When did generic litzen first appear?

[soldat251]

Can anyone tell me when the Wehrmacht first began using generic litzen during WWII? Also, was it confined to certain branches of the military? Thank you.

[Dave Suter]

Define 'generic' - all three branches of the Wehrmacht used slightly different tress, and the army changed the pattern to the 'diamond' style used throughout the war on 10 September 1935.

Is that what you wanted?

[Rick Research]

He means the collar tabs that no longer bore branch piping colors.

[soldat251]

You are right Rick

They had a sky blue sort of color piping.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi, the "Einheitslitzen" were introduced in November 1938.
Hope this helps?
Cheers, Ade.

[soldat251]

I think we are still missing the point guys

Found a picture of what I am describing. To see it follow the instructions below:
Go to: "atthefront.com"
Click on: "German"
Then: "Insignia"
Then: "Heer"
Then: "Collar Insignia"
Look at: "Late-war generic"

I would have posted a pic if I could. I didn't think it was going to be this hard finding an answer. But then again, answers are what we are here for. If this doesn't help, I give up!

[Rick Research]

I thought the unpiped Litzen were introduced to go with the tunic-colored collar M1941 tunics, and were more or less standard by the M1943s?

(It's been a whole lot of year's since I played with enlisted men's WW2 tunics!)

I'd have said there were a number of varieties of "universals"--

1) the tropical aka "Afrika" ones that were blue and copper colored

2) ones that were mostly dark green with the tabs themselves gray

3) "mouse gray" I always thought were the last pattern

Pix! Pix pleez!

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Soldat, just had a look at the "At the Front" website and the ones you mean.
The date I gave in my first reply are for the first pattern universal litzen that were introduced, these were grey and green. Rick listed them in his reply as No. 2.
The one that you need the date for are the ones Rick has listed as No. 3. in his answer. They were introduced after 1940 and can be found on the M40, M43 and M44 uniforms.
Cheers, Ade.

[soldat251]

Thanks to Rick and Ade

Thanks guys, my quest is over. It's great to have such knowledegable people around to answer questions for us novices.