Breast Eagles - (Wehrmacht-Heer)
The German national emblem, an eagle clutching a
wreathed swastika, was worn over the right breast of all Army troops. This insignia
varied widely in construction, especially after wartime changes to the uniform were made.
The basic pattern design of the insignia, as shown in the graphics below, did not
change.
National insignia breast eagles were usually
mounted on uniforms in the factory; they were affixed with a machine stitch that did not
go through the lining of the jacket itself.
White on dark green breast eagle |
PREWAR
The first National Emblem for
wear on the uniform, known as a "breast eagle," was introduced on 1 May 1934.
It was produced in white embroidery on field grey.
In September 1935, when dark green collars and
shoulder straps were introduced to the Field Blouse, the breast eagle began to be produced
in white on a dark green background.
WARTIME CHANGES
In late 1939, the colour of the eagle changed
from white to mouse grey.
In probably the middle of 1940, the backing
colour changed once again to field grey.
When the 1944 Field Uniform was introduced, a
new style of breast eagle was introduced specifically for the field blouse, consisting of
the traditional pattern eagle in mouse grey, embroidered onto a field grey triangular
shaped background.
CONSTRUCTION
Enlisted Men wore either a BEVO breast eagle in
imitation silk, or else a version machine stitched in cotton thread onto a wool
background. Before the war, eagles were mounted (especially on the Waffenrock) onto
badge cloth backings; this became more rare as the war went on. |
Grey on dark green breast eagle |
Mouse grey on field grey breast eagle |
Breast eagle as worn on the 1944 Field Uniform |
SAMPLES
 |
Prewar white on field grey eagle,
this one being worn on a Waffenrock. Note the field grey badge cloth to which the eagle
has been mounted. |
 |
Machine embroidered breast eagle
in grey cotton thread on a dark green wool background (this example is stitched to a
Waffenrock.) |
 |
BEVO quality breast eagle in grey
on dark green. |
 |
Later example of BEVO quality
breast eagle, in mouse grey on field grey. |
 |
The BEVO national insignia
designed for wear with the Model 1944 Field Uniform, showing the triangular background. |
SPECIAL UNIFORM INSIGNIA
White on black breast eagle as worn on Panzer uniform
Later issue subdued colour version. |
A special white on black badge was also designed
for the black AFV uniform. It was not actually worn on the AFV uniform until May
1936, however. During the war, this insignia began to be produced in grey on black.
The tropical uniforms introduced for German
forces in Africa had tropical pattern insignia, in light blue on tan. |
Tropical breast eagle |
SAMPLES
 |
BEVO quality "panzer"
breast eagle as worn on the black AFV uniform. This is the early version, in white. |
 |
A white on black version of the
M44 breast insignia, for panzer uniforms. Note the mouse-grey colour. |
 |
Silver wire "officer's
quality" eagle, this example from an NCO's panzer uniform. NCO's were permitted
to wear Officer's quality badges on tunics for walking out. |
 |
Machine woven BEVO tropical
eagle. |
 |
Cotton embroidered tropical
eagle. |
OFFICER'S QUALITY
Officers normally wore a hand embroidered silver
wire badge, either on dark green, or in the case of the armoured vehicle uniform, on
black. Some officers did make do with the machine embroidered version worn by
Enlisted Men, as it was cheaper to purchase.
Generals wore a hand embroidered badge in gold
wire or bullion, on the appropriate coloured background.
| On the white summer Officer's tunic, a metal
breast eagle was worn pinned to the tunic in place of a cloth badge; this aided in
stripping the jacket of insignia in order that it could be laundered. |
|
Enlisted Men were entitled to privately purchase
officer's quality badges for wear on private purchase Walking Out uniforms.
Return to
Articles page
|
