In 1934 the SS Special Detachment groups (SS-Verfügungstruppe or SS-VT) began wearing a combination of RZM, Austrian, and World War I M1917 and M1918 model helmets.  Overall, the number of helmets available to the SS-VT was very low.  Relegated mainly to surplus helmets, the SS-VT initially painted their steel helmets a satin black.  These helmets were identified by two hand painted or stenciled insignia.  On 12 August 1935 Heinrich Himmler introduced new insignia consisting of a double runic shield and a National Socialist Party decal.  As the need progressed, many helmets were repainted field-gray and updated with a new runic decal.  In some cases a National tricolored shield representing the German Armed Forces (Wehrmacht) was used.  Some early variations of the NS-Party decal were also manufactured with a more rounded bottom.  By 1936 the dual insignia of the SS had now been standardized through the use of mass produced decals.  In 1937a revised version of the runic shield was introduced in limited numbers.  This version often designated the "second model" runic shield, was not used on the older model SS-VT helmets.  Rather it tended to be used mainly on the new model M1935 combat helmets that were in limited supply.

Approximate	Right Side	Left Side
Dates	Mobile Swastika1	Runic Emblem1
Beginning 1934 to mid-1935
	Runic Shield	Tricolored Shield2
Beginning mid-1935 for a short time only
	Runic Shield	NS-Party Decal
After August 1935
	Runic Shield	NS-Party Decal Variant3
Early variation circa 1935-1937
Notes:
1 Hand painted or stenciled only
2 The black/white/red colored shield of Germany
3 A decal with a more rounded bottom than the standard version as verified by original examples and period photographs

Overview

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This Information Track provides historical facts pertaining to steel helmets worn by the SS Special Detachment groups (SS-Verfügungstruppe) from 1934-1940.  Individual links related to this subject are outlined below.

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