The Himmler's SS (63 page)

This Waffen-SS recruiting poster by O. Anton was the best known German poster of the Second World War, being printed in a number of different languages and displayed prominently in public places throughout the occupied territories.

A Waffen-SS officer's classic ‘old style' or ‘crusher' field cap, which was custom-made in Italy in 1943. It bears the trade mark 'Successori Fare – Milano/Roma/Toreno/Modena', and features a leather peak and narrower than usual black velvet band. This pattern of cap came to be the mark of the veteran Waffen-SS officer.

Sturmbannführer Hermann Buchner of the SS-Tofenkopf-Division was one of the ‘heroes' of the Waffen-SS, winning the following awards before he was killed in action outside Warsaw in November 1944: (a) Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross; (b) German Cross in Gold; (c) Iron Cross 1 st and 2nd Classes; (d) Close Combat Clasp in Gold; (e) Wound Badge in Gold; (f) Infantry Assault Badge in Silver; (g) Demjansk Shield; (h) War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords; (i) Russian Front Medal; (j) Czech Occupation Medal with Prague Castle Bar.