History

Foreign volunteers serving with the Waffen-SS were divided into ethnically based formations, although oftentimes several ethnic groups or nationalities were combined into a single unit. Arm shields were used to identify the nationality of a unit's members and they often incorporated a nation’s flag or a relevant cultural or ethnic symbol.

The shields were worn on the upper or lower left sleeve, although eastern troops often wore the shields on the right sleeve.

Initially, many of the shields were produced locally but the manufacturing process was later standardised by the RZM. All officially produced shields were machine-embroidered and the majority were produced by the firm Tröltsch & Hanselmann, Berlin.

There are often numerous versions or patterns of a sleeve shield.

There were around 20,000 Frenchmen in the Waffen-SS and the majority served in the 33. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS 'Charlemagne'. French volunteers wore an arm shield that featured the French national colours. Some variations feature horizontal stripes and others feature vertical stripes.

A variation of the sleeve shield features the word “France” along the top of the insignia.