Last modified: 2002-03-08 by santiago dotor
Keywords: heer | rank | kommandozeichen | pennant | division | brigade | regiment | batallion | bataillon | company | kompanie | cross (black) | stripes: 5 (green-black) | waffenfarbe |
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Command flags and pennants of German Army formations are in the color of the branch or Waffenfarbe —white for armour (Panzer), green for mechanized infantry (Panzergrenadiere), red for artillery, etc.— with black markings. The pioneers have black as their Waffenfarbe and therefore the markings are changed to white, see for instance the command flag for a pioneer regiment. Source: Schnell and Seidel 1983, a Bundeswehr handbook.
Joseph McMillan, 6 March 2001
If I remember correctly, 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 March 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 March 2001
Waffenfarben also predate the Second World War, but I am not sure either whether they date from Imperial Germany or not. Some of them appear to have changed in the Bundeswehr (...). What is the present-day infantry Waffenfarbe? It used to be white.
Santiago Dotor, 7 March 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 March 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 March 2001
The full list of Waffenfarben in the Heer is:
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
Joseph McMillan, 9 March 2001
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):