State Organizations Collar Tab and Shoulder Board Identification Guide

Diplomatic Corps

The Diplomatic Corps had special shoulder boards worn only on the Formal Evening Dress Uniform. Government Administration Official boards could also be worn to identify the 4 pay groups. These shoulder boards had a navy blue background per the 1938 regulations. The background color was changed under the 1939 regulations to black for regular uniforms and white for the summer uniforms.

Diplomatic Corps Formal Event - Minister Level	Diplomatic Corps Formal Event - Deputy Minister Level	Diplomatic Corps (Blue Background) - PayGroup 1	Diplomatic Corps (Black Background) - PayGroup 1	Diplomatic Corps (Black Background) - PayGroup 2	Diplomatic Corps (White Background) - PayGroup 2	Diplomatic Corps (Black Background) - PayGroup 3	Diplomatic Corps (Black Background) - PayGroup 4

Diplomatic Corps/Government Officials Rank Insignia

The rank insignia were worn on the left lower sleeve of the uniform. A Navy style braid was worn on the uniform cuff to indicate paygroup. First seen during the 1938 visit to Rome, the braid was soon replaced by a system of stars on the cuff. In 1939, the star system was replaced with the Government official style insignia worn on the left sleeve above the cuff. In 1942, the star system was restored and used until 1945. Note that junior ranks such as Konsulatspraktikant, Assistent, Drucker, Pförtner,and Amtsgehilfe did not have stars on the uniform cuff. While not a Collar Tab or Shoulder Board, they are included as a matter of interest.

Braid for Pay Group 1. Used during visit to Rome in 1938	Braid for Pay Group 2. Used during visit to Rome in 1938	Braid for Pay Group 3. Used during visit to Rome in 1938	Braid for Pay Group 4. Used during visit to Rome in 1938
Staatssekrëtar, Botschafter 1938-1939, 1942-1945	Unterstaatssekretär 1938-1939, 1942-1945	Ministerialdirektor, Generalkonsul I Klasse 1938-1939, 1942-1945	Ministerialdirigent, Gesandter I Klasse, Kabinettrat 1938-1939, 1942-1945
Vortreter legationsrat, Gesandter, Generalkonsul, Botschaftrat, Ministerialrat 1938-1939, 1942-1945	Legationsrat I Klasse, Gesandterrat I Klasse, Oberregierungrat, Konsul I Klasse 1938-1939, 1942-1945	Legationsrat, Gesandter, Konsul, Regierungsrat 1938-1939, 1942-1945	Vizekonsul, Attaché, Legationssekretär 1938-1939, 1942-1945
Amtmann, Kanzler I Klasse, Obersekretär 1938-1939, 1942-1945	Kanzler II Klasse, Ministerial Amtsgehilfe 1938-1939, 1942-1945	Konsulatssekretär I Klasse, Oberinspektor 1938-1939, 1942-1945	Konsulatssekretär, Inspektor 1938-1939, 1942-1945
	Reichsminister Insignia worn by Konstantinvon Neurath and Joachim von Ribbentrop - 1938-1939	Reichsminister Insignia worn by Joachim von Ribbentrop - 1939-1945
Staatssekrëtar, Botschafter 1939-1942	Unterstaatssekretär 1939-1942	Ministerialdirektor, Generalkonsul I Klasse 1939-1942	Ministerialdirigent, Gesandter I Klasse, Kabinettrat 1939-1942
Vortreter legationsrat, Gesandter, Generalkonsul, Botschaftrat, Ministerialrat 1939-1942	Legationsrat I Klasse, Gesandterrat I Klasse, Oberregierungrat, Konsul I Klasse 1939-1942	Legationsrat, Gesandter, Konsul, Regierungsrat 1939-1942	Vizekonsul, Attaché, Legationssekretär 1939-1942
Amtmann, Kanzler I Klasse, Obersekretär 1939-1942	Kanzler II Klasse, Ministerial Amtsgehilfe 1939-1942	Konsulatssekretär I Klasse, Oberinspektor 1939-1942	Konsulatssekretär, Inspektor 1939-1942
Obersekretar 1939-1942	Sekretar 1939-1942	Assistent 1939-1942	Gehilfe 1939-1942

Government Administration Officials

Government Administration Officials consisted of 4 pay groups identified by a distinctive eagle on the shoulder boards. Underlay colors identified assignment, with wine red for Judicial, orange red for Postal, and gray for all other officials.

