Colors & Corps · 1933–1945

Wehrmacht Branch Colors Encyclopedia

Identify the Waffenfarben used by the German Army, Luftwaffe and Waffen-SS through colored piping and uniform underlays.

Part of the World War II History Hub

German military branch colors, known as Waffenfarben, identified a soldier’s branch of service through colored piping and uniform underlays. Search or filter the encyclopedia to compare colors used between 1933 and 1945.

Branch Colors at a Glance

White

Army
Infantry

All infantry units (Grenadiers, Jäger, Fusiliers, Riflemen).

HEX:#FFFFFF
RGB:rgb(255, 255, 255)

Examples:

Infantry Regiment 1, Grenadier Regiment 18

Bright Red / Crimson

Army
Artillery

Field artillery, heavy artillery, assault gun artillery.

HEX:#DC143C
RGB:rgb(220, 20, 60)

Examples:

Artillery Regiment 56, Assault Gun Brigade 244

Pink

Army
Panzer Troops

Panzer units, Panzergrenadiers (until 1943). Note: Early motorized infantry often wore white piping before transitioning to pink and finally green.

HEX:#FFB6C1
RGB:rgb(255, 182, 193)

Examples:

Panzer Regiment 1, Panzer Division “Großdeutschland”

Golden Yellow

Army
Cavalry / Recon

Traditional cavalry color; later replaced by yellow-brown (until 1942).

HEX:#FFD700
RGB:rgb(255, 215, 0)

Examples:

Cavalry Regiment 1, Reconnaissance Battalion 1

Yellow-Brown

Army
Reconnaissance

Specialized reconnaissance units, replaced golden yellow cavalry color from 1942.

HEX:#C68642
RGB:rgb(198, 134, 66)

Examples:

Reconnaissance Battalion (mot.) 1

Black

Army
Engineers

Engineer troops, bridge builders, fortress engineers, railway troops.

HEX:#000000
RGB:rgb(0, 0, 0)

Examples:

Engineer Battalion 38, Bridge Construction Bn 51

Lemon Yellow

Army
Signals Corps

Telephone operators, radio operators, signals intelligence.

HEX:#FFF44F
RGB:rgb(255, 244, 79)

Examples:

Signals Battalion 1, Telephone Company 12

Light Blue

Army
Motor/Supply

Drivers, transport columns, supply troops.

HEX:#ADD8E6
RGB:rgb(173, 216, 230)

Examples:

Motor Transport Battalion 56, Supply Column 123

Grass Green

Army
Panzergrenadiers

Motorized/armored infantry in Panzer divisions (from 1943).

HEX:#7CFC00
RGB:rgb(124, 252, 0)

Examples:

Panzergrenadier Regiment 1

Green (Hunter Green)

Army
Mountain Troops

Mountain infantry, Jäger, mountain engineers.

HEX:#3CB371
RGB:rgb(60, 179, 113)

Examples:

1st Mountain Division, Jäger Regiment 98

Bordeaux Red

Army
Veterinary

Veterinary officers, horse hospitals, disease control.

HEX:#800020
RGB:rgb(128, 0, 32)

Examples:

Veterinary Company 12

Dark Blue

Army
Medical Service

Medical officers, field hospitals, stretcher bearers.

HEX:#00008B
RGB:rgb(0, 0, 139)

Examples:

Medical Company 1/18, Field Hospital 123

Carmine Red

Army
General Staff

General Staff officers (crimson stripes on trousers).

HEX:#E32636
RGB:rgb(227, 38, 54)

Examples:

OKH, Army General Staff

Light Gray

Army
Adjutants

Adjutants of higher staffs, officers for special duties.

HEX:#D3D3D3
RGB:rgb(211, 211, 211)

Examples:

Adjutants at divisions, corps

Orange-Red

Army
Propaganda

Propaganda companies, war correspondents.

HEX:#FF4500
RGB:rgb(255, 69, 0)

Examples:

Propaganda Company 612

Golden Yellow

Air Force
Flying / Paratroopers

Fighter, bomber, dive bomber, transport pilots & paratroopers.

HEX:#FFD700
RGB:rgb(255, 215, 0)

Examples:

JG 52, KG 55, 1st Paratrooper Division

Bright Red

Air Force
Flak Artillery

Heavy/light flak, searchlight, measurement and listening units.

HEX:#DC143C
RGB:rgb(220, 20, 60)

Examples:

Flak Regiment 1, Heavy Flak Battalion 123

Golden Brown

Air Force
Air Signals Corps

Radio, radar (radio detection), communications and listening services.

HEX:#A67C00
RGB:rgb(166, 124, 0)

Examples:

Signals Regiment 1

Black

Air Force
Air Force Engineers

Airfield construction, bridge/demolition teams, technical engineers.

