History

Foreign volunteers serving with the Waffen-SS were divided into ethnically based formations, although oftentimes several ethnic groups or nationalities were combined into a single unit. Arm shields were used to identify the nationality of a unit's members and they often incorporated a nation’s flag or a relevant cultural or ethnic symbol.

The shields were worn on the upper or lower left sleeve, although eastern troops often wore the shields on the right sleeve.

Initially, many of the shields were produced locally but the manufacturing process was later standardised by the RZM. All officially produced shields were machine-embroidered and the majority were produced by the firm Tröltsch & Hanselmann, Berlin.

There are often numerous versions or patterns of a sleeve shield.

Around 15,000 Italians were members of the Waffen-SS and the majority served in the 29. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (Italienische Nr. 1). The arm shield for Italian volunteers features a fasces, a bundle of sticks with an axe head, an ancient Roman symbol repurposed by the Italian fascist movement.