Administration Official - PayGroup 1	Judicial Administration Official - PayGroup 1	Postal Administration Official - PayGroup 2	Administration Official - PayGroup 3	Judicial Administration Official - PayGroup 3	Administration Official - PayGroup 4	Postal Administration Official - PayGroup 4

Government Officials Rank Insignia

The rank insignia were worn on the left lower sleeve of the uniform. Worn from 1939 to 1945. While not a Collar Tab or Shoulder Board, they are included as a matter of interest.

Reichsminister	Chief as Meissner Minister without portfolio	Chief as Meissner - White Uniform Minister without portfolio	Staatsminister Councillors
Staatssekretar Councillors	Unterstaatssekretar Councillors	Ministerialdirektor Councillors	Ministerialdirigent Senior Clerks
Ministerialrat Senior Clerks	Ministerialrat - Gray Service Uniform Senior Clerks	Oberregierungsrat Senior Clerks	Regierungsrat Senior Clerks
Amtrat Junior Clerks	Amtmann Junior Clerks	Oberinspektor Junior Clerks	Inspektor Junior Clerks
Obersekretar Assistants	Sekretar Assistants	Assistent Assistants	Gehilfe Assistants

General Government of Poland Rank Insignia

The rank insignia were worn on the left lower sleeve of the uniform. While not a Collar Tab or Shoulder Board, they are included as a matter of interest.

Generalgouverneur of Poland 1939-1945	ReichsMinister of Poland 1939-1945	Generalkomissar Pay Group 1a - 1939-1945	Staatssekretär Pay Group 1b - 1939-1945
Ministerialdirektor or Abteilungsleiter Pay Group 1c - 1939-1945	Ministerialdirigent Pay Group 1d - 1939-1945	Ministerialrat or Oberregierungsdirektor Pay Group 2 - 1939-1945	Regierungsdirektor or Oberregierungsrat Pay Group 3a - 1939-1945
Oberlandrat or Gebietskomissar Pay Group 3b - 1939-1945	Regierungsrat, Steurerrat, Zollrat Pay Group 3c - 1939-1945	Assoren or die einen Behördenleiter Pay Group 3d - 1939-1945	Übrige Assesorent Pay Group 3e - 1939-1945
Amtrat Pay Group 4a1 - 1939-1945	Amtrat Pay Group 4a1 - 1939-1945	Regierungsrat, Steurerrat, Zollrat Pay Group 4a2 - 1939-1945	Assoren or die einen Behördenleiter Pay Group 4a3 - 1939-1945
Übrige Assesorent Pay Group 4a4 - 1939-1945	Obersekretär Pay Group 4b1 - 1939-1945	Sekretär Pay Group 4b2 - 1939-1945	Assistent Pay Group 4b3 - 1939-1945
Amtsgehilfe Pay Group 4c1 - 1939-1945	Betriebsassistent Pay Group 4c2 - 1939-1945	Wachmeister Pay Group 4c3 - 1939-1945

Baudienst im Generalgouvernement Rank Insignia

Formed in 1939 to perform construction projects in Poland. Consisted of Polish workers with German Overseers.

Haupinspektor	Oberinspektor	Inspektor	Unknown rank
Haupinspektor (later style)	Oberinspektor (later style)	Inspektor (later style)

Einstazstab Reichslieter Rosenberg Rank Insignia

This unit was formed in Paris in 1940 with the purpose of appropriating cultural artificts for study. The headquarters was soon trasfered to the Reichs Foreign Office in Berlin and was active in all occupied territories. Red background for Headquarters personnel, wine red background for all other personnel.

