History

The 27th SS Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division ‘Langemarck’ was formed from the 6th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade ‘Langemarck’ and gained status as a division in September of 1944. Although it was redesignated as a division, its strength never grew past that of a brigade. The division was primarily composed of Flemish volunteers.

Foreign SS volunteers were not permitted to wear SS runes and instead, they were issued collar tabs that were unique to their division. The divisional collar tab was worn on the right side of the tunic and a rank collar tab was worn on the left side. The division’s collar tab featured a three armed swastika.

The collar tabs were produced by covering parallelogram shaped pieces of buckram with black cloth. The collar tabs were then machine-embroidered with white/silver thread. Officer grade tabs may have been embroidered using aluminium wire. There are examples of Officer grade collar tabs that are piped with twisted aluminium cord.