Command Flags and Pennants of Army Units (Germany)

Kommandozeichen der Einheiten des Heeres

Last modified: 2006-08-19 by jarig bakker
Keywords: kommandozeichen |
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• Introduction
• Branch-of-Service Colour (Waffenfarbe)
• Division Command Pennant (Kommandozeichen einer Division)
• Brigade Command Pennant (Kommandozeichen einer Brigade)
• Regiment Command Flag (Kommandozeichen eines Regiments)
• Pioneer Regiment Command Flag / Kommandozeichen eines Pionierregiments
• Battalion Command Pennant (Kommandozeichen eines Bataillons)
• Company Command Pennant (Kommandozeichen einer Kompanie)
• Command Flags and Pennants of the Territorial Army (Kommandozeichen des Territorialheeres)

• Flags of the Armed Forces (Fahnen und Kommandozeichen der Bundeswehr)
• Germany

Introduction

Some of these (from brigade down to batallion) were also used up to the end of the Second World War, perhaps even dating from Imperial times.
Santiago Dotor, 7 Mar 2001

The Stabsflaggen or black-white-red flags for the Army, Corps and Division Headquarters date from 1885. Those of lower commands divided by Waffenfarbe seem to date from early in the 1920s — most of them were in effect by 1925. The pattern for the higher commands were changed in early 1925, but reverted to their earlier design in April 1933. Of course all of these flags disappeared (except as souvenirs) with the German defeat in 1945. In 1957 (for a few of the higher command flags in 1959), the present flags [were adopted] — basically these were the same as the earlier flags for the lower commands (except for a few changes due to Waffenfarbe changes). Most of this data comes from Jürgen Rimann's paper at the 15th International Congress.
Norman Martin, 10 Mar 2001

Branch-of-Service Colour (Waffenfarbe)

In the Imperial German Army, standard branch-of-service colors were not used since the Army was technically made up of state contingents, some of which (Bavaria, Saxony) had their own uniforms. Everybody did wear feldgrau [field gray], but there were many state and regimental distinctions. In today's German Army, green is the branch-of-service color for infantry; in the Second World War it was white for infantry and green for panzer grenadiers, mountain infantry and light (Jäger) infantry. Armored reconnaissance (Panzeraufklarung) troops were part of the Panzer arm. Pink is still the color for Panzer troops.
Tom Gregg, 7 Mar 2001

Waffenfarben date from 1915, although some have them have changed in the interim (some e.g. engineer's black and field artillery red have stayed the same). Except for the period from the end of the Second World War until 1957, they have been in use. Since 1957, the infantry wears Jägergrün rather than the previous white.
Norman Martin, 9 Mar 2001

The full list of Waffenfarben in the Heer is:

 

General Staff		Carmine red
Armor		Pink
Armored reconnaissance		Golden yellow
Artillery		Red
Antiaircraft artillery		Coral red
Pioneers (engineers)		Black
Signals		Lemon yellow
Infantry (Jäger and Panzergrenadiere)		Grass green [Rifle green?]
Technical troops (engineers and logistics)		Blue
Army aviation		Light gray
Nuclear/chemical defense		Crimson
Military police		Orange
Bands		White
Medical		Dark blue

Here is a complete list of the Bundesheer's arm of service or branch colors, according to Army Badges and Insignia Since World War II (Rosignoli):

• Infantry: rifle green
• Panzer Troops: pink
• Armored Reconnaissance Troops: golden yellow
• Artillery: red
• Antiaircraft Troops: coral red
• Signals Troops: lemon yellow
• Engineers: black
• NBC Defense Troops: bordeaux red
• Technical Troops: blue
• Medical Troops: dark blue
• Military Police: orange
• Army Aviation: light grey
• Military Bands: white
• General Staff Service: crimson

For the most part, these are the same colors that were used by the German Army during World War Two. At first, rifle green was for Infantry, grass green was for Panzer Grenadiers and dark green was for Antitank Troops, but the last two branches were later made part of the Infantry and adopted its branch color. Quartermaster Troops used light blue until being absorbed into the Technical Troops.

From the illustrations in the book it appears that "coral red" is a slightly lighter shade of true red, "bordeaux red" is actually dark purple, and the blue for Technical Troops is actually ultramarine blue.
Tom Gregg, 11 Mar 2001

Division Command Pennant (Kommandozeichen einer Division)

Triangular pennant in the color of the branch or Waffenfarbe with black cross. Illustrated: Panzerdivision. Source: Schnell and Seidel 1983.
Joseph McMillan, 6 Mar 2001

Brigade Command Pennant (Kommandozeichen einer Brigade)

Triangular pennant in the color of the branch or Waffenfarbe with two horizontal black stripes. Illustrated: Panzergrenadierbrigade. Source: Schnell and Seidel 1983.
Joseph McMillan, 6 Mar 2001

Regiment Command Flag (Kommandozeichen eines Regiments)

Rectangular flag in the color of the branch or Waffenfarbe with one horizontal black band. Illustrated: Artillerieregiment. Source: Schnell and Seidel 1983.
Joseph McMillan, 6 Mar 2001

Pioneer Regiment Command Flag / Kommandozeichen eines Pionierregiments

The pioneers have black as their Waffenfarbe and therefore the band is changed to white. Source: Schnell and Seidel 1983.
Joseph McMillan, 6 Mar 2001

Batallion Command Pennant (Kommandozeichen eines Bataillons)

Triangular pennant in the color of the branch or Waffenfarbe with one horizontal black band. Illustrated: Panzeraufklärungsbataillon. Source: Schnell and Seidel 1983.
Joseph McMillan, 6 Mar 2001

Company Command Pennant (Kommandozeichen einer Kompanie)

image by Joseph McMillan, 7 Mar 2001
Example: army aviation company / Heeresfliegertruppekompanie

Triangular pennant in the color of the branch or Waffenfarbe with a vertical black stripe. Shown are pennants marked in the source as Kompanie TTr and Kompanie HFlg [Heeresfliegertruppe]. Source: Schnell and Seidel 1983.
Joseph McMillan, 7 Mar 2001