A Soldbuchs is not limited to the SS; it was the basic identification document for all soldiers in the Wehrmacht and paramilitary groups such as the SS. Soldbuchs were kept on a soldier at all times, and was in fact necessary to produce to receive pay.

The SS Blood Group tattoos were given to all members of the Waffen-SS; or men who were filtered into the Waffen-SS from other groups. Many Allgemeine-SS (Administrative, Prison Guards) also held lateral reserve positions with the Waffen-SS and thus also had them. In extraordinary circumstances, Allgemeine-SS members were used as cadres to form new Waffen-SS units; the most prominent example of this being the 3.SS. Naturally, this would also require them to be given said tattoos.