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The officer collar tabs of the Feldgendarmerie were a distinctive element of the uniform worn by officers of the German Army military police during the Second World War.
These insignia were attached to the collar of the Feldbluse, the standard field tunic worn by German Army personnel. Within the Wehrmacht’s uniform system, collar tabs served as an important means of identifying both rank category and branch of service.
Unlike the Litzen worn by enlisted men and non-commissioned officers, officers used embroidered collar tabs featuring an ornamental arabesque pattern, typically produced using silver metallic thread.
The cloth backing displayed the Waffenfarbe, the branch color system used within the German armed forces to distinguish different service branches.
For the Feldgendarmerie, the designated branch color was orange, identifying the military police units of the German Army.
The Feldgendarmerie performed a wide range of duties within the Wehrmacht structure, including:
regulation of military traffic,
maintenance of discipline among troops,
security operations in rear areas,
guarding and administration of prisoners of war,
policing duties in occupied territories.
Officers of the Feldgendarmerie were responsible for commanding military police units and coordinating these various operational functions.
Members of this branch were also widely recognized by the distinctive metal gorget (Ringkragen) worn on the chest while on duty.
Officer collar tabs were generally manufactured using silver bullion or metallic thread embroidery on high-quality wool backing. Production was carried out by various German uniform and insignia manufacturers supplying officer equipment to the Wehrmacht.
The orange Feldgendarmerie collar tabs therefore represent a distinctive uniform feature associated with the officers of the German Army military police during World War II.
