German army accidentally issues uniforms with 'SS' labels

  • Defence ministry said the initials were meant to be an acronym, for 'small, short'
  • 'SS' appeared on helmets, sleeping bags and waterproof jackets issued to troops
  • The initials are associated with the Schutzstaffel (SS), Adolf Hitler's bodyguard 

By Tom Brown For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

The German army has mistakenly received uniforms with 'SS' labels appearing on them after a 'production problem'.

The initials were originally intended to be an acronym for 'small, short' on the smallest uniforms, according to The Jewish Chronicle.

The 'SS' acronym appeared on helmets, sleeping bags and waterproof jackets issued to troops.

The German Federal Ministry of Defense has since ordered the combat equipment removed, and did not release pictures of the uniforms.

The initials are associated with the Schutzstaffel (SS), originally established as Adolf Hitler's personal bodyguard before turning into the enforcement arm of the Third Reich.

FILE PHOTO: A Nazi SS Party members badge is pictured. German uniforms with the label 'SS' appeared in army headquarters because of a 'production error'

FILE PHOTO: A Nazi SS Party members badge is pictured. German uniforms with the label 'SS' appeared in army headquarters because of a 'production error'

German law bans any Nazi-era iconography, even prohibiting 'SS' license plates from cars.

The Ministry of Defense staff apparently did not realise how the abbreviation might look when worn by the Germany army.

The ministry said it does not know how many items were produced with the initials, but said the error was not widespread.

'It’s a very small number of jackets and we are looking into it all,' said a spokesperson, speaking to The Times.

'As soon as we were made aware of what had happened we issued an announcement that they should get rid of these labels in some way.'

'Right now we are in contact with the manufacturer to investigate what happened. We know that it looks very strange to the public, so it became something we had to deal with immediately.

'We are investigating and as soon as we have clear results we will think about what to do then.'

German law bans any Nazi-era iconography, even prohibiting 'SS' license car plates. File photo: The standard-issue Germany army uniform is pictured

German law bans any Nazi-era iconography, even prohibiting 'SS' license car plates. File photo: The standard-issue Germany army uniform is pictured

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