collar piping

You mean 'litzen' if you mean the silver lace worn by ncos?

Collar pipping is a different thing so be careful what you buy.

Collarpiping is 'waffenfarbe' (or service colour) and varies depending on the job or branch you're in.

White = infantry
Yellow = Recce (or flying troops in the lufty)
Pink = Armour
Red = Artillary
Green = jager/light infantry

Gadge is right, its Litzen for NCO's and Tresse for officers.

In fairness probably be more useful for games as players playing officers can get confusing as the organisers normally do the comand roles and everyone will probably expect you to know whats going on

Make sure the tunics right for an nco, if you're going to spash out on a very nice tunic like that then make sure you get the right one, officers tunics and ncos tunics have a different cut & styling as far as i know. (i think the panzer uniform is the only one thats the same for all ranks)

Should add both Chris aka dog green 1 (Northern militaria) and Anthony aka The Reich Stuff (Militaria.net) both reenact and are not "just" traders I've seen them dressed up have also seen people buying their kit and know people happy with their kit/service (and thats discounting me) also means they've suffered me but thats irrelevant. They are also members of a very good reenactment group and do know the kit they are selling unlike some traders .

I think the best way to look at rank is to look at how old the person wearing it is. Would you see an 17 year old SS-Scharfuhrer? er, nope. Would you see a 60 year old SS-Untersturmführer?. Nah.

Are you fresh faced though ? or did you have a long paper round

I found and find when putting kit together its best to look at a selection of pictures for comparison, even if I settle for whats on one, to give me the broadest spectrum and reference for what I want to portray.

Am sure a quick google will bring up more pictures of like minded individuals for comparison.

I always choose an impression right for my age.

Narrows me to senior NCO, to mid officer these days.

I'm quite young looking but I'd not try and do 12ss for example it would look ridiculous on me unless i did one of the 'adult cadre'.

Perhaps a hitlerjugend cufftitle is the way forwards

Gadge makes a good point, if you're young 16-18 you will actually look historically accurate doing 12th SS, unless you were one of the old guard brought in to form the Officer and NCO cadre.

*plus* you get to choose to wear the really cool Italian pattern combat gear!

Out of interest chap, how old are you?

I'm just curious as to whether we'll be seeing you at a game soon or whether were gonna have to wait til you hit the magic *16*

Nearly 16, sounds like a 12th SS cuff title is in order!. Get your dad to badge up as one of the "old guard" from LSSAH, and boss you around all day and you're sorted

You do realise that if you badge up as 12th, then it's quite likely you'll be one of only a very small number of people who can *accurately* portray an enlisted soldier in the 12th SS? (most who do it are FAR too old for it)

jochen,
there are people who are in the london area who travel for the events.
If ever you want to go to one a bit further than you would normally go, i'm sure someone would oblige you with a lift if you wanted.

jeks