HEX:#000000
RGB:rgb(0, 0, 0)

Examples:

Air Force Construction Battalion 1/VII

Dark Green

Air Force
Air Force Field Divisions

Ground-based infantry divisions of the Air Force (from 1942).

HEX:#006400
RGB:rgb(0, 100, 0)

Examples:

1st Air Force Field Division

White

Waffen-SS
Infantry / Grenadiers

SS Infantry, SS Panzergrenadiers (from 1942).

HEX:#FFFFFF
RGB:rgb(255, 255, 255)

Examples:

SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 1 (LSSAH)

Pink

Waffen-SS
Panzer Troops

SS Panzer regiments, SS Panzer divisions.

HEX:#FFB6C1
RGB:rgb(255, 182, 193)

Examples:

SS Panzer Regiment 1 (LSSAH), SS Panzer Division “Das Reich”

Bright Red

Waffen-SS
Artillery

SS Artillery regiments, SS assault gun battalions.

HEX:#DC143C
RGB:rgb(220, 20, 60)

Examples:

SS Artillery Regiment 1

Black

Waffen-SS
Engineers

SS Engineer battalions, bridge construction, demolition teams.

HEX:#000000
RGB:rgb(0, 0, 0)

Examples:

SS Engineer Battalion 1

Golden Yellow

Waffen-SS
Recon / Cavalry

SS Reconnaissance battalions, SS Cavalry Division.

HEX:#FFD700
RGB:rgb(255, 215, 0)

Examples:

8th SS Cavalry Division “Florian Geyer”

Lemon Yellow

Waffen-SS
Signals Corps

SS Signals battalions, radio operators, telephone operators.

HEX:#FFF44F
RGB:rgb(255, 244, 79)

Examples:

SS Signals Battalion 1

Light Blue

Waffen-SS
Motor / Supply

SS Motor transport battalions, SS supply troops.

HEX:#ADD8E6
RGB:rgb(173, 216, 230)

Examples:

SS Supply Troops, SS Motor Transport Battalion

Dark Green

Waffen-SS
Mountain Troops

SS Mountain infantry (e.g., 6th SS Mountain Division “Nord”).

HEX:#006400
RGB:rgb(0, 100, 0)

Examples:

6th SS Mountain Division “Nord”

Grass Green

Waffen-SS
Panzergrenadiers

SS Panzergrenadiers to distinguish from regular SS infantry.

HEX:#7CFC00
RGB:rgb(124, 252, 0)

Examples:

SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 25

Dark Blue

Waffen-SS
Medical Service

SS Medical battalions, SS field hospitals.

HEX:#00008B
RGB:rgb(0, 0, 139)

Examples:

SS Medical Battalion 1

How to Use This Encyclopedia

  • Branch colors appeared on shoulder-board underlays, collar piping and, depending on uniform and period, other insignia details.
  • Shades varied by manufacturer, date, material and preservation. The HEX and RGB values shown here are modern approximations, not binding historical standards.
  • The Kriegsmarine used career and specialty badges rather than this branch-color system in the same form.
  • Use color together with rank insignia, unit markings, uniform type and date when identifying a photograph or surviving item.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I identify branch colors in old photographs?

Look at the shoulder boards: The colored underlay (cloth strip) beneath the rank insignia shows the branch color. In black-and-white photos, brightness helps: White appears bright, Pink/Red medium, Black dark. Additionally, collar patches (colored piping) and sleeve insignia can provide clues.

Why did the Panzer troops have Pink as their branch color?

Pink was the traditional color of the Cavalry in the German Empire. Since the Panzer troops were considered “motorized cavalry,” they adopted this color. From 1943, Panzergrenadiers (armored infantry) wore Grass Green as a new branch color for distinction.

Did the Kriegsmarine also have branch colors?

No, the Kriegsmarine did not use branch colors in the classical sense. Distinction was made through career badges on the sleeves: Anchor (naval officers), Cogwheel (engineers), Caduceus (medical officers), etc. The basic uniform color was uniformly dark blue/black.

When did the Waffen-SS introduce branch colors?

The Waffen-SS adopted Wehrmacht-style shoulder boards with branch colors from 1942 onwards to make the service branch more recognizable. Previously (1933-1942), the SS only wore black collar patches with runes and rank insignia without branch colors. The colors largely corresponded to those of the Army (white = Infantry, pink = Panzer, etc.).

Can I use branch colors to identify uniform pieces?

Yes! Branch colors are an important identification feature when determining uniform pieces, historical photographs, or estates. Combined with rank insignia and unit markings, the exact service branch and rank can often be determined. However, note color variations due to aging and different manufacturers.

Historical reference material for education and research. Colors may vary between surviving objects, photographs and modern displays. This encyclopedia is revised as new corrections and sources become available.