Gents,

For your inspection and enjoyment, the first SS uniforms, the Hussars ...

Some of you guys will remember that great ZZ Top tune, eh? nice ... no really fellas,
that's the deal. All of the designs for this stuff were there years before 33-45.

Thanks to our for-sale dept. and Polizist for this fine old print. Quite original and quite reasonably priced, thanks L! (I did do a little scanning & re-touching but that was fun.. )

This scan was gigantic and crazy to get to this size, but I hope worth it...??

Do you guys think the SS were modeled after this elite imperial unit?
Any thoughts, better still, any good photos?

Thanks!

Bill

Willi you old dog, I wondered who that print went to. Nice work in it

Hi Bill,
Here are a few more Hussar pictures. These are from the book "Deutschlands Heer und Flotte" published in Chicago in 1900. The book is huge (14"x18") and is printed in both German and English.
Caption for this one is
"Husar Leibgarde"

Here is another titled "Rittmeister, Husaren Leibregiment Nr. 1"

quote:

Do you guys think the SS were modeled after this elite imperial unit?

There does seem to be a family resemblance! ~ Ian

A bit off topic, but thought you might find this image interesting.
This is from the publication "Die deutschen Einigungs-Krieg, 1864-1871.
Image is titled "Wilhelm I., deutscher Kaiser und König von Preußen".
Check those muttonchops!

Denny,

Thanks for adding those great images - wouldn't it be great to have an original painting of something like that in one's collection?

Barry,

Thanks for that, do you own a copy of this book? I'd imagine it would be quite a visual treat, eh? The registration of the printing
on this page was quite good, I'd hope the rest of book were this nice? That would be something to spend an afternoon with...

Hope some of you gents would add some insightful commentary to the color/insignia/design-theory of mine? Did the Hussar uniform-insignia have a big influence on Himmler's choice of graphics?

I think many of us would like to hear opinions on this ... or am I just whistling 'Dixie...?'

Great luck to all collecting this summer season!

W~

Denny,

Oh dot Willi ! I wonder if Vidal Sassoon did his hair? ... my!

W~

Bill, what I have is a 6"x8" reprint. Although in color, it omits the descriptive narrative at the bottom your print has. It was reprinted by Belmont-Maitland Publishers in London. There are 12 color plates in total.No reprint date. I'm sure that uniform colors and insignia of the 1st,2nd and 17th hussars had their influence on the original concept of the SS.