General Officer Rank Insignia
WW2
The Luftwaffe:
Shoulderboards
The Luftwaffe in World War Two indicated
General Officer rank via insignia located on the shoulder and collar. The shoulderboards began with a base
pattern of intertwined gold and silver cording. This base pattern, un-adorned
with rank pips designated the lowest General officer rank of Generalmajor
(equivalent to a Brigadier General in the U.S./British forces). From this base board pips were added
consecutively as the rank increased up to a maximum of three pips for the rank
of Generaloberst (Colonel General).
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Generalmajor Gold bullion cording with silver inner cord over white
underlay, no rank pips. This
particular example is from a uniform believed to have belonged to Hans
Plocher. (private collection) |
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Generalleutnant Gold celleon cording with aluminum inner cord over white
underlay, single rank pip. (private collection) |
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General der
Flieger Gold bullion cording with aluminum inner cord over white
underlay, two rank pips. (private collection) |
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Generaloberst Gold bullion cording with silver inner cord over white
underlay, three rank pips arranged in a triangle fashion. (private collection) |
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Generalfeldmarschall All three cords in Gold bullion (as per regulation, April, 1941) over white underlay, with crossed, silver batons which bore resemblance to the actual Luftwaffe Marshal’s baton. This example is from GFM Erhard Milch’s uniform tunic. (Holzauge Historical) |
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Reichsmarschall All three cords in Gold bullion over white underlay, with
a gold device depicting the Wehrmacht eagle with downturned wings and
clutching a swastika, surmounting crossed marshals batons. This example is from the uniform of
Hermann Goring. (Brian Maederer collection) |
Collar Tabs
The collar tabs show marked difference between
the German armed forces in the designation of General Officers. The Luftwaffe, unlike the Army or
Kriegsmarine, chose to display the individual’s General officer rank on
the collar tab in addition to the shoulder board. The rank was indicated by a base gold
wreath and a series of ‘wings’ consecutively added in the middle
for each progressive rank upgrade from Generalmajor through General der
Flieger. Generaloberst and
Generalfeldmarschall each had a flying eagle, clutching a swastika overlaying the
base wreath. Generalfeldmarschall
had the addition of silver, crossed batons.
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Generalmajor Gold bullion embroidered wreath over white underlay, with
a single set of wings. This particular example is from a uniform believed to have belonged to Hans Plocher. |
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Generalleutnant
Gold bullion embroidered wreath over white underlay, with
two set of wings. |
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General der
Flieger Gold bullion embroidered wreath over white underlay, with
three sets of wings. (private collection) |
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Generaloberst
Gold bullion embroidered wreath, detailed with celleon
highlights, with Luftwaffe flying eagle clutching swastika superimposed over
a white underlay and edge piped in celleon (private collection) |
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Generalfeldmarschall
Gold bullion embroidered wreath, with Luftwaffe flying
eagle clutching swastika over white underlay, adorned by a set of silver,
crossed batons. (private collection) |
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Reichsmarschall
Gold bullion embroidered laurel wreath surrounding highly detailed,
gold crossed marshals batons over a silver brocade fabric. (private collection) |
Click here for additional examples of Luftwaffe
Generals insignia and groupings
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Replica Luftwaffe General Officer uniforms and insignia
are now available. Click on the links below. |
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