Rank System: Collar, Shoulder, Sleeve & Branch Service Colors
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This page shows the collar, shoulder and sleeve insignia for Enlisted Men, NCO, Company & Field Grade Officer and General Officer ranks.
Following that is a key to the Waffenfarbe (branch service colors). Equivalent ranks in the U.S. Army of WWII were not necessarily an exact match-- we've used the most commonly accepted interpretations. Graphics courtesy of Lobster King. |
Collar litzen generally come "rough" and require some preparation before they can be sewn on your Feldblusen collar. Click gallery below for steps to follow, courtesy of At The Front.
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Private and corporal ranks were identified by plain collar and sewn on enlisted Litzen.
Rank indicated by sleeve insignia. Some branches also had their own term for "private", such as Jäger, and Oberjäger for mtn troops. |
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Branch of service was identified by the color border on the Schulterklappen (shoulder boards). For GJ's, the color was light green
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The NCO ranks were identified by Tresse on the borders of the collar. Tresse also bordered the shoulder boards, forming a complete border above Unteroffizier.
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A progression of up to 3 silver pips were used above Unterfeldwebel, with the 1st Sergeant identified by double Tresse "piston rings" on both sleeves above the cuff
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Company grade officer ranks featured a heavier bullion Litzen on the collar and an aluminum weave on the shoulder boards. The weave was in parallel lines for Lt through Hauptmann and gold pips to note 1st. Lt and Hauptmann.
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For the field grade officer ranks of Major thru Oberst, the shoulder boards were woven in a basket pattern with gold pips noting the progression of colonel ranks.
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Below:
Row 1: Enlisted Litzen (collar tabs) and Schulterklappen (shoulder boards). The first photo shows generic litzen (no branch color inlaid) sewn directly on a mid war tunic. The second photo shows mounted litzen. Third photo shows early war (dark green wool) shoulder board. All are acceptable.
Row 2: Shoulder boards, early war, with most common branch colors. Light infantry/mountain infantry is second from top, followed by two examples of original officer collar tab and shoulder board
Row 3: Hauptmann shoulder board, Generalmajor tab and board.
Row 1: Enlisted Litzen (collar tabs) and Schulterklappen (shoulder boards). The first photo shows generic litzen (no branch color inlaid) sewn directly on a mid war tunic. The second photo shows mounted litzen. Third photo shows early war (dark green wool) shoulder board. All are acceptable.
Row 2: Shoulder boards, early war, with most common branch colors. Light infantry/mountain infantry is second from top, followed by two examples of original officer collar tab and shoulder board
Row 3: Hauptmann shoulder board, Generalmajor tab and board.