Oberst Einsatzführer 1940-1945	Oberstabseinsatzführer 1940-1945	Stabseinsatzführer 1940-1945	Haupeinsatzführer 1940-1945
Obereinsatzführer 1940-1945	Einsatzführer 1940-1945	Stabseinsatzhelfer 1940-1942	Haupeinsatzhelfer 1940-1942
Obereinsatzhelfer 1940-1942	Einsatzhelfer 1940-1942

Reichsfinanzverwaltung (Customs Service)

The Customs Service was divided into 2 groups, the Landzollbeamte (including the Wasserzollbeamte) and the Zollbeamte. The Landzollbeamte insignia was bottle green and dull aluminum while the Zollbeamte insignia was bottle green and bright aluminum. The Wasserbeamte had a dark blue underlay and crossed anchors instead of the RFV cypher worn by other customs officials.

ZollMinisterialrat	ZollOberregierungsrat	ZollRegierungsrat	ZollOberInspekteur
ZollInspekteur	OberZollSekretar	ZollSekretar	ZollAssistent
ZollBetriebassistent	ZollOberWachtmeister	ZollWachtmeister	Zollwarter

Reichminister Der Finanzen	Staatssekretar	Ministerialdirektor	Oberfinanzprasident	Ministerialrat - Finanzprasident	Oberregierungsrat	Zollamtmann	Oberzollinspektor
Zollinspektor	Zollinspektor Ausserplanmassig	Oberzollsekretar	Zollsekretar	ZollAssistent	ZollAssistent Ausserplanmassig	Zollbetreibassistent	Zoll Oberwachtmeister
Zoll Wachtmeister	Finanzanwarter	Zollanwarter	Zollgrenzangesteller		Pre-1935 - Oberzollsekretar	Pre-1935 - ZollAssistent	Pre-1935 - Zollbetreibassistent
Wasserzollbeamte - Zollschiffer	Wasserzollbeamte - Zollbootsmann	Wasserzollbeamte - Zollmaschinist	Wasserzollbeamte - Zollschiffsheizer

Reich Forestchutz (Forestry Service) and Deutsche Jägerschaft (Hunting Association)

Collar tab and shoulder board underlay identified the service. Green for State Forestry Service, gray for Heer Forestry Service, black for Luftwaffe Forestry Service, and brown for Private Forestry Service. Examples are shown for each. Two shoulder boards are identified for the Hunting Association.

Oberlandforestmeister	Landforestmeister	Oberforestmeister	Forestmeister
Forstassiessor	Reviertorester	Reviertorester Auberplanmbig	Unterforester
Hilfsforester	Forstaufseher	Forester Anwarter

Oberlandforestmeister	Landforestmeister	Oberforestmeister	Forestmeister	Forstassiessor	Reviertorester	Reviertorester Auberplanmbig	Lower ranks
Heersoberforestmeister	Oberforestmeister Der Luftwaffe	Forestbeamter				Reichsjagermeister	Jaegerschaft Stabsleiter

Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK)

Officer - 1st style	Officer - 2nd style

Generahauptlführer	Generalführer	Oberstführer	Oberfeldführer	Feldführer	Hauptführer	Oberwachtführer	Wachtführer
Haupthelfer	Oberhelfer	Vorhelfer	Anwarter

ReichsBahn

Collar tabs and shoulder boards identified the paygroup, which was based on education and years in service. Job titles could vary within a paygroup. Shoulder board underlay identified assignment. Red for mainline service, blue for administration, yellow for signals, green for construction. Pips were square from 1935 to 1942. Round pips were used from 1942.

High Official - Open collar tunic Paygroup 1-5	High Official - Open collar tunic Paygroup 1-5	Officer - Open collar tunic Paygroup 6-11	NCO - Open collar tunic Paygroup 12-17
NCO - Open collar tunic Paygroup 12-17	Enlisted - Open collar tunic Paygroup 18 and above	RailLine Service Piping color identifies the Line	High Official - Closed collar tunic Paygroup 1-5
Officer - Closed collar tunic Paygroup 6-11	NCO - Closed collar tunic Paygroup 12-17	Enlisted - Closed collar tunic Paygroup 18 and above

Minister Der Reichsbahn	Paygroup 1	Paygroup 2	Paygroup 3	Paygroup 4	Paygroup 5	Paygroup 6	Paygroup 7
Paygroup 8	Paygroup 9	Paygroup 10	Paygroup 11	Paygroup 12	Paygroup 13 - 1942 pip	Paygroup 14	Paygroup 15
Paygroup 16	Paygroup 17	Paygroup 18	Paygroup 19	Paygroup 20	Senior Apprentice	Apprentice

ReichsPost

Collar tabs identified rank and assignment. No shoulder boards or straps worn. Stars were used instead of pips prior to 1935.

