Original German WWII Embroidered Waffen SS Estonian Volunteer Shield Sleeve Insignia Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a textbook example of WWII German Estnisch Freiwillige Waffen SS Ärmelabzeichen (Estonian Volunteer Waffen SS sleeve insignia). It is constructed of Blue, Black, and White machine embroidery, which are the colors of the Estonian flag. The insignia measures approximately 2 3/8″ x 1 7/8″, and is embroidered onto black “Badge cloth. These were usually sewn to the sleeve of the uniform.

We have heard that many of these were made at the Dachau camp, and many unissued examples were recovered at the end of the war when the camp was liberated. There is however no concrete evidence regarding this.

The insignia is in excellent condition, most likely unissued, and was never attached to a uniform. Ready to add to your collection!

The Estonian Legion (Estonian: Eesti Leegion, German: Estnische Legion) was a military unit within the Combat Support Forces of the Waffen SS during World War II, mainly consisting of Estonian soldiers. The formation was announced on 28 August 1942 by the German occupying powers in Estonia and formally established on October 1, 1942. Oberführer Franz Augsberger was nominated to be the commander of the legion and the later 3 Estonian SS Volunteer Brigade. 500 volunteers had appeared and signed up for the Legion by October 13, 1942. In the spring of 1943 additional men were drafted from the police forces and the number rose to 1,280.

The first 800 volunteers were made into Battalion Narva, which was eventually superseded by the 3rd Estonian SS Volunteer Brigade, which was “volunteer” in name only, as it was mostly conscripts. 

By January 1944 the German military situation in the Eastern front had worsened so far that a general conscription call was announced in Estonia on February 1, 1944. In the hopes of restoring the independence of Estonia the last prime minister of Republic of Estonia Jüri Uluots gave his support to the draft. As the result about 38,000 men were conscripted, the units of Estonian Legion, the Finnish Infantry Regiment 200 were returned to Estonia and were reformed into the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian).