National Socialist uniform

National Socialist uniforms or Nazi uniforms were the uniforms 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, ranks, medals, and symbols became synonymous with this display of hatred, even centuries after their subsequent defeat.
== 20th century ==
=== German Army uniforms ===
The Army (German: Heer) were the regular armed forces of the Third Reich. During World War II, Wehrmacht units wore uniforms originally based on those worn by their predecessors in the Imperial German Army of World War I. ()
Starfleet holodecks carried simulations of World War II, including detailed depictions of both German Army uniforms. ()
=== German SS uniform ===
The German SS wore multiple different uniform colors and designs, with the first and most prominent being the intimidating black uniform – consisting of an all black cap, jacket, belt, pants, and high boots, with a brown shirt and black tie, and a red swastika arm band – which was first adopted with the rise of Adolf Hitler. They were often worn, at times without the jacket, when the SS displayed itself at Nazi parades and rallies; two such rallies were seen through the Guardian of Forever in 2267. () 
The black officer uniform fell into general disuse following the start of World War II, when the SS military adopted an earth-grey colored officer uniform. () 
In an alternate timeline in which Nazi Germany the United States of America, Vosk and his men joined the SS and wore both earth-grey and black SS uniforms. ()
Non-commissioned officers and soldiers wore dark green field uniforms with either a helmet or kepi. (; )
At the end of World War II in 1945, the SS ceased to exist along with its uniforms; however historical data regarding the original SS uniforms was maintained by Earth historians and later maintained in the historical computers of Federation starships. 
On a mission to Ekos, the library computer of the was able to patch into its uniform section and create a replica of a 1944 Gestapo colonel's uniform for wear by Leonard McCoy. Although there were differences between the German SS and its reborn Ekos counterpart, McCoy's grey-green dress uniform was convincing enough that he was able to pass for an Ekosian SS officer. ()
A century later, the Hirogen were able to capture the and program its holodeck with a World War II scenario set in France. In the scenario, the Hirogen took on the role of German SS personnel and dressed in the appropriate grey SS uniforms. ()
Common to all SS officers were service caps and kepis which bore the death's head emblem. These were not typically found on soldier's helmets, which instead bore the "lightning bolt" SS runes. These same emblems were also worn on junior commissioned officers left collar (with their rank insignia on their right collar; senior officers displayed their insignia on both the left and right collar tabs). (; ; ) 
SS uniforms also incorporated cuffbands worn at the bottom of the left sleeve with such cuffbands used to indicate membership in special sections of the SS or in specific regiments. Most of the uniforms, including the ones worn by Spock and Kirk on Ekos can be identified as belonging to the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, which was, on Earth, the first division of the SS. (; ; )
File:Nazi-SS bare cuffband.jpg|Bare SS cuffband
File:Nazi-SS Adolf Hitler cuffband.jpg|"Adolf Hitler" cuffband
File:Reichsführer-SS cuffband.jpg|Reichsführer-SS cuffband
The SS armband with swastika were worn around the upper arm, and were generally found worn with only the black style uniform. () These were later replaced with the eagle-and-swastika patch, which were sewn into the upper sleeve. (; )
For specialty branches of the SS, such as the SS Medical Corps or units of a Headquarters Guard Battalion, additional badges were worn either in the form of a sleeve patch insignia or as a shoulder board around the epaulet. (; ; ) 
File:Nazi-SS armband with swastika.jpg|SS armband with swastika
File:Nazi-SS LAH divisional insignia.png|Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler divisional sleeve patch
File:Nazi-SS medical officer specialty crest.png|Medical Corps serpent crest sleeve patch
In addition to their insignia, SS members were granted the same medals of Nazi Germany as the Heer (German Army). The standard form for the display of SS decorations was to pin large medals on the front of the left uniform pocket immediately below award ribbons. ()
== 23rd century ==
The Nazi uniforms were introduced to the Ekosians by historian John Gill during the mid-2260s in a vain effort to establish a more benign version of 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, in this case, persecuting the visiting Zeon population. ()
=== Ekosian Army uniform ===
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. ()
=== Ekosian Nazi Party uniform ===
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. ()
=== Ekosian SA uniform ===
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, with kepi colored black/tan, black, or red. ()
=== Ekosian SS uniform ===
The Ekosian SS wore multiple different uniform colors and designs, including uniforms in black, earth-grey, dark green, and grey-green. The entire Ekosian SS wore a standardized cuff band reading "Adolf Hitler" in Gothic script. In addition to the standard SS runes, other SS runes contained regimental insignia. ()
After Kirk stole his uniform from its former Ekosian owner, he observed it to be Gestapo, and told Spock, who wore a stolen grey uniform, that "it's a shame yours isn't as attractive as mine." As Kirk put on the former owner's service cap, Spock commented that "You should make a very convincing Nazi." ()
File:Nazi-SS Adolf Hitler cuffband.jpg|"Adolf Hitler" cuffband
File:Nazi-SS runes unit insignia.png|Standard SS unit insignia
File:Nazi-SS runes regiment insignia.png|SS regiment insignia
== Appendices ==
=== Appearances ===
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=== Background information ===
It is very likely that Kirk and Spock mistook Gestapo for SS, since Kirk readily identifies the black SS uniform 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.
=== External links ===
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de:Deutsche Uniformen
Category:Earth
Category:Uniforms