SS cap eagle – SS 499/42 M1/72 Zimmermann. Early 1942 cupal construction eagle with RZM M1/72 makers mark for Zimmermann. Insignia remains in near-mint condition, with only slight damage to the eagle head. Stunning near mint example that was worn on the Waffen SS caps and has both prongs still nicely crimped in. Very difficult to upgrade example!
The Schutzstaffel (SS) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany, and later throughout German-occupied Europe during World War II. It began with a small guard unit known as the Saal-Schutz (“Hall Security”) made up of NSDAP volunteers to provide security for party meetings in Munich. In 1925, Heinrich Himmler joined the unit, which had by then been reformed and given its final name. Under his direction (1929–45) it grew from a small paramilitary formation during the Weimar Republic to one of the most powerful organizations in Nazi Germany. From 1929 until the regime’s collapse in 1945, the SS was the foremost agency of security, surveillance, and terror within Germany and German-occupied Europe. The two main constituent groups were the Allgemeine SS (General SS) and Waffen-SS (Armed SS). The Allgemeine SS was responsible for enforcing the racial policy of Nazi Germany and general policing, whereas the Waffen-SS consisted of combat units within Nazi Germany’s military. A third component of the SS, the SS-Totenkopfverbände (SS-TV), ran the concentration camps and extermination camps. Additional subdivisions of the SS included the Gestapo and the Sicherheitsdienst (SD) organizations. They were tasked with the detection of actual or potential enemies of the Nazi state, the neutralization of any opposition, policing the German people for their commitment to Nazi ideology, and providing domestic and foreign intelligence.
World War 2 was one of the most significant conflicts in modern history. Millions of soldiers and civilians died in the fierce battles between the Allies and the Axis.
Tales of courage and sacrifices still live in the military artifacts that remain in our grandparents’ attics, basements, and footlockers. Iron Cross HQ is very proud to offer a wide selection of WWII uniforms, WWII field gear, weapons, medals, decorations, photos, and more, for sale at Iron Cross HQ Store. Reproduction items and originals are available for Militaria collectors and reenactors.
