Heer Generals of the Specialists Careers Insignia

In both the Heer and Luftwaffe, a differentiation was made between “troop” Generals and Generals having “specialist” careers (such as, General of Medical services, etc.). Troops Generals were considered superior officers because of their combat or field knowledge and experience. So, to make a visual differentiation between the two, the specialist career Generals were given separate, distinct branch colors to wear as an underlay on their insignia, as well as their uniforms (trouser stripes, lapel facings, etc.). Specialist Generals were those men in charge of Medical, Judicial, Administrative, etc. These changes were instituted very late in the war, April 25^th of 1944, and as a result can be rather rare to encounter.

Note: Some of the insignia photographs below are graphic photo illustrations, using actual pieces but altering branch color by retouching. This was done because actual samples of some of the individual ranks were not available for inclusion. If you are a Heer collector, have specimens of these ranks and would like to share the images with fellow collectors, please contact me as I welcome any and all contributions in the goal of making this website all encompassing in regards to high ranks.

Shoulderboards

Special Services Administrative (Truppensonderdienst) Generalleutnant (Generalstabsintendant)

General’s shoulderboard in matte celleon, and aluminum inner cords, with a single rank pip over a light, cornflower blue underlay.

(private collection)

Special Services Judiciary Corps Generalmajor (Generalrichter)

General’s shoulderboard in matte celleon, and aluminum inner cords, with a single rank pip over a wine red underlay.

(private collection)

Medical Generalmajor (Generalarzt)

General’s shoulderboard with a medical caduceus device over a Royal blue underlay.

(Holzauge Historical Collection)

Motor Parks Troop Generalmajor

General’s shoulderboard in matte celleon, and aluminum inner cords over a pink branch color for armoured troops/motor parks. The senior commander of motor parks would also have had the devices “I” and “HK” added to this shoulderboard.

Veterinary Generalmajor (Generalveterinar)

Veterinary Generals shoulderboard in celleon and aluminum over a carmine branch underlay color. The board would have a Serpent device attached to the center of it, by regulation it should be silver, but in this case gold was used (it may have been what was available to the tailor).

(private collection)

Ordnance Services Generalmajor

Shoulderboard in matte bullion and aluminum over orange branch color underlay, with crossed cannon device.

Collar Tabs

Special Services Administrative (Truppensonderdienst) General

Gold bullion wreath with a single gull over a light, cornflower blue underlay.

(Howard Kelly collection)

Special Services Judiciary Corps General

Gold bullion embroidery over a wine red underlay.

(private collection)

Medical General

Gold bullion wreath with a single gull over a Royal blue underlay.

(photo composite illustration, for reference only)

General of Motor Parks Troops

Gold bullion embroidery over a pink underlay.

(photo composite illustration, for reference only)

General of Veterinary Services

Gold bullion embroidery over a carmine underlay.

(private collection)

General of Ordnance Services

Gold bullion embroidery over an orange underlay.

(photo composite illustration, for reference only)

Heer Generals of the Specialists Careers and Corresponding Ranks

Troop General Rank Equivalent	Veterinary	Administrative (Trupponsonderdienst)	Judicial	Medical
Generalmajor	Generalinveterinar	Generalintendant	Generalrichter	Generalarzt
Generalleutnant	Generalstabveterinar	Generalstabsintendant	Generalstabsrichter	Generaloberarzt
General		Generaloberstabsintendant	Generaloberstabsrichter

I’m looking for good photographs of original Heer General’s of the Specialist Careers officer insignia. If you have something to contribute, please visit the submitting photos page.