Corps colours (Waffen-SS)

See also: Ranks and insignia of the Waffen-SS

Corps colours, or Troop-function colours (German: Waffenfarben) were worn in the Waffen-SS from 1938 until 1945 in order to distinguish between various branches of service, units, and functions. The corps colours were part of the pipings, gorget patches (collar patches), and shoulder boards. The colour scheme was similar to the corps colours of the German Army from 1935 to 1945. The colours appeared mainly on the piping around the shoulder boards showing a soldier's rank.

Colours and examples

The table below contains the Waffen-SS corps colours, and examples for their use from 1938 to 1945.

Branch/unit/function Colour Example Rank/Explanation
Silver-grey     SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS
Infantry White Flag of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 40
Artillery Scarlet Artillery flag
SS-Obersturmbannführer
Veterinary service Carmine red SS-Sturmbannführer
Legal service Bordeaux red
Geologists Light pink
Transport Salmon-pink
Rose-pink SS-Scharführer
Lemon yellow SS-Untersturmführer
  • Cavalry
  • Reconnaissance (1942–45)
  • Armoured reconnaissance
 Golden yellow SS-Obersturmführer
Orange
Reconnaissance (1938–42) Copper-brown
  • Standartenführer
  • Oberführer
Concentration camps Light brown SS-Hauptscharführer
Sicherheitsdienst (intelligence service) Poison green SS-Sturmscharführer
Gebirgstruppe (mountain troops) Meadow green SS-Untersturmführer
  • Ersatzwesen (recruitment service)
  • SS-Sonderführer
  • SS reserve officers
 Dark green SS-Obersturmführer
Supply Light blue SS-Hauptsturmführer
Administration Bright blue SS-Hauptsturmführer
Medical service Cornflower blue
  • Standartenführer
  • Oberführer
Engineers corps
  • Assault engineers
  • Construction engineers
 Black SS-Oberscharführer
Main colour for collar patches SS-Unterscharführer
Main colour for uniforms Field-grey Identical with Heer (regular army) uniform colour

See also

References

  • Adolf Schlicht, John R. Angolia: Die deutsche Wehrmacht, Uniformierung und Ausrüstung 1933-1945
    Vol. 1: Das Heer (ISBN 3613013908), Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1992
    Vol. 3: Die Luftwaffe (ISBN 3-613-02001-7), Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1999 (very detailed information and discussion but no coloured images)
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