Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice hard to find original German WWII Army Recruitment Service or Wehrersatzdienststellen (Army Replacement Services) Armband. These were issued per the Army Mobilization Order of 1937 for members of the Wehrmacht to help identify personnel, especially non-uniformed personnel.
The armband features a machine woven, stylized, left facing, Heer / Army eagle with closed wings, clutching a wreathed, canted, swas in its talons, in black cotton threads, to the obverse center. It measures 14″ x 4″, and is sewn together in the back.
This German Heer Recruiting Service Armband is a nice one, made especially desirable by the fact as its a near excellent example with no wear, with no fraying to the embroidered insignia. Ready to display!
Nearly every military, civil, political and paramilitary organization in existence during the Third Reich used armbands. Armbands were worn on military and civilian uniforms and also on civilian clothes, from suit jackets to work clothing. They were used to denote membership in organizations, to indicate a specific role or function of the bearer, and as insignia of rank. Many organizations would change the design of their armbands over time, which added to the variety produced. These were manufactured in countless variations, ranging from simple printed bands to elaborately hand-embroidered pieces of the highest quality. Some NSDAP armbands were worn by all members of large organizations and were made by the millions. Others were intended for use at a specific time and place and were unique. Many types were made in very limited numbers. Some bore metal insignia or special identifiers that indicated the wearer’s rank, unit affiliation, or nationality. Armbands were sometimes but not always marked with ink stamps by the issuing authorities.