Description
On August 28TH 1942 the German’s called for volunteers in occupied Estonia to come forward and fight along side them in the battle against Bolshevism. Enough Estonians volunteered to raise three battalions which in early 1943 formed the basis of 1. Estnischen SS Freiwillingen Grenadier Regiment, (1ST Estonian SS Volunteer Grenadier Regiment). Additional volunteers and those Estonians transferred from the German army furthered the expansion of the unit to brigade strength in early 1943 and to divisional strength on January 24TH 1944. Estonian nationals were authorized the wear of an identifying sleeve shield to be worn just below the SS eagle on the upper left sleeve of the uniform.
Textbook unissued example of their Type 3 shield variants. German manufactured, officially sanctioned pattern, black wool construction, flat topped, rounded bottom, shield shape base, features a machine embroidered, shield with a pointed bottom tip with three, horizontal, bars in the Estonian national colors of blue, black and white.
