German WW2 Eastern Front volunteer POA/ROA Legion Em Shoulder Straps
A nice pair of shoulderstraps for a eastern volunteer in the ROA or Russian Liberation Army. These where worn by “volunteers” who joined the Wehrmacht as early as directly after the opening of the Ostfront and the invasion of Russia. Their numbers grew to a staggering 0.5 million in the end of 1941 only to grow bigger during the duration of the war. These Russian troops where stationed all over the third Reich; a mere 20.000 where captured by the Americans in the weeks after D-day.
Wide straps (similar in width and appearance to old Russian style shoulder straps), are constructed of dark green wool, with light red rayon “waffenfarbe” piping (indicating POA/ROA Legion).
The back sections of the straps are constructed of coarse greenish wool, while the retaining tongues are made of tan rayon/wool bland, and stitched together.
This pair has been worn and as you can see on the inside there are a small damage, most likely from equipment straps.
Still a nice pair of matching boards that saw action.
Last picture show some typical ROA/POA soldiers.
HISTORY:
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Liberation_Army
