Cuff Title - Types

Types

• Unit Cuff Titles - These generally referred to the name of a division, although some regiments also had distinctive titles.
• Branch of Service Cuff Titles - These identified those who served in a specific branch of service like the military police and war correspondents. The cuff title of the Feldgendarmerie (Military Police) wore a distinctive cuff title, often in conjunction with a unit cuff title, if entitled.
• Campaign Cuff Titles - Participation in some campaigns, such as the Kurland, Crete or North African campaigns (seen right), was recognized by the award of a special commemorative cuff title.

There are several hundred patterns of cuff titles known to have been used; some units had several unique patterns. Among the more interesting designs were:

• The 3rd SS Division Totenkopf had a version of their cuff title that was only a skull and crossbones design.
• The 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler had "Adolf Hitler" written on their cuff title in the German Sütterlin script. Contrary to a common belief, the design did not bear any resemblance to Adolf Hitler's signature.
• The British Free Corps had a cuff title in block Gothic script with the name of the unit in English (Any found in German are post-war fakes).
• The "Afrikakorps" cuff title (unique in being worn by an entire corps) was worn informally as a campaign title until replaced with an "Afrika" cuff title bearing that name as well as depictions of palm trees. (seen right)