Officer's Collar Tabs Litzen

[shinerb]

Does the litzen on Heer officer's collar tabs, which represents the branch, denote a certain time frame of construction? I see them sometime in a rope pattern and sometimes in a more straight, string-like manner of manufacture. I looked at my reference and it makes no note of time frame except the 1945 --> Bevo version.

[NickG]

The different versions of officer's collar tabs (center braiding in rope or string-like fashion) are basically nothing other than makers variations...no time frame!
Some of course with silver area subdued for field wear, others shiny for dress uniforms,perhaps with more elaborate center braiding and all mounted on dark green.

(and you also had the parade tabs entirely made in the respective branch farbe + silver, matching the center braiding in color, intended for parade rocks)

but back to regular officer's tabs on dark green backing, the only style change that occured based on a time frame is the introduction of flatwire BeVo tabs.
I believe these are considered "M44" (1944) style tabs by collectors and used late war and intended for field wear.
Of course the regular embroidered patterns were also used uptil the end of the war.
Here is an example of BOTH styles;

[shinerb]

Thanks for your insight and posting that.

[Diane]

The so call M-44 style Officers collar tabs . . .

The so called "M-44" Style Officers collar tabs were actually patented DRGM 1477996 on 1.11.39 by Richter & Rohrlapper of Brandenburg / Havel.

So it is therefore possible to find these on earlier period tunics.

[JPhilip]

The so called "M-44" Style Officers collar tabs were actually patented DRGM 1477996 on 1.11.39 by Richter & Rohrlapper of Brandenburg / Havel.

So it is therefore possible to find these on earlier period tunics.

Hello,
Thank you very much for this interesting input.
Another collector designation blown away...
I think i'm going to look more carefully at the officers' collar on the period pics.

[NickG]

The so called "M-44" Style Officers collar tabs were actually patented DRGM 1477996 on 1.11.39 by Richter & Rohrlapper of Brandenburg / Havel.

So it is therefore possible to find these on earlier period tunics.

Great info! I've seen these DRGM numbers printed on the backs of such flatwire collar insignia but bever researched the date!
I've always heard (assumed) this was a late war development and that these flat wire tabs were often used on field gray Assault Gunner wrappers... hence that theory!
I wonder what the implementation date was. Patenting something and producing something not necessarily has to be around the same time!

Any examples of FLATWIRE officer's collar litzen on early tunics?
Here's an example (engineers) on a bleached M43 "Südfront" uniform...

[Diane]

M-44 Officers collar tabs . . .

Hi Nick,

I saw a pair of these on an officers tunic dated 1942.

I heard of a pair found on another tunic dated 1940 but there was some question whether they had been replaced.

Di

[NickG]

Hi Nick,

I saw a pair of these on an officers tunic dated 1942.

I heard of a pair found on another tunic dated 1940 but there was some question whether they had been replaced.

Di

According to this source (note introduction date) these M44 tabs could not have appeared on an early tunic...unless its been rebadged war time or restored postwar...
http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Heer/photos/H068057.html

[Diane]

They are NOT the same pattern!

Hi Nick,

Regarding the link provided ~

These are NOT the same pattern! They differ from the Richter & Rohrlapper design of 1.11.39 - look at them closely!

The pattern shown on the collectors guild is the true 1944 pattern for officers, most of which were never issued - BTW. They were meant to be applied without a backing or stiffener directly to the collar.

I have yet to find an actually patent / Gebrauchsmuster for this "M-44" pattern yet.

BTW - this pattern was continued in production (with slight color changes) by the East German Army from 1956 - 1962.

Diane

[NickG]

Hi Nick,

Regarding the link provided ~

These are NOT the same pattern! They differ from the Richter & Rohrlapper design of 1.11.39 - look at them closely!

The pattern shown on the collectors guild is the true 1944 pattern for officers, most of which were never issued - BTW. They were meant to be applied without a backing or stiffener directly to the collar.

I have yet to find an actually patent / Gebrauchsmuster for this "M-44" pattern yet.

BTW - this pattern was continued in production (with slight color changes) by the East German Army from 1956 - 1962.

Diane

===============
Wow learned something new today. So 3 styles!
-Bullion (most common)
-Early flatwire with stiffener (1939 patent date, introduction date??)
-Late war M44 flatwire with no stiffener (similar to East German), introduction date September 1944

Good info. I don't think that its covered like that in most collector references,
but I'll hit my books! Very interesting! Thanks for your input and knowledge Diane!
Nick

[Zeller]

bumping this interesting thread, hope to read an update

[vonleonhausen]

Hello gentlemen,

8 years has passed since the last comment, and I'm feeling like this should get on the first page again!

I have recently bought a pair of flatwire/bevo cavalry officer collar tabs and they seem to have a kind of stiffener at the back side, or maybe is was just applied to have some hard base to sew on? I don't know...

Can I have your opinion on this? Are those the Richter & Rohrlapper design of 1.11.39 or are they genuine M44 officer collar tabs?

Thanks in advance!

Greetings,

vonleonhausen

[Johnny R]

The stiffener is buckram with a light coat of resin applied to make it less flexible. It was made this way in the factory. These in my opinion are mid to late war.

[vonleonhausen]

The stiffener is buckram with a light coat of resin applied to make it less flexible. It was made this way in the factory. These in my opinion are mid to late war.

Thanks for your fast reply Johnny! They are indeed very stiff! Why did they make them that stiff?

[Johnny R]

The backing helps them to retain their shape and they are easier to apply with better appearance.