Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1970-016-17, Heinz Trettner

Corps colours, or troop-function colours ( ge: ''

Waffenfarbe In the German military, ''Waffenfarbe'' (German: "branch-of-service colors" or "corps colors") is a visual method that the armed forces use to distinguish between different corps or troop functions in its armed services. The ''Waffenfarbe'' it ...

n'') were worn in the German ''

Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...

'' from 1935 until 1945, in order to distinguish between several branches, special services, corps, rank groups, and appointments of the ministerial area, the general staff, and the '' Oberkommando der Wehrmacht'' (OKW). The corps colours were part of the uniform

piping Within industry, piping is a system of pipes used to convey fluids (liquids and gases) from one location to another. The engineering discipline of piping design studies the efficient transport of fluid. Industrial process piping (and accompa ...

gorget patches Gorget patches (collar tabs, collar patches) are an insignia in the form of paired patches of cloth or metal on the collar of a uniform (gorget), used in the military and civil service in some countries. Collar tabs sign the military rank (group o ...

, shoulder straps, ''

arabesque The arabesque is a form of artistic decoration consisting of "surface decorations based on rhythmic linear patterns of scrolling and interlacing foliage, tendrils" or plain lines, often combined with other elements. Another definition is "Foli ...

'' and ''

lampasse Lampasse(s) () are ''trouser stripes'' adorning the dress uniforms of many armed forces, police, fire and other public uniformed services. In German speaking countries as general staff–qualified officers, their uniform featured these distincti ...

'' ornaments of general and flag officers. They were also part of

heraldic flag In heraldry and vexillology, a heraldic flag is a flag containing coats of arms, heraldic badges, or other devices used for personal identification. Heraldic flags include banners, standards, pennons and their variants, gonfalons, guidons, and ...

s, colours, standards, and guidons. In the ''Luftwaffe'', there was a strictly defined system of corps colours for collar patches, piping, and coloured edging around the shoulder boards or straps. The

chevrons Chevron (often relating to V-shaped patterns) may refer to: Science and technology * Chevron (aerospace), sawtooth patterns on some jet engines * Chevron (anatomy), a bone * '' Eulithis testata'', a moth * Chevron (geology), a fold in rock l ...

on special clothes for ''Luftwaffe'' personnel, e.g.

flight suit A flight suit is a full-body garment, worn while flying aircraft such as military airplanes, gliders and helicopters. These suits are generally made to keep the wearer warm, as well as being practical (plenty of pockets), and durable (includi ...

s and

jumpsuit A jumpsuit is a one-piece garment with sleeves and legs and typically without integral coverings for feet, hands or head. The original jump suit is the functional one-piece garment used by parachuters. The original skydivers' jumpsuits wer ...

s, also showed corps colours.

Colours and examples

The table below contains some corps colours and examples used by the ''Luftwaffe'' from 1935-45.

Exceptions & special cases

Special regulations applied to corps colours of units, services, and special troops, attached permanently to the ground services of the ''Heer''. * Division "''Hermann Göring''": ''Kragenspiegel'' and shoulder strap piping (''Schulterklappenvorstoß'') "white", collar patches´ piping (''Kragenspiegelvotstoß'') in corps colours: ** White (with black border line): infantry, ** Scarlet: artillery and anti-aircraft defence (''Flugabwehr'') ** Golden-brown: communications ** Black: engineer ** Rose-pink: armour, antitank (''Panzerjäger'') and armoured reconnaissance (''Panzeraufklärer''). * Air Force divisions: Collar patch main colour: green piping to collar patches and shoulder straps in corps colours: ** Yellow: cyclists (''Radfahrer'') and reconnaissance (''Aufklärer''), ** Rose-pink: antitank troops (''Panzerjäger'') ** Scarlet: artillery and anti aircraft defence (''Flugabwehr'') ** Bright-blue: Supply (''Nachschubtruppe'') and Administration (''Verwaltungstruppe'') ** Golden-brown: communications

References

Glossary of German military terms This is a list of words, terms, concepts, and slogans that have been or are used by the German military. Ranks and translations of nicknames for vehicles are included. Also included are some general terms from the German language found frequently i ...

* Adolf Schlicht, John R. Angolia: ''Die deutsche Wehrmacht, Uniformierung und Ausrüstung 1933-1945''
Vol. 1: ''Das Heer'' (), Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1992
Vol. 3: ''Die Luftwaffe'' (), Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1999 (Very detailed information and discussion but no coloured images) {{DEFAULTSORT:Corps colours of the German Luftwaffe (1935-1945) German military uniforms Military insignia

Colours and examples

Exceptions & special cases

See also

References