Corps colours (Waffen-SS)

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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.

Contents

Colours and examples

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

Branch/unit/functionColourExampleRank/Explanation
Silver-grey  
SS Oberstgruppenfuhrer.jpg
SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS
Infantry White SS Panzergrenadierregiment.svg Flag of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 40
WSS OF5 Staf-Oberf-Infantry.jpg
Artillery Scarlet LSSAH Artillerie Wimpel.svg Artillery flag
HH-SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer-Shoulder Strap.png SS- Obersturmbannführer
Veterinary serviceCarmine red HH-SS-Sturmbannfuhrer-Shoulder Strap(2).png SS- Sturmbannführer
Legal serviceBordeaux red
GeologistsLight pink
TransportSalmon-pink
Rose-pink
WMacht H OT5b Uffz Pz03 h.svg
SS- Scharführer
Lemon yellow
SS Untersturmfuhrer Fm.png
SS- Untersturmführer
  • Cavalry
  • Reconnaissance (1942–45)
  • Armoured reconnaissance
Golden yellow
Shoulder-wss-ill-obersturmf.jpg
SS- Obersturmführer
Orange
SS-Unterscharfuhrer (Feldgendarmerie) h.svg
SS Standartenjunker.jpg
Reconnaissance (1938–42)Copper-brown
SS Standartenfuhrer (Oberfuhrer).png
  • Standartenführer
  • Oberführer
Concentration camps Light brown
SS-Hauptscharfuhrer (Totenkopfverbande) h.svg
SS- Hauptscharführer
Sicherheitsdienst (intelligence service)Poison green
SS-Sturmscharfuhrer (Sicherheitsdienst) h.svg
SS- Sturmscharführer
Gebirgstruppe (mountain troops)Meadow green
Shoulder-wss-ill-untersturmf.jpg
SS-Untersturmführer
  • Ersatzwesen (recruitment service)
  • SS- Sonderführer
  • SS reserve officers
Dark green
HH-SS-Obersturmfuhrer-Shoulder Strap.png
SS-Obersturmführer
SupplyLight blue
WSS OF2 HSturmf-Supply.jpg
SS- Hauptsturmführer
AdministrationBright blue
SS Hauptsturmfuhrer (Verwaltung).jpg
SS-Hauptsturmführer
Medical serviceCornflower blue
WSS Staf-Oberf-Medical.png
  • Standartenführer
  • Oberführer
Engineers corps
  • Assault engineers
  • Construction engineers
Black
SS Oberscharfuhrer (Pioniere).jpg
SS- Oberscharführer
Main colour for collar patches
SS-Unterscharfuhrer.svg
SS-Unterscharführer
Main colour for uniforms Field-grey Identical with Heer (regular army) uniform colour

See also

References

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