SS REGALIA (German military WWII) by Robin Lumsden photographs: the collection of Ulric of England

Up for auction is an extremely rare and valuable book:

SS REGALIA

by Robin Lumsden

With photographs from the collection of Ulric of England

Bison Books Ltd

1995

Hardcover

Condition:

Dust jacket: good condition, but with small tears at top and bottom on the binding side (see picture). Book: cloth cover very good, with slight scuffing on corners and binding edges; tightly bound, pages in excellent condition!! In general, wonderful condition overall!!!!!

Taken from the sleeve:

"The SS, in all of its many guises, was one of the key political-military structures of the Third Reich. It grew from a small, fanatical troop of 200 men who were Hitler's personal bodyguard, to an organization of hundreds of thousands of personnel who were involved in every aspect of German society during the war. On the battlefield SS forces were renowned for their superb combat skills; they were also synonymous with the brutalities of the concentration camps.

The SS were Hitler's ideological troops and their elite status is nowhere more apparent than in their uniforms. Himmler, Reichsfuhrer of the SS, regarded his forces as a modern incarnation of the chivalric orders and took a personal interest in their uniforms and accouterments. The lighting runes and the Death's Head badge are firmly associated with them, but these are only two aspects of a wide range of insignia, uniforms, weapons, and awards which were unique to the SS.

Right from the early days, troops of the Stabswache were set apart by their black kepi hats. The introduction of the black uniform in 1932 was an inspired decision, setting the SS apart from other troops and lending an air of both elegance and menace to a band of men once sniffingly dismissed as "asphalt soldiers". Black gradually gave way to the field gray of the other forces of the Reich from 1938, altering the political image of the SS to a more military one.

Accouterments were largely similar to those issued to the army, but certain items were distinguished by special insignia unique to the SS. Edged weapons, for example, were engraved with the motto Meine Ehre Waffen - SS sported distinctive SS rank and unit insignia. Similarly, although the SS were eligible for all the usual political political and military awards of the Third Reich, there was also as a number unique to them such as the Anti-Partisan badge and the highly prized Totenkopf ring presented tot he elite few.

SS Regalia provides a unique record of the uniforms and regalia of the SS. With an authoritative text and over 200 photographs, many specially-commissioned, it will be a valuable addition to the shelves of anyone interested in military history."

There is a wealth of information and photographs in this book, I have taken a few random shots to show the clarity... there is much, much, much more!!!

We combine shipping, so please have a look at our other items!!