Corps colours of the Luftwaffe (1935–45)



Corps colours, 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.

Cops colours of the Luftwaffe
In the German Luftwaffe there was strictly defined systematic of corps colours on collar patchs, uniform piping and coloured edging around the shoulder boards or shoulder straps. Corps colours were also part of the rank depending Kragenspiegel and Chevrons on special clothes e.g. flight suit and jumpsuit. The introduction of cops colours began approximately in 1921, and was almost oriented to the Wehrmacht and the former Reichswehr (1921 until ca. 1935). However, until the end of the year 1945 there were slightly differences in comparison to the Army and Waffen-SS.

Synoptic table and examples to military persons in uniform
The table below contains some corps colours and examples used by the Heer from 1935-45.

Particularity
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 straps´ piping (de: Schulterklappenvorstoß) "white", collar patches´ piping (de: Kragenspiegelvotstoß) in corps colours:
 * white: (with black border line) to infantry,
 * scarlet: to artillery and anti aircraft defence (Flugabwehr),
 * golden-brown: to communications troops,
 * black: to engineer troops,
 * rose-pink: to armored troops, antitank troops (Panzerjäger) and armored reconnaissance (Panzeraufklärer).


 * Air Force divisions: Collar patches´ main colour „green“, piping to collar patches and shoulder straps in corps colours:
 * yellow: to cyclists (Radfahrer) and reconnaissance (de: Aufklärer),
 * rose-pink: to antitank troops (Panzerjäger),
 * scarlet: to artillery and anti aircraft defence (Flugabwehr),
 * bright-blue: to Supply troops (Nachschubtruppe) and Administration troops (Verwaltungstruppe)
 * golden-brown: to communications troops,

See also main articles

 * Corps colour
 * Corps colours (Waffen-SS)
 * Corps colours of the German Heer (1935–1945)
 * Military ranks of the Luftwaffe (1935–45)
 * World War II German Army ranks and insignia