Oberpostinspektor	Postinspektor	APL Postinspektor	Postinspektoranwarter
Oberpostsekretar	Postsekretar	Postassistent	Postassistenthalfer
Postanwarter	Postbetriebswart	Oberpostschaffner	Postschaffner
Postbote	Hilfspostschaffner	Zweigpostampvorsteher	Posthalfer
Postjungbote		Postassistenthalfer - pre 1935	Postschaffner - pre 1935

ReichsPostkraftwagendienst

Collar tabs identified rank. No shoulder boards or straps worn.

Oberwerkmeister im KWD	Werkmeister im KWD	Werkfahrer im KWD	Postkraftwagenfahrer
Hilfskraftwagenfahrer	Kraftwagenfahrer

Reichsluftschutzbund

Collar tabs and shoulder boards identified rank for officers. NCO and enlisted wore the same shoulder strap.

RLB Prasident	Generalhauptluftschutzführer	Generalluftschutzführer	Oberstluftschutzführer
Oberstabsluftschutzführer	Stabsluftschutzführer	Hauptluftshutzführer	Oberluftshutzführer
Luftshutzführer	Obertruppmeister	Truppmeister	Obertruppwart
Truppwart	OberTruppmann	Truppmann

RLB Prasident	Generalhauptluftschutzführer	Generalluftschutzführer	Oberstluftschutzführer	Oberstabsluftschutzführer	Stabsluftschutzführer	Hauptluftshutzführer	Oberluftshutzführer
Luftshutzführer	NCO and enlisted

Reichsministerium für die besetzten Ostgebiete (RMBO)

The RMBO was created in 1941 to control the territory captured in Eastern Europe and Russia. Collar tabs identified rank and assignment. No shoulder boards or straps were worn. For the RMBO Eastern Officials, the background color identifies the department level. Crimson for Reichministry Officials, Carmine for Reichskommissariate, Orange for Hauptkommissariate and Generalkommissariate, and Bordeaux Red for Gebletskommissariate. Rank titles could vary between departments and are listed where appropriate.

The Arbeitseinsatzverwaltung (Labor Mobilization Administration) was created in 1942 to recruit or conscript labor from the occupied territories.

