http://imgur.com/a/Xd19s (pics) I have an original SS helmet from a Belgian division. The person who sold me this told me it was a member of the VERDINASO collaboration. The man signed his name into his helmet 'Josef Leister'. Can anyone guide me towards an online or physical archive I could use? I want to know more about Josef Leister..
I think the Department Military Archives of the German Federal Archives would be responsible here, but as it says on the site:
The archive material from the period up to 1945 suffered considerable losses as a consequence of war. Many of the records of the central service units of the armed forces and of the army leadership, those of the service units and troops of the army below divisional level and those of the air force and the Waffen SS have been lost.
But on the other hand sending them an email doesn't cost anything, so it's worth a try?
The main archive is the Bundesarchiv, which keeps the records of the members of the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS. It is open for private use, though some fees may be charged. The service records are not avaiable online, you would have to come to Germany.
You should be able to find more information here: https://www.bundesarchiv.de/benutzung/sachbezug/personenbezogen_genealogie/01306/index.html.de
If you have trouble with the german language, feel free to contact me via reddit, I can try to help.