Evolution of the Heer Breast eagle

[Fred Green]

"The official introductory order (Chef der Heeresleitung No. 440/43 WehrA. Alleg.IV -Az.64) dated 17 Feb 1934 stated that the national emblem was to be worn on all steel Helmets, peaked caps, tunics, and field blouses no later than 1 May 1934"- UNIFORMS AND TRADITIONS OF THE GERMAN ARMY Vol 2, pg 49, Angolia/Schlicht

This was the start of the wearing of the breast eagle as we know it. The first pattern breast eagle was a white eagle on a grey base material. It had a corresponding Dress eagle of flatwire that I will cover later. The eagle is not well formed and lacked some substance in my opinion. The colors even made it look weak to me. None the less it was the starting point of the Heer breast eagles.

[Fred Green]

On 10 Sep 1935 HV35, No.505 directed that the facing colors be changed from a dark field grey badge cloth to a bluish green badge cloth. Strangely enough, at this time the color of the eagle did not change even though the color of the collar, shoulder boards, sleeve chevrons and the backings for the trade insignia did!

It wasn't until 19 Jun 1937, 3 years later, that HV37, No. 745 directed that the eagle color and design be changed. The color was to be a silver grey on dark bluish green(White on Dark green) The style of the eagle was much more stylized and the colors enhanced the look of strength. This pattern of eagle would be used throughout the war with pretty much only color changes.

[Fred Green]

From what we know in researching existing information, the breast eagles color was changed again 5 Feb 1939. It was mentioned but a published order has not been found yet. The color was changed from a silver grey to a more dull grey. It was still on its bluish green base cloth.

It is interesting that the round end shoulder boards and the einheits tabs were introduced 2 months prior on 26 Nov 1938 by HV 38, No. 462. I had conflicting sources on this and HV 38B , No. 452 was also mentioned for this directive. From doing this research I saw that facing colors, and eagle colors directives were not issued at the same time but months, and sometimes years apart.

[Fred Green]

4 Jun 1940 brings us directive HV 40B, No.337 which tells us the eagles color will now be a mouse grey on grey.

April 25 1940 HM 40, No.554 directed that NCO braid and chevron tress be grey.

9 May 1940 the collar tabs also changed to mouse grey on grey. Also in May 1940 the collar went from bluish green badge cloth to field grey uniform cloth.

[Fred Green]

The M44 Triangular form eagle as we know it was announced in the publication "UNIFORM MARKT". An official order has not been found for it either. This eagle differed in that it only took 3 lines of straight stitching to attach it to a tunic. It was a definite labor saving device and saved lots of man hours used in the sewing of insignia to the tunic at the factory.

[Fred Green]

The next 2 eagles do not have directive posted about them either. They were very late war and lots of period photos and unaltered tunic from the period show their usage.

The first is the 3 colored printed breast eagle. This is a far cry from the beautiful woven pieces that we have seen thus far. Printing saved time, effort and resources and it was meant to be sewn in a triangular fashion like the M44 breast eagle. We have seen some applications of this eagle in the conventional form where it had been "cut and folded" as a woven eagle would have been.

[Fred Green]

The second issue late war eagle is a machine embroidered piece. You can find these manufactured in a myriad of different shades of green and field grey and are a collecting field in themselves. Again, there are numerous period photos and unaltered tunics of the period with these eagles in place.

[Stepdale]

Thanks Fred. A very instructive and useful thread from you as always!
Dale

[David Fettes]

The M44 Triangular form eagle as we know it was announced in the publication "UNIFORM MARKT".

Very nice work, do you know which edition of Uniformen-Markt it appears in?

[Fred Green]

David,

No I do not remember. I will check for you though. It had a line drawing of the uniform if I remember correctly.

Fred

[Laurence Strong]

Very nice work, do you know which edition of Uniformen-Markt it appears in?

Heft 12 December 1944 pg's 5 - 7


Cheers
Larry

[Fred Green]

Thanks Laurence !!

[Maxoumilitaria]

Very nice! Thanks Fred !

[David Fettes]

Heft 12 December 1944 pg's 5 - 7 Cheers
Larry

Thanks Larry

[longislandercjv]

Hello Fred;

A very nice presentation.
How about one on the Waffenrock eagles?
Wide range of backing colors (Gray, tan, field gray, etc)
See you at the SOS.

Chris Varrichio