BACKGROUND: Although military ranks and rank designations can be traced back to the mercenary armies of the 17TH century it wasn’t until the creation of standing armies in the early 18TH century that distinguishing insignia of rank began to be developed. Originally the shoulder straps were functional items designed to secure the saber and ammunition shoulder cross straps and the larger, metal trimmed epaulettes were a throw back to the protective shoulder pieces worn on medieval armor. By 1800 the epaulettes had lost their protective function and were retained as a badge of rank. In 1866 a new system of rank distinguishing Officer’s shoulder boards were introduced to replace the previously worn epaulettes although the epaulettes were retained for the parade and dress uniforms. Although the officer’s shoulder boards underwent numerous minor modifications they remained basically the same right up until the end of WWII. The different branches of service within the German army were allocated a particular identifying waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), which was displayed as the base on the shoulder boards with light green being chosen for Panzer Grenadier personnel. Of Note: Due to the overlapping use of various shades of green waffenfarbe by Schützen, Jägers, Gebirgsjäger, and Panzer Grenadiers, it is difficult to attribute the branch of service with absolute certainty.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Slip on shoulder boards of interwoven, matte silver/aluminum Russian braid with two slightly, gilt washed, stamped alloy rank pips, mounted on a light green wool waffenfarbe base. Nice worn and used pair. Scarce.