Waffenbrüder

second pic. of SS soldiers and their catch.

SS soldiers and fresh catch

Slightly grim-looking young member of the 4th SS Division "Polizei" in the period prior to its full incorporation into the Waffen-SS (early 1942), displaying the hybrid uniform used in the period.  No "Reich Eagle" on the right breast; rather an "SS Eagle" on the left sleeve.  "Polizei" collar patches with SS epaulettes.  One slightly unusual point - this person appears to have been of the most junior rank; however, the cloth "SS" insignia below the left breast indicates that he was a member of the SS as well as the Polizei.  From the mid-1930s, suitable SS members were encouraged to take up the Police Service as a career, and many serving Police officers joined the SS either through conviction, or for careerist reasons.  The practical result of these tendencies, however, was that there was an inverse coorelation in the Polizei between Police rank and SS membership, ranging from very low (common policemen/soldiers and noncommissioned ranks) to close to 100 per cent (highest Polizei ranks) - by 1937 at the latest, all high-ranking police personnel were SS men.  This gentleman seems a little unusual in being a basic Polizei "grunt" who is also a member of the SS.   Best regards, JR.