Corps colors, or Troop-function colours (ge: “Waffenfarbe(n)”) were traditional worn in the German Wehrmacht from 1935 until 1945 as discrimination criteria between several branches, special services, corps, rank groups and appointments of the ministerial area, general staff, Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, up to the military branches Heer, Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine. The corps colour was part of the piping, uniform gorget, shoulder strap, as well as part of the arabesque and lampasse of any general officer and flag officers. It was also part of heraldic flags, colours, standards and guidons.
Corps Colors of the Heer
In the German Heer there was strictly defined systematic of corps colours on collar patchs, uniform piping and coloured edging around the shoulder boards or shoulder straps. The corps colours of the Reichswehr (1921 until ca. 1935) were almost identically to these of the Wehrmacht.
Synoptic Table & Examples of Military Persons in Uniform
The table below contains some corps colors and examples used by the Heer from 1935-45.
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Corps Colors of the Heeresverwaltung
During World War II, Nazi Germany officials of the “Heere´s/Army administration” (de: Heeresverwaltung, short HV), regardless serving in the Wehrmacht, war economy, or in military education facilities, e.t.c., wore military rank insignias similar to these of the Wehrmacht.
Heere´s officials wore normally in addition to their dark green main corps colour (de: Haupt-Waffenfarbe) dark-green a secondary colour (de: Nebenfarbe) denoting their branch. However, in March 1940 distinct Nebenfarben were abolished and replaced with light grey.