Waffen-SS Collar Tabs:
The first SS Collar tabs or "Kragenspiegle", were introduced in August 1929 and were based on those of the SA. Like their successors, early examples were black and featured rank insignia on the left collar, or both collars for Standartenführer and above, with unit designations on the right. However, they were far from formalised and were sometimes even "home made" sizes and shapes differed considerably and the attendant numerals, pips, bars and oakleaves varied in construction from crude to white or grey embroidery to fine silver wire and a whole range of metals. By 1932, SS collar tabs had become fairly standardised at about 40mm x 55mm, and their production was limited to contracted manufactureres. Collars for Standartenführer and above were thereafter universally made of black velvet, while those for lower rank were in a wool, folded over a cardboard or canvas base.

With the increasing recruitment of non-Germans into Waffen-SS after 1940, Himmler became concerned about the use of the SS runes insignia by those not racially suitable for full SS membership, and he instructed that such recruits should wear some other form of badges on the right collar tab. The SS thereafter designed and issued a range of appropriate collar tabs for its foreign units.

1st type.