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The
design of the rank insignia of regular German troops in WW2 can easily
be found on the internet; a good example can be found here,
for instance. I will only discuss certain details here.
First
of all, there were two completely different types of rank insignia
(don't ask me why). One that was worn throughout the war on the regular
tunic and regular Panzer tunic (and which I will call "regular
insignia") and a different system used from the end of August
1942 (which I will call "1942 insignia"). The latter
was gold on black (possibly with white pips) for generals, and green
on black for other ranks. The system was initially to be used on winter
tunics, but was later extended to the following:
- mountain
troop wind jacket and anorak
- snow
shirt
- winter
smock
- reversible
and camo winter tunics
- KK
tropical shirt
- gray
panzer shirt
- reed
green fatigue jacket, shirt and field tunic
- AFV
coveralls
- panzer
denim jacket
- sheepskin
overcoat
The 1942
insignia were rather unpopular and many troops added regular insignia
to garments that should have had the 1942 insignia.
With
the regular rank insignia
- The
braids for the general’s rank insignia were originally interwoven
aluminum and gold braid with silver pips on a red background. In
April 1941 this changed to golden only.
Generals (and field marshals) also showed their rank on the collar
patches which were red with a golden "Alt Larisch" design.
- For
higher ranking officers (majors and colonels) the design was like
that of the generals, but the braids being only in aluminum on a
Waffenfarbe background. Pips were either gold or aluminum.
Later the aluminum braid was replaced by gray braid.
- Subalterns
(lieutenants and captains) had aluminum (non woven) shoulderboards
(later in gray) with aluminum pips.
- Senior
and junior NCO had DBG (later FG) shoulder straps with a 9mm aluminum
edge (later gray) and piped in Waffenfarbe with aluminum pips. A
9mm braid was also found on the collar (but not on the Panzer uniform
or reed green summer uniform).
The Hauptfeldwebel or Spiess had 2 bands around the cuffs.
- Other
ranks had no aluminum edging, only a DBG strap with Waffenfarbe
piping. Aluminum (gray) chevrons and pips on a DBG (later FG) background
could be worn on the left sleeve.
- Shoulder
straps with the regular rank insignia were made of DBG cloth until
May 1940 and of FG cloth afterwards, atlhough the DBG version remained
common for quite a while. Both were edged in Waffenfarbe.
- All
parts of the rank insignia that were initially aluminum were whanged
to gray in June 1940.
Disclaimer:
I am sure this article can be vastly improved upon, so I would invite
anyone with superior knowledge to contact
me.
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