Original Item. Only One Available. This is an excellent original German WWII State Service armband of the type worn by civilian and auxiliary personnel serving in connection with the German Armed Forces. Constructed from yellow cloth, it features a machine-embroidered national eagle clutching a wreathed swastika and retains a faded round depot or issue stamp toward the lower right side.

This is an excellent condition embroidered example, which looks to have seen only light use during the war. This armband is a textbook Bevo-style machine embroidered armband, with a very nice Reichsadler (State Eagle) clutching a wreathed Swas (Hook Cross). To the lower right it has a very nice round depot stamp, which is now very faded and difficult to transcribe. The armband measures approximately 14 x 4 1/16 inches, and is sewn together in the back. We can see some very minor staining and wear to one of the wings, but otherwise this has held up very well.

The strong embroidered eagle, lightly worn yellow cloth, sewn rear construction, and surviving round issue or depot stamp make this a particularly well-preserved example of German WWII auxiliary service insignia. The faded stamp and minor staining are the principal condition considerations, while the overall embroidery remains clear and visually strong.

Nearly every military, civil, political and paramilitary organization in existence during the Third Reich used armbands. Armbands were worn on military and civilian uniforms and also on civilian clothes, from suit jackets to work clothing. They were used to denote membership in organizations, to indicate a specific role or function of the bearer, and as insignia of rank. Many organizations would change the design of their armbands over time, which added to the variety produced. These were manufactured in countless variations, ranging from simple printed bands to elaborately hand-embroidered pieces of the highest quality. Some NSDAP armbands were worn by all members of large organizations and were made by the millions. Others were intended for use at a specific time and place and were unique. Many types were made in very limited numbers. Some bore metal insignia or special identifiers that indicated the wearer’s rank, unit affiliation, or nationality. Armbands were sometimes but not always marked with ink stamps by the issuing authorities.