General’s Larisch Style Collar Tabs

Army (Heer), Specialty Careers and Administrative

All General’s collar tabs were hand embroidered, which makes each tab a unique and individual piece of art and accounts for a wide degree of variation in the rendering of the design. Careful study of these images will reveal a very high quality of workmanship and a certain style that just cannot seem to be captured by modern replicators. The embroidery was rendered in several different materials depending upon time of construction during the war, available materials and individual manufacturers. Most commonly they were made of gold wire, bullion, or celleon (nylon) with a yarn like material also occasionally seen for highlighting.

Examples from private collections and Holzauge Historical.

General tab rendered in fine gold wire. This particular example is part of a pair that belonged to Generalmajor Ebling.

General tab rendered in fine gold wire and bullion highlights. This example is from the uniform of General der Infanterie Kuno-Hans von Both, a holder of the Pour le Merite, Knights Cross and German Cross in Gold.

If there ever was an example that you could say is absolutely textbook and flawless, this is it. The hands that made this tab obviously had been at it a long, long time and were very good. Almost perfect execution in embroidery. By the very fact that all Generals tabs were hand embroidered, each tab is practically a work of art and tend to take on the personality of the person that embroidered them.

Another finely produced example, this one using a highlight material of a different color to accentuate the inner leaves of the pattern. This could be done in bullion, wire, yarn or celleon.

This is probably one of my least favorite designs as it takes on a bit ‘fatter’ look than some of the other tabs. The ‘points’ on tabs can vary from the most tiny, intricate curved swirls to the almost regimented, stiff fat look of these. If you slowly scan from the delicate features of the Ebling tab at the top of the page down through the other three tabs to this one, you’ll notice a subtle progression of a less ‘curved’ look to the tabs. In spite of the ‘fat’ look, when seen in person this tab is absolutely gorgeous and has taken on a very stunning blackish hue from age. This is part of a grouping belonging to Generalfeldmarschall Fedor von Bock

(further images of this group are on the Generalfeldmarschall pages).

(Holzauge Historical Collection)

A Generals tab embroidered in celleon (nylon). Celleon tabs have some of the finest embroidery and often have some of the best detail. Because they don’t have the rich look of the gold bullion or gold wire they are not quite as popular with the casual collectors. The order to use celleon in place of gold bullion or wire was initiated in 1938 though it never seems to have totally replaced use of the gold and bullion as both continued to be used to manufacture insignia throughout the remainder of the war.

(private collection)

A finely embroidered celleon example with bullion inner highlights.

(Ron Richter collection)

Yet another very tightly embroidered, flawless collar tab. Original tabs have a level of quality in the tightness and depth of the embroidery that just cannot be matched by modern reproductions.

(Ron Richter collection)

From the uniform of General Kurt Angers, a nice two tone bullion and gold wire example.

(Ron Richter collection)

Another fine example of a variant design often seen, rendered in gold wire and gold bullion.

(Ron Richter collection)

Top: Army Generals tabs embroidered in gold bullion. An odd example not commonly accepted, yet obtained directly from a veteran.

Middle: Wehrmactbeamte (Official) General of War Administration

Bottom: Wehrmactbeamte (Official) General of Administration

The Wehrmachtbeamte were officials who did not possess the status of soldiers but were members of the Army. The officials who held General officer status (like the officials of lower ranks) had distinctive insignia to differentiate them from the ‘true’ soldiers. This was accomplished by using different color backing and piping on their collar tabs, shoulderboards, uniforms and headgear.

General officer collar tab for a General in the Administrative Services.

(private collection)

Bullion and gold wire General’s tab which shows evidence of having been removed from a uniform tunic.

(Dave Howerdel collection)

Bullion General’s tab still attached to a piece of collar from a tunic.

(private collection)

Another example still attached to a piece of collar. Note the two tone bullion highlights.

(private collection)

Standard style General’s tab, yet with an interesting twist on the execution of the design towards the front (left) end of the tab. Variants like this are often the result of the ‘personality’ of the individuals who embroidered this insignia. Note also the texture of the backing fabric.

(private collection)

A set of Rommel’s insignia (pair of collar tabs and a single shoulderboard) which was presented to Field Marshal Montgomery and resides in the collection of the Imperial War Museum in London.

(Courtesy Samlersforumet.net)

I’m always looking for good photographs of original tabs and other General officer insignia. If you have something to contribute, please visit the submitting photos page.