Original Item. Only One Available. This is a very nice German WWII Waffen-SS national sleeve shield intended for Dutch volunteers serving in German Waffen-SS formations. The shield is constructed on a black wool backing and features the distinctive orange, white, and blue colors associated with the Dutch volunteer contingents.

When oriented for wear, the three colors form horizontal bands of orange over white over blue. The use of orange rather than red is particularly characteristic of this insignia. Although the official flag of the Netherlands had been formally established as red, white, and blue in 1937, the older orange-white-blue Prinsenvlag, or Prince's Flag, retained strong historical associations with the Netherlands and was adopted prominently within Dutch collaborationist circles during the German occupation. The orange-white-blue combination consequently became closely associated with Dutch volunteers in German service.

Dutch volunteers served in several Waffen-SS organizations during the war. The SS-Freiwilligen-Legion Niederlande was established in 1941 and was subsequently reorganized as the SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Brigade "Nederland." In February 1945 the formation was redesignated the 23. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Nederland" (niederländische Nr. 1), although it remained essentially brigade strength.

This example displays the familiar machine-embroidered construction on a black wool shield-shaped base. The color embroidery remains strong, the surrounding black wool border remains well defined, with the minor irregularities to the trimmed edges expected on this type of cloth insignia. Overall, it presents very nicely and retains excellent visual contrast between the three national colors and the dark backing.