History

In July of 1940, the SS-Verfügungstruppe was officially renamed the Waffen-SS. Uniforms that were issued prior to this date will be included in the SS-Verfügungstruppe section. These uniforms include: the SS Black Service Uniform, SS M35, SS-VT drill uniform, SS-VT M36, and the SS-VT M37.

The predecessor organisation of the Waffen-SS, the SS-Verfügungstruppe, entered the war wearing the M36 uniform. The M36 tunic can be readily distinguished by its box-pleated patch pockets and dark green stand-and-fall collar, which features black and silver piping. All future Waffen-SS uniforms were simplifications of this model.

In 1937, a black Army-issue uniform was introduced for armoured vehicle crews. The uniform was also issued to members of SS-VT and LSSAH armoured units, who would attach the appropriate SS insignia.

By 1940, the number of SS armoured units had increased greatly and as such, the SS decided to produce their own version of the black panzer uniform. The SS panzer tunic, or panzer wrap, differed from the Army issue jacket in many ways. Unlike the Army pattern, the front opening of the SS pattern jacket is cut vertically down and is fastened closed with hidden buttons; the points of the SS collar are rounded, while the Army-pattern collar is pointed; and the back of the SS tunic was manufactured with a single panel of fabric, while the back of the Army-pattern tunic was manufactured out of two panels of fabric that were joined with a seam. Officer grade tunics feature aluminium piping on the collar.

The majority of commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers wore enlisted grade tunics and attached Officer quality insignia.

The black SS uniform was not modified in any way until near the end of the war when the amount of material used was decreased to shorten the manufacturing process. The composition of the tunics may vary due to supply shortages that occurred throughout the war. Late period panzer tunics were often lined with black rayon or a cotton blend.

Panzer crew members often wore the black panzer tunic with a random mix of camouflage clothing.