Not sure if this is in the correct place, but I was wondering if anyone can tell me what uniform this is. There is no way to identify it from any insignia’s. All I know for sure is that it is German from about 1944/45. He was conscripted in Poland after fleeing from Ukraine and his last correspondence was from Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia).
I wish we had a better picture and close up of the cap badge as it appears to be the only distinguishing feature.
Hard to say, yes the skull on the cap could point to a foreign SS volunteer/draftee, but there is nothing else pointing to it being a Waffen SS uniform, no sleeve eagle, rank or insignia patches or waffenfarbe and the black jacket would indicate a panzer crewman, but it is not a Panzer crewmans jacket. At the same time I have seen members of the Schutzmannschaft( Eastern Auxiliary Volunteer Policemen) in similar uniforms. The Schutzmannschaft were issued modified versions of obsolete pre war Allgemeine SS uniforms along with black SS breeches with all insignia removed and coloured facings added to the cuffs, collars and flaps of the skirt pockets, having said that I have seen pictures of Schutzmannschaft wearing these uniforms without the coloured facings and with skulls still on the caps. Unfortunately we can't tell whether it's a Heer or Waffen SS belt buckle either.
He and his family were actually waiting at a rail station in Ukraine to be deported when they were cut off by the German army. While they were being taken back to Berdyansk to be sent by boat the guards deserted and they were able to flee. In November 1943 after Stalingrad the family escaped to Poland where he was conscripted. Thank you both for your replies.