RMBO - Eastern Officials Reichminister	RMBO - Eastern Officials Vertreter des Reichminister	RMBO - Eastern Officials Reichskommissar	RMBO - Eastern Officials Hauptabteilungsleiter im Ministerium
RMBO - Eastern Officials Generalkommissar, Landesverwaltungsprasident	RMBO - Eastern Officials Ministerialdirigent	RMBO - Eastern Officials Vertreter des Generalkommissars	RMBO - Eastern Officials Ministerialrat, Landesdirektor, Bezirksdirektor, Gebietshauptkommissar
RMBO - Eastern Officials Dirigent, Landesdirigent, Bezirksdirigent, Gebietskommissar	RMBO - Eastern Officials Oberregierungsrat, Landesoberrat, Bezirksoberrat, Gebietsoberrat	RMBO - Eastern Officials Regierungsrat, Landesrat, Bezirksrat, Gebietsrat	RMBO - Eastern Officials Regierungsassessor, Landesassessor, Bezirksassessor
RMBO - Eastern Officials Amtsrat, Landesamtsrat, Bezirksamtsrat	RMBO - Eastern Officials Regierungsamtmann, Landesamtmann, Bezirksamtmann, Gebietsreferent	RMBO - Eastern Officials Regierungsoberinspektor, Landesoberinspektor, Bezirksoberinspektor, Gebietsoberinspektor	RMBO - Eastern Officials Regierungsinspektor, Landesinspektor, Bezirksinspektor, Gebietsinspektor
RMBO - Eastern Officials Inspektorenanwarter und a.p. Inspektor	RMBO - Eastern Officials Regierungsobersekretar, Landesobersekretar, Bezirksobersekretar, Gebietsobersekretar	RMBO - Eastern Officials Regierungssekretar, Landessekretar, Bezirkssekretar, Gebietssekretar	RMBO - Eastern Officials Verwaltungassisstent, Landesassistent, Bezirksassistent, Gebietsassistent
RMBO - Eastern Officials Assistentenanwarter	RMBO - Eastern Officials Betriebsassistent, Landesbetriebsassistent, Bezirksbetriebsassistent, Gebietsbetriebsassistent	RMBO - Eastern Officials Betriebsassistent a. Pr.	RMBO - Postal Officials Postassistent
RMBO - Postal Officials Postassistenthalfer	RMBO - Postal Officials Postanwarter	RMBO - Postal Officials Postbote	RMBO - Postal Officials Posthilfsbote
RMBO - Postal Officials Sleeve Patch	Arbeitseinsatzverwaltung Prasident	Arbeitseinsatzverwaltung Ministerialrat	Arbeitseinsatzverwaltung Oberregierungsrat
Arbeitseinsatzverwaltung Regierungsrat	Arbeitseinsatzverwaltung Regierungsoberinspektor	Arbeitseinsatzverwaltung Regierungsinspektor	Arbeitseinsatzverwaltung Sekretar
Arbeitseinsatzverwaltung Oberamtsgehilfe	Arbeitseinsatzverwaltung Amtsgehilfe	Arbeitseinsatzverwaltung Oberverwaltungsarbeiter	Arbeitseinsatzverwaltung Verwaltungsarbeiter

Organization Todt

From 1933 until 1938, rank and assignment was indicated by the Org. Todt armband. Shoulder straps were used to show rank from 1938 until 1942. In 1942, shoulder straps were discontinued, and collar tabs were used. Assignment or speciality was indicated by the underlay color, black - construction, green - administrative, white - equipment, blue - medical, yellow - signals, red - band members, and brown - propaganda.

Amtschef of Organization Todt	Einsatzgruppenleiter I	Einsatzgruppenleiter II	Hauptbauleiter
Oberbauleiter	Bauleiter	Hauptbauführer	Oberbauführer
Bauführer	Haupttruppführer	Obertruppführer	Truppführer
Mannschaften

Hauptbauführer - Construction (Black)	Oberbauführer - Equipment (White)	Bauführer - Administration (Green)	Haupttruppführer - Propaganda (Brown)	Obertruppführer - Signals (Yellow)	Truppführer - Medical (Blue)	Meister to Kameradschaftsführer - Band members (Red)	Arbeitsmann - Construction (Black)

Transportkorps Speer

Formed from various transport groups consolidated in 1944. Rank is indicated by the shoulder boards, assignment/speciality is indicated by the underlay color on the collar tabs and shoulder boards. Black - general service, green - administrative, light blue - supply, blue - medical, pink - engineer, wine red - judicial, and violet gray - special service.

Senior Officer Pink - Engineer	Officer Wine Red - Judicial	Enlisted Black - General Service

Korpskommandant Black - General Service	Gruppenkommandant Black - General Service	Brigadekommandant Black - General Service	Oberstkapitan Black - General Service	Oberfeldkapitan Light Blue - Supply	Oberstabskapitan Green - Administrative	Stabskapitan Black - General Service	Oberfeldkornett Pink - Engineer
Kornett Blue - Medical	Stabsfahrmeister Black - General Service	Hauptfahrmeister Blue - Medical	Oberfahrmeister Wine Red - Judicial	Fahrmeister Black - General Service	Unterfahrmeister Green - administrative	Hauptkraftfahrer, Oberkraftfahrer, Kraftfahrer Violet gray - special service

Transportflotte Speer

Waterborn transportation formation formed in 1943.

Kapitan	Hauptschiffsführer	Oberschiffsführer	Schiffsführer
Hauptbootsmann	Oberbootsmann	Bootsmann	Unterbootsmann