 |
|
When it was
originally founded in March 1935, the Luftwaffe's rank insignia and titles were modelled
after those of the SA and SS. Thus, in addition to the ranks on their shoulder straps,
members of the Luftwaffe wore a set of rank patches on the collars of their tunics as
well. These were parallelogram-shaped, in the appropriate Waffenfarbe or
arm-of-service colour (yellow for aircrew), with ranking in the form of silver grey
"wings".
All pilots in the
Luftwaffe were either of NCO grade or commissioned officers. Ranks from Unteroffizier
(the lowest pilot grade) to Oberfeldwebel wore a sequence of one, two, three and
four wings, but with silver Tresse round the collar itself, inside of the yellow
piping.
The straps of
company officers of were of ribbed backing of waffenfarbe (yellow for aircrew) which
showed at the long and rounded edges; the straight outer edge of the strap was sewn down
into the shoulder seam of the tunic. Two double strips of braid were led along the
backing, round the button-hole and back along the strap, giving the effect of eight widths
of cord. The junior commissioned rank, Leutnant, worn no additional insignia. The
Oberleutnant wore a single gold pip near the outer end; the Hauptmann,
two pips equally spaced. Senior officers wore more elaborate shoulder-straps of interlaced
cord, giving a plaited effect. Majors wore them without additional insignia; the Oberstleutnant
was marked by a single gold pip, the Oberst by two.
A stylized oakleaf
spray appeared at the bottom of junior commissioned ranks' patches; above them appeared
ranking in the form of the wings embroidered in silver. One, two and three wings
identified the ranks of Leutnant to Hauptmann. Senior officers' patches
bore a complete oval wreath enclosing the ranking – one, two and three wings for
ranks from Major to Oberst.
As well, special rank patches were worn on both upper arms of all flight clothing. The symbols used were white bars and "wings" (the latter in imitation of the collar patch insignia) on drab light brown rectangular patches. The "wings" were 100mm wide and 20mm high at their highest point; the "bars" were 100mm wide and 10mm high. The "wings" and "bars" were in white cloth on a tan background
Mannschaften
| Collar-patch Shoulder strap Chevron |
 |
|||||
| Rank |
|
| Collar-patch
Chevron
Insignia on special uniform pieces |
 |
|||||
| Rank |
|
Offiziere
| Collar- patch
Insignia on special uniform pieces |
 |
|||||
| Rank |
|
Generale
| Collar- patch
Insignia on special uniform pieces |
 |
|||||
| Rank |
|
 |
||
|
 |
|
 |
