…..the gold bullion is still nearly as bright as the day it was issued, thanks to careful preservation.
Konteradmiral Karl-Jesko von Puttkamer The removable hand embroidered breast eagle. Puttkamer wearing the white tunic.
Konteradmiral Karl-Jesko von Puttkamer Puttkamer’s Full Leather Coat
Konteradmiral Karl-Jesko von Puttkamer Puttkamer’s favoured leather overcoat which he wore all the way through the war and into captivity. It was a Heer issue coat, not available to the Kriegsmarine at the time Puttkamer acquired it, so he replaced the Heer buttons and added Naval buttons to it, all of which he documented in a letter to McClure.
Konteradmiral Karl-Jesko von Puttkamer Left. Puttkamer’s Frockcoat and dress brocade belt. Right .Puttkamer’s blue reefer jacket for daily wear. Note the blue coloured feet on the hand embroidered breast eagle (which was resewn, as Puttkamer had de-nazified his uniforms and put the eagles in the pockets).
Grossadmiral Karl Donitz Karl Dönitz (16 September 1891 – 24 December 1980) was a German admiral who played a major role in the naval history of World War II. Dönitz briefly succeeded Adolf Hitler as the head of state of Germany. He began his career in the Imperial German Navy before World War I. In 1918, while he was in command of UB-68, the submarine was sunk by British forces and Dönitz was taken prisoner. While in a prisoner of war camp, he formulated what he later called Rudeltaktik[2] ("pack tactic", commonly called "wolfpack"). At the start of World War II, he was the senior submarine officer in the Kriegsmarine. In January 1943, Dönitz achieved the rank of Großadmiral (grand admiral) and replaced Grand Admiral Erich Raeder as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. On 30 April 1945, after the death of Adolf Hitler and in accordance with Hitler's last will and testament, Dönitz was named Hitler's successor as head of state, with the title of President of Germany and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. On 7 May 1945, he ordered Alfred Jodl, Chief of Operations Staff of the OKW, to sign the German instruments of surrender in Reims, France. Dönitz remained as head of the Flensburg Government, as it became known, until it was dissolved by the Allied powers on 23 May. At the Nuremberg trials, he was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment; after his release, he lived quietly in a village near Hamburg until his death in 1980.
Grossadmiral Karl Donitz Grossadmiral (Grand Admiral) Karl Donitz’s blue uniform and visor cap (private collection)
Grossadmiral Karl Donitz Grossadmiral (Grand Admiral) Karl Donitz’s blue reefer jacket
Grossadmiral Karl Donitz Grossadmiral (Grand Admiral) Karl Donitz’s blue reefer jacket (Ron Molinari collection)
Grossadmiral Karl Donitz Baton of Kriegsmarine Grossadmiral Karl Donitz Grand admiral Donitz’s baton, courtesy the Shropshire Regimental Museum, Shrewsbury, United Kingdom. Photographs courtesy David Bloor.
Grossadmiral Karl Donitz