An exceptional original Waffen-SS 22. SS-Freiwilligen-Kavallerie-Division “Maria Theresia” collar tab (Kragenspiegel). This scarce insignia ranks among the rarest divisional collar tabs issued to foreign volunteer formations of the Waffen-SS during the Second World War.
€ 450
1 in stock
An exceptional original Waffen-SS 22. SS-Freiwilligen-Kavallerie-Division “Maria Theresia” collar tab (Kragenspiegel). This scarce insignia ranks among the rarest divisional collar tabs issued to foreign volunteer formations of the Waffen-SS during the Second World War.
The embroidered floral emblem represented the 22nd SS Volunteer Cavalry Division, a formation raised in Hungary during 1944. Today, original examples remain highly sought after because relatively few were produced and even fewer survived the war.
This example features finely executed silver-grey machine embroidery on the correct black wool backing. The distinctive floral emblem remains sharply defined and displays excellent period workmanship. Furthermore, the embroidery retains outstanding detail with no evidence of modern restoration.
The reverse preserves its original tan buckram stiffener together with the correct factory stitching. Consequently, the construction matches known wartime production examples associated with late-war SS clothing depots.
The 22. SS-Freiwilligen-Kavallerie-Division began forming during the spring of 1944. Most of its personnel came from the German minority (Volksdeutsche) in Hungary and served as a cavalry formation on the Eastern Front. The division fought during the defence of Hungary and suffered devastating losses during the Siege of Budapest.
The division became associated with the name “Maria Theresia”, although historians have noted that this honorary title does not appear consistently in surviving official wartime documents. Nevertheless, the name has become firmly established among collectors and in post-war reference works.
Collectors actively seek original divisional collar tabs because they identify specific Waffen-SS formations rather than standard SS service. Moreover, foreign volunteer unit insignia appeared in far smaller numbers than conventional SS runic collar tabs.
Examples that retain their original buckram backing, factory stitching and untouched embroidery have become increasingly difficult to locate. Therefore, this collar tab represents an outstanding opportunity for the advanced collector of original Waffen-SS insignia.
The collar tab remains in excellent original condition. The embroidery retains crisp definition throughout, while the black wool backing shows only light age-related wear. In addition, the reverse remains completely untouched with its original buckram reinforcement and period stitching intact. Overall, this is a museum-quality collector’s example with outstanding display appeal.
For further historical information, visit the Imperial War Museums, the German Historical Museum and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum encyclopedia.
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