Guards at Hindenburg's tomb at the Ehrenmal at Tannenberg, East Prussia are seen here standing watch at the doors to the grave.  A large National Socialist eagle hands in the archway in the background.  A close up view of the guard's helmet insignia is shown below.

This detailed photograph shows M1935 combat helmets being worn with a large swastika insignia centered in a pointed shield.  The color of the insignia is unknown, although one can speculate the swastika is black on a white shield with red borders, which was a common format given early SA political insignia worn on helmets.  These men are members of the German Army (Heer) indicated by early 1934 style uniforms converted from Reichswehr issue.  This photo was most likely taken in 1935.

Rare and Unusual Main

Hindenburg Guard Helmets

Hindenburg Guard Photos

Appraisals

 

Some collectors speculate that the photograph shown at left is nothing more than a Reichswehr era image modified by the alteration of the original negative.  In this case they speculate that the insignia seen on the uniforms and helmets was added to the negative and therefore never having been something actually something worn.  However, this hypothesis does not take into account the fact that the men are wearing M1935 helmets, something that clearly indicates the photograph was taken in 1935 as opposed to being an image taken years earlier and then altered by the addition of a fake insignia. One final theory suggested by collectors is that the insignia is in fact an early prototype issued prior to the introduction of the Wehrmacht eagle and National tricolored shield.  In this case collectors speculate that the prototype was rejected in favor of what is commonly known today as "regulation" insignia.  However no documentation exists to suggest that prototype insignia was explored prior to the introduction of known insignia.