BACKGROUND: Although military ranks and rank designations can be traced back to the mercenary armies of the 17^TH century it wasn’t until the creation of standing armies in the early 18^TH 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 specific, identifying, waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), with cornflower blue being chosen for Sanitäts, (Medical), personnel which was generally displayed as the base on the shoulder boards.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Sew on shoulder boards in bright, silver/aluminum Russian braid with a gilt washed, stamped alloy, Asklepian/Aesculapian, (Serpent intertwined on a staff), to each, mounted on cornflower blue wool waffenfarbe bases. The cyphers retain all of their gilt wash and are still quite clean and bright. The shoulder boards are in overall good condition with minor age and usage toning, some minor fraying to the sew on ends and a few pinhead