Waffen-SS Cuff Title “Theodore Eicke”, Totenkopf Rgt 3.
Price: Sold
Description: 1943 Totenkopf Rgt 3, “Theodore Eicke” Full length, machine woven, black rayon construction cuff title with BeVo, machine-woven, Latin script, “Theodor Eicke” in silver-gray silk threads. The cuff title is bordered at both the top and bottom edges with interwoven, vertically stitched, silver-gray silk threads. The full length cuff title has folded over, machine stitched, ends and the typical “salt & pepper” pattern reverse of the bevo weave..
BACKGROUND: Although considered extremely radical and impetuous by some, Theodor Eicke was to play an influential role in the SS right up until his death in February 1943. Eicke had originally joined the NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei,, and the SA, Sturmabteilung, on December 1st 1928, transferring to the SS, SchutzStaffel, , on July 29th 1930 and quickly gained promotions and increasingly important positions within the organization. On June 26th 1933, with the rank of SS-Oberführer, Eicke was assigned as commandant of the Dachau concentration camp and with strict disciplinary measures was able to transform the guard units into an elite force. On July 4th 1934 Eicke was appointed as Inspector of all concentration camps and guard units and seven days later he was promoted to the rank of SS-Gruppenführer. In March 1936 as Inspector of concentration camps, the SS-Wachverbände, fell under Eicke’s command, were given independent status from the Allgemeine-SS, and were renamed, SS-TV, SS-Totenkopfverbände, These SS-Totenkopfverbände personnel would eventually become the cadre of the 3.SS-Panzer-Division “Totenkopf” on its formation in October 1939 with Eicke as its first commander. On April 20th 1942, while leading the Totenkopf division Eicke was promoted to the rank of SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS and was awarded the Oak-leaves to his Knight’s Cross. On February 26TH 1943 Eicke was killed near Michalowka, Russia when his observation plane was shot down. As a result of his death the personnel of the SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 3, of the 3.SS-Panzer-Division “Totenkopf”, were allotted a cuff title in his honor on March 15th 1943, (Retroactive to March 2nd).
