9th SS Division 'Hohenstaufen'


Head
• M40 Helmet: £45 – EB (MN, EM, RAU, NM, SoF)

Uniform
• M40 Pattern Tunic: £29 – SH (MN, EM, EB, RAU, NM, SoF)
• M42 Pattern Trousers: £30 – SH (MN, EM, EB, RAU, NM, SoF)
• HBT “Erbsenmuster” (Dot 44) Pattern Tunic: £38 – SH (MN, EM, EB, RAU, NM, SoF)
• HBT “Erbsenmuster” (Dot 44) Pattern Trousers: £30 – SH (MN, EB, EM, RAU, NM, SoF)

Insignia
• BeVo collar insignia on M40 tunic, free with tunic from: SH (MN, EM, RAU, NM, SoF, RS)
• BeVo sleeve eagle on Dot 44 tunic: £10 - MN (EM, RAU, NM, SoF, RS)
• BeVo “Hohenstaufen” Cuff Title (M40 tunic, unseen): £4 - MN (EM, RAU, NM, SoF, RS)
• RZM sleeve eagle (M40 tunic, unseen): Free with tunic – SH (MN, EM, RAU, NM, SoF, RS)
• Black shoulder boards with white edging (M40 tunic, unseen), free with tunic – SH (MN, EM, RAU, NM, SoF, RS)

Feet
• Cut down British Army BCH boots to mimic German lowboots: £20 - EB
• Post-war Bundeswehr Gaiters: £3 – EB (SS)

Belt Order
• Leather belt: £20 – SoF (MN, EM, RAU, NM)
• SS Belt Buckle: £15 – SoF (MN, EM, RAU, NM)
• 2 x MP40 magazine pouches: £25 – SoF (MN, EM, RAU, NM)
• Leather yoke: £25 – SoF (MN, EM, RAU, NM)
• Bread bag: £15 – SoF (MN, EM, RAU, NM)
• Mess tins and strap: £5 – EB (MN, EM, RAU, NM, SoF)
• Bayonet frog: £10 – SoF (MN, EM, RAU, NM)
• Gasmask Tin and straps (original): Circa £40 – EB (MN, EM, RAU, NM, SoF)

Weapons
• AGM MP40: £100 – AH (RSOV)
• K98 Bayonet (original): Circa £70 - Militaria Fair (NM, EM, RAU, SoF)
• MP40 Sling: £20 – SoF (MN, EM, NM ,RAU)

Also
• Neckerchief, white cotton: Charity shop

Notes
All prices stated are approximate. Those in brackets are alternative suppliers, who may be more expensive. Also try Militaria Fairs – you can sometimes find some real gems amongst the piles of kit. If you know what you’re doing, eBay can sometimes turn up the odd bargain as well.

When it comes to purchasing Waffen SS clothing, remember that the feldgrau tunics are supposed to have a tailored fit. The same does not apply to the Dot 44 tunic and trousers. These should be large enough to go over the feldgrau uniform in winter, but are used on their own in summer, with a characteristic “baggy” look to them.

Key to retailers
MN: Militaria-Net (UK)
http://www.militaria-net.co.uk
EB: eBay.co.uk (UK)
http://www.ebay.co.uk
EM: Epic Militaria
http://www.epicmilitaria.com
RAU: Richard A Underwood (UK)
http://www.richardaunderwood.com
NM: Northern Militaria (UK)
http://www.northernmilitaria.com
SS: SueSue (eBay) (UK)
http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/suesue66/
SH: Spearhead (eBay) (HK/Singapore)
http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/barrylyndon28
SoF: Soldier of Fortune (UK)
http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk
RS: Regalia Specialist (UK)
http://www.nicholasmorigi.com
RSOV: RSOV (HK)
http://www.rsov.com
AH: Action Hobbys (UK)
http://www.actionhobbys.co.uk

Note on clothing and equipment prices.
Prices stated are approximate. They can, and do, get much more expensive depending on who you do your shopping with, and the quality of the items offered for sale.


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Basis of impression

Pictured here is an enlisted soldier of the 9th SS, taking part in the ill-fated Ardennes Offensive of 1944. The newly issued “Erbsenmuster” (Dot 44) camouflage clothing was worn over the regular feldgrau tunic and trousers in the winter (as shown here) or on its own during the summer months. Our SS-Schütze is wearing an M35 helmet with a camouflage paint scheme. Although not as common as the usual SS helmet cover, it is merely a myth that all units were issued with the full range of camouflage items, and when they didn’t have any – they improvised.

The other noteworthy point about this SS soldier is that he is wearing boots and gaiters, a wartime economy measure, though senior NCO’s and Officers usually managed to get hold of the old-style jackboots.

He is armed with an MP40 submachinegun, with the six spare magazines carried in a pair of pouches that hang off the standard German belt, along with the breadbag, mess tins and other items. It should be noted that by this stage in the war most soldiers had “lost” the gas masks that were supposed to be in the tin, and they tended to be used for the carriage of additional ammo, food and personal affects. Somewhere along the way – perhaps fighting the Americans at Bastogne – he has also lost his water bottle!

History
The 9th SS Panzer Division “Hohenstaufen” was raised in February 1943, made up mostly of conscripts. It saw its first combat action on the Eastern front, and after that was withdrawn for refit in the Ukraine. After D-Day the Hohenstaufen was rushed to the western front. The Division fought at Caen, Hill 112, Falaise, Arnhem, St. Vith, and took part in the Ardennes Offensive of December 1944 alongside the 1st, 2nd and 12th SS. After the failure of the Ardennes Offensive, the remains of the 9th SS returned to Germany where they were brought back up to Divisional strength. After this it took part in Operation Frühlingserwachen (Spring Awakening), fighting Soviet forces in Hungary. Finally, the few survivors of the Division marched west and surrendered to American forces on the 8th May 1945.

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