General Epaulletes, german or romanian?

[LVAZ]

hello guys
i need please your opinion on those General Epaulletes ( shoulder boards)
is it german?
somebody told me that it's romanian...
Thanks a lot

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[GdC26]

I'm not sure if they are Romanian, but if they're (purported to be) German then they're not general's epaulettes, as they do not sport "steifen Kantillen" (the bullion fringes, which in the case at hand are not stiff, but merely hang down). I doubt they are German though, as they lack the state colours in the Tresse-overlay bordering the rectangular part of the epaulettes shown, and sport three pips, which would be incorrect for the ranks (Major-Full colonel) for which this type of epaulette would be used in the continents that made up the imperial German army.

So perhaps Romanian, but unlikely to be German.

[C. Roelens]

I was also told they were German General's epaulettes. What say you Rene? Anybody?

Chuck

[GdC26]

No, I'm afraid they're not. Just do a quick web search and you'll see the differences.

General officer rank:
https://www.weitze.net/militaria/79/...2__295579.html

https://www.weitze.net/militaria/28/...s__375128.html

https://www.weitze.net/militaria/65/...s__327865.html

https://www.weitze.net/militaria/38/...w__234438.html

Major - Oberst:

https://www.weitze.net/militaria/10/...4__257210.html

https://www.weitze.net/militaria/06/...b__344306.html

https://www.weitze.net/militaria/54/...0__327854.html

Unlike the thread starter, all epaulettes shown in the links sport state colours on the Tresse; the general rank epaulettes sport reinforced fringes; and there are no pips for major, one for lieutenant-colonel, two for colonel.

The only officer-rank that springs to mind that has three pips is Generaloberst (or, with crossed batons, Generaloberst im Range eines Generalfeldmarschalls, an honorary rank that was abolished in 1911 if memory serves - see the first set shown above): but these types of epaulettes have the reinforced fringes commonly used on general rank epaulettes of all German states.

[ROBB]

They certainly look German , but as everyone from a doorman to a feldmarschall wore them a lot of research is needed untill you come up with who did actually wear them . Just my 2 Bob. Rob

[ROBB]

Found this photo in one of my Jan Kube catalogues , Looks similar and I think it says General. Rob

[GdC26]

Found this photo in one of my Jan Kube catalogues , Looks similar and I think it says General. Rob

Did anyone actually read the narrative or the pics in my post at all?

The Kube pics indeed show generals epaulettes (old style GO im Range eines GFM), BUT they have Steife Kantillen, unlike the threadstarter.

Perhaps this chart and the pics below help make the point.

[GdC26]

Oberst: unreinforced bullions (so they hang down and fold) + State colour tresse

[GdC26]

General: reinforced bullions (immobile, thicker and reinforced on the back) + State colour tresse. The second pic shows the leather reinforcement behind the bullions, which as said, are also thicker on general's epaulettes then they are on Major-Oberst epaulettes.

The Threadstarters have loose hanging bullions, and no state colours on the tresse. Ergo: the thread starters are not german imperial era General's epaulettes (because they do not have reinforced bullions, as the pair from the Kube catalogue has, in fact), and in all likelihood are not German (for lack of state coloured tresse and because of the three pips, which do not match the German army rank system).

But of course, in these days where story trumps fact, they can be anything you want them to be ....

[C. Roelens]

Great information, thank you.

Chuck

[GdC26]

Great information, thank you.

Chuck

My pleasure Chuck.