National Socialist uniform National Socialist uniforms were the uniform s originally worn by the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany of 20th century Earth , during World War II . From 1933 to 1945 , Adolf Hitler and the totalitarian National Socialist Party ruled Germany as the " Third Reich " , setting up a dictatorial system with unprecedented brutality and intolerance towards elements deemed socially inferior . The Nazi uniforms and symbols became synonymous with this display of hatred , even centuries after their defeat in 1945 . The Nazi uniforms were re - introduced on the planet Ekos by historian John Gill in the 2260s in a vain effort to establish a more benign version of the Third Reich on that world . ( ) 23rd century . In the mid - 2260s , Earth historian John Gill established a new National Socialist Party on planet Ekos , in an effort to reproduce the economic revival of Germany after its defeat in World War I , but without the brutality of Hitler ' s regime . This plan failed when Deputy Führer Melakon took power . The Ekosian Nazi Party soon ruled the ' Fatherland ' in a very similar fashion as had been seen in Earth ' s history . National Socialist Party . Many officials of the Ekosian Nazi Party wore civilian workers uniforms without rank insignia . These uniforms were similar to the ones worn by the paramilitary security forces . In contrast to the original German Nazi practices , the Ekosian system allowed for women to attain high ranks in society . Several high - ranking officers of the party , in German called " Reichsleiter " ( National Governors ) , wore military uniforms with Nazi Party rank insignia . Army . The Army ( German " Heer " ) were the regular armed forces of the Third Reich , and also of the Ekosian ' Fatherland ' . Wehrmacht units wore uniforms originally based on those worn by their predecessors in the Imperial German Army of World War One . SS . " Main article : SS uniforms and insignia " On Earth , the SS originated as a protection force for the security of Nazi Party officials , but grew into a fully - fledged army alongside the " Wehrmacht " . Three hundred years later , Ekosian SS units wore a variety of uniforms . There were three colors of uniforms , two shades of grey and a black version . Officers usually wore caps with the " totenkopf " insignia of the SS , whereas soldiers often wore steel helmets . SA . Originally , the German " Sturmabteilung " ( stormtroopers ) was a paramilitary organization used as intimidation against political enemies , as well as " riot squads " used for political gang warfare against rival parties . On Ekos , SA members performed similar duties . Their uniforms were more civilian in nature , and were a light brown or khaki color . Background information . Most of the uniforms , including the ones worn by Spock and Kirk can be identified as belonging to the " Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler " , the first division of the SS . Although there are several minor hints of Adolf Hitler in " Patterns of Force " , we are probably to assume he ( or an equivalent ) did not really exist on Ekos . Almost " none " of the rank devices seen in the TOS episode match the spoken dialogue . Furthermore , it is very likely that Kirk and Spock mistook Gestapo for SS , since Kirk readily identifies the " totenkopf " as identifying the Gestapo , which is unlikely since the Gestapo was not a regularly uniformed service . Furthermore , the description of ' Gestapo doctor ' given to McCoy is nonsensical . These errors could be taken as idiosyncrasies of the Ekosian Nazis , ignorance on the part of the characters , or gaps in 23rd century knowledge of the Second World War , but are more likely to stem from a lack of knowledge or a lack of communication between the costumers and the writers .