Last modified: 2006-08-19 by jarig bakker
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Some of these (from brigade down to batallion) were also used up to
the end of the Second World War, perhaps even dating from Imperial times.
Santiago Dotor, 7 Mar 2001
The Stabsflaggen or black-white-red flags
for the Army, Corps and Division Headquarters date from 1885. Those of
lower commands divided by Waffenfarbe seem to
date from early in the 1920s — most of them were in effect by 1925. The
pattern for the higher commands were changed in early 1925, but reverted
to their earlier design in April 1933. Of course all of these flags disappeared
(except as souvenirs) with the German defeat in 1945. In 1957 (for a few
of the higher command flags in 1959), the present
flags [were adopted] — basically these were the same as the earlier flags
for the lower commands (except for a few changes due to Waffenfarbe
changes). Most of this data comes from Jürgen Rimann's paper at
the 15th International Congress.
Norman Martin, 10 Mar 2001
In the Imperial German Army, standard branch-of-service
colors were not used since the Army was technically made up of state
contingents, some of which (Bavaria, Saxony)
had their own uniforms. Everybody did wear feldgrau [field gray],
but there were many state and regimental distinctions. In today's German
Army, green is the branch-of-service color for infantry; in the Second
World War it was white for infantry and green for panzer grenadiers, mountain
infantry and light (Jäger) infantry. Armored reconnaissance (Panzeraufklarung)
troops were part of the Panzer arm. Pink is still the color for
Panzer troops.
Tom Gregg, 7 Mar 2001
Waffenfarben date from 1915, although some have them have changed
in the interim (some e.g. engineer's black and field artillery red have
stayed the same). Except for the period from the end of the Second World
War until 1957, they have been in use. Since 1957, the infantry wears Jägergrün
rather than the previous white.
Norman Martin, 9 Mar 2001
The full list of Waffenfarben in the Heer is:
Joseph McMillan, 9 Mar 2001
General Staff Carmine red Armor Pink Armored reconnaissance Golden yellow Artillery Red Antiaircraft artillery Coral red Pioneers (engineers) Black Signals Lemon yellow Infantry (Jäger and Panzergrenadiere) Grass green [Rifle green?] Technical troops (engineers and logistics) Blue Army aviation Light gray Nuclear/chemical defense Crimson Military police Orange Bands White Medical Dark blue
Here is a complete list of the Bundesheer's arm of service or branch colors, according to Army Badges and Insignia Since World War II (Rosignoli):
For the most part, these are the same colors that were used by the German Army during World War Two. At first, rifle green was for Infantry, grass green was for Panzer Grenadiers and dark green was for Antitank Troops, but the last two branches were later made part of the Infantry and adopted its branch color. Quartermaster Troops used light blue until being absorbed into the Technical Troops.
From the illustrations in the book it appears that "coral red" is a
slightly lighter shade of true red, "bordeaux red" is actually dark purple,
and the blue for Technical Troops is actually ultramarine blue.
Tom Gregg, 11 Mar 2001
Triangular pennant in the color of the branch or Waffenfarbe
with black cross. Illustrated: Panzerdivision. Source: Schnell
and Seidel 1983.
Joseph McMillan, 6 Mar 2001
Triangular pennant in the color of the branch or Waffenfarbe
with two horizontal black stripes. Illustrated: Panzergrenadierbrigade.
Source: Schnell and Seidel 1983.
Joseph McMillan, 6 Mar 2001
Rectangular flag in the color of the branch or Waffenfarbe with
one horizontal black band. Illustrated: Artillerieregiment. Source:
Schnell and Seidel 1983.
Joseph McMillan, 6 Mar 2001
The pioneers have black as their Waffenfarbe and therefore the
band is changed to white. Source: Schnell and
Seidel 1983.
Joseph McMillan, 6 Mar 2001
Triangular pennant in the color of the branch or Waffenfarbe
with one horizontal black band. Illustrated: Panzeraufklärungsbataillon.
Source: Schnell and Seidel 1983.
Joseph McMillan, 6 Mar 2001
image by Joseph McMillan, 7 Mar 2001
Example: army aviation company / Heeresfliegertruppekompanie
Triangular pennant in the color of the branch or Waffenfarbe
with a vertical black stripe. Shown are pennants marked in the source as
Kompanie TTr and Kompanie HFlg [Heeresfliegertruppe]. Source:
Schnell and Seidel 1983.
Joseph McMillan, 7 Mar 2001