Free Speech in France
3 July 93 Dear I.H.R., While reading The ‘Confessions’ of Kurt Gerstein by Henri Roques , I realized that there is a serious problem with the book’s cover photo of Gerstein. Gerstein, in a typical period studio portrait, is shown wearing collar tab insignia ( Kragenspiegel ) which does not correlate with the time frame alleged. The collar tab that Gerstein is wearing originated as the collar insignia for SS- Standarte 2 “Germania” of the SS- Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT).
At the end of 1939, the SS-V.T evolved into the Waffen-SS (W-SS). SS-Standarte 2 ” Germania “, now SS-Regiment ” Germania “, was attached to the new SS “V”-Division, later known as 2. SS-Panzer Division “Das Reich”. By mid May 1940, the ” Germania ” collar tab was discontinued and was replaced with the Siegrunen (double-rune) collar tab, minus the unit (Standarte) number 2.
Nevertheless the old style collar tab continued to be worn, against regulations, by some officers and enlisted ranks and may even have been issued to deplete existing stocks, although the latter is unlikely. In any case, the old style collar tabs were only issued to the men of “Germania” and not to any other unit. After May 1940 wearing of the now non-regulation collar tab would have been short lived.
By the end of 1940 SS-Regt. ” Germania ” was transferred to the newly formed 5.SS-Division ” Wiking “. Now