Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII right collar tab for the 15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, “Latvian No. 1,” or 15. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (lettische Nr. 1). It is constructed from black badge cloth with a silver gray machine embroidered Latvian sun emblem, wrapped around and stitched to a tan lacquered buckram stiffener. The tab measures approximately 1 5/8" by 2 1/2" and appears to be unissued, with no visible evidence of having been sewn to a uniform.

The embroidered device consists of three stars within a rayed flaming sun, arranged diagonally across the face of the tab. The motif derives from an early Latvian national emblem adopted in December 1918 and used during the country’s first period of independence.

The black cloth is wrapped neatly around the buckram stiffener and secured on the reverse by intact stitching. This construction style is commonly associated by collectors with late war SS insignia production and with unused stocks recovered from warehouses and camp complexes after the war. No documented recovery history accompanies this individual tab, however, so any such specific provenance remains unconfirmed.

Condition is very good overall. There are no visible stitch holes, tears, stains, or areas of cloth loss, and there is no indication that the tab was ever mounted to a uniform collar. The embroidery remains mostly crisp and well defined, the black badge cloth is clean, and the buckram retains its shape. There is only minor discoloration and light fraying to the embroidered insignia from storage and age.

With its distinctive Latvian sun and three star emblem, silver gray machine embroidery, black badge cloth construction, intact buckram backing, and apparently unissued condition, this is a strong example of a German WWII 15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS “Latvian No. 1” right collar tab. The light embroidery discoloration, minor fraying, and lack of documented warehouse or camp recovery provenance are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Latvian volunteer formation, Waffen-SS collar tab, Baltic WWII insignia, or advanced German cloth collection.

The 15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Latvian), (German: 15. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (lettische Nr. 1), Latvian: 15. SS grenadieru divīzija (latviešu Nr. 1)), originally called the Latvian SS-Volunteer Division (German: Lettische SS-Freiwilligen-Division, Latvian: Latviešu SS brīvprātīgo divīzija) was an infantry division of the Waffen-SS during World War II. It was formed in February 1943, and together with its sister unit, the 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Latvian) formed the Latvian Legion.

During Operation Barbarossa, German Army Group North occupied the Baltic states. Germany began taking heavier manpower losses throughout 1942. To make up for this, the Waffen-SS was expanded, and on 23 January 1943, Adolf H gave his approval to Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler to form a Latvian Legion. He wanted to make use of the Latvians, who were strongly opposed to Bolshevism.