WW2 German Shoulder Boards

[Porcelain44]

Are these WW2 German NCO artillery shoulder boards or another branch? thanks

[von thoma]

Oberfeldwebel rank , 3 possibilities for 'Hochrot' colour ; Artillery, Assault guns ( Sturmgeschütze ) and Heavy Flak.
Artillery corps is the most common possibility.

[hannibal2]

"Artillery corps" is too vague a description. The boards pictured are specifically those of a member of a Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung. This is shown by the black underlay of the boards which corresponds with the black color of the Panzertruppe. Artillery units of the Heer had a field grey, Flak units of the Luftwaffe a light blue underlay. Sturmgeschütze were a mixed breed of artillery and tanks, and as such were categorized as gepanzerte Artillerie, i.e. guns mounted on a Panzer chassis. This mix is indicated on the boards through the combination of the red Litzen (artillery) and the black underlay (Panzers).

Cheers Gert

[von thoma]

You're absolutely right.

I had not noticed the black colour, sometimes I really get confused with certain dark colours, mostly green and blue.