BACKGROUND: The DRK, Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (German Red Cross), was a voluntary civil assistance organization that was originally instituted in 1864 and was officially acknowledged by the Geneva Convention on July 27TH 1929. On December 9TH 1937 the DRK gained the status of a legally recognized organization by the NSDAP. As with other essential services in Third Reich Germany the DRK came under control of the NSDAP in late 1938 under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior Social Welfare Organization. DRK uniforms and insignia can be traced back to at least WWI and underwent minor modifications until August 6TH 1935 when major modifications were enacted including the introduction of the national eagle emblem with swastika. Further regulations in January 1938 dictated additional minor uniform modifications. The January 1938 uniform regulations introduced a national eagle and assignment location sleeve triangle for wear on the upper right sleeve of the service tunic and greatcoats of salaried DRK personnel.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Woven grey rayon, triangular base with a machine woven stylized national eagle with down-swept wings clutching a wreathed, canted swastika in silver/grey threads. The eagle is positioned above machine woven assignment location, "Wuppertal 5", also in silver/grey threads. The outer edge of the triangular base has a fine machine woven silver/grey border stripe. The triangular base has machine stitched outer edges with two small triangular grey rayon sections folded to the reverse.