Training of SS Aufklärer

Among the earliest motorized assets of the Leibstandarte and the SS-Verfügungstruppe were reconnaissance sections. Many of the early soldiers were detached to army schools for advanced and professional training. In this image, we see scouts training on an Sd.Kfz. 222, one of the more readily identifiable German armored cars of the Second World War. This appears to be a relatively early image as the scouts wear what appear to be modified army Panzer uniforms, which was done in the years prior to the start of the war, when the SS started fielding its own armored vehicle uniforms. The caps are also modified Allgemeine SS black caps, worn prior to the introduction of an overseas cap specifically for SS-Verfügungstruppen and the Leibstandarte in 1938.

Source :

Book "Scouts Out: A History of German Armored Reconnaissance Units in World War II" by Robert Edwards, Michael H. Pruett and Michael Olive