{"id":14525,"date":"2024-02-09T15:37:11","date_gmt":"2024-02-09T23:37:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiquesarmsandarmor.com\/?p=14525"},"modified":"2024-02-09T15:37:11","modified_gmt":"2024-02-09T23:37:11","slug":"ss-vt-wss-totenkopf-button-side-cap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiquesarmsandarmor.com\/index.php\/militaria\/insignia\/german-military-insignia\/ss-vt-wss-totenkopf-button-side-cap\/","title":{"rendered":"SS-VT\/WSS Totenkopf Button, Side Cap"},"content":{"rendered":"

Description:<\/b> \u00a0 <\/span>Die stamped, unmarked final version of the totenkopf cup button; pebbled background with a high relief, embossed skull painted in a feldgrau color instead of the previous bright-aluminum for use with the SS-VT\/ WSS style uniform side cap. <\/span>Mint unused. <\/span><\/p>\n

Background: <\/b>A month after the purge of the SA on the “Night of the Long Knives” June 1934, the SS was rewarded by Hitler by being granted the status of an independent organization under direct control of the NSDAP. In an attempt to distance themselves from the SA, in October 1934 the SS introduced a new pattern cap skull to replace the previously used Imperial Danziger style (jawless) style skull. Originally the overseas cap skull was produced as a metal button that was affixed to the front center of the cap. First made of bright nickel, then white aluminum and lastly feldgrau painted for the newly forming SS-VT, precursor to the Waffen-SS. Regulations in 1939 introduced a machine woven cloth version that was utilized for the duration of the war.<\/span> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n