| When
confronted with a figure in small scale, knowing whether it represents
an officer or other ranks can influence the way it has to be painted.
Typical identification marks of an officer (visible in 1/72) are
- The
use of the peaked field cap was more common with
officers, although senior NCOs
also liked them and they were part of the walkng out uniform of
all ranks. While all ranks below Leutnant had black chin straps,
officers had them in silver and generals in gold.
- The
use of breeches and high riding boots (although
on the front line subalterns were advised to wear the other ranks
equipment, i.e. plain trousers and lower marching boots). Cavalry
troops obviously wore riding breeches and riding boots irrespective
of ranks as well, but these had the leather reinforcements on the
inside. They needed them, the other users of riding breeches only
wanted to show off. This is the reason some senior NCO's also wore
riding breeches.
Staff officers wore a triple crimson stripe (wide-narrow-wide) on
the sides of their riding breeches. Generals had similar stripes
but in bright red.
- The
brown leather belt. This can be identified by the
double claws of the buckle. The use of the diagonal
"suspender" belt was (officially) abolished after
the Polish campaign. The brown belt became rare later in the war
and was replaced by a black belt.
- Shoulder
boards with interwoven braids (majors and higher).
- The
tunic had turned back cuffs, was somewhat shorter
and had a more pointed collar. Officers tended
to keep uniforms with pleated pockets and DBG collars
long after these were phased out for other ranks.
- Officers
also had more elaborate aluminum "Doppellitzen" on the
collar with a center stripe in Waffenfarbe (WF), which was not present
for other ranks, but this is difficult to see in small scale.
- Officers
could also wear a piped version of the tunic. In that case piping
was applied to the collar front and cuffs.
- The
possible use of a leather version of the greatcoat (in Feldgrau,
black, brown,…). This is not visible in the sculpting, but
influences the painting of the figure.
- If
gloves were worn, they were gray, according to regulations, although
brown or black leather gloves could be seen.
- Generals
had some more liberty in the choice of their attire, and tended
to wear what suited them best. (Sometimes it was not enough, even
for the generals, that Hugo Boss made the regular German uniforms.)
In November 1939 an order was released that all officers below the
rank of general on field duty were to wear the other ranks uniform.
This was widely ignored, however, as could be expected.
In practice, less an officer saw combat, the more this rule was
ignored. The closer the officer was to the front-line the most likely
he was to follow this order. (Soviet snipers were trained to shoot
officers first and the officers in the front line learned that rather
quickly.)
Disclaimer:
I am sure this article can be vastly improved upon, so I would invite
anyone with superior knowledge to contact
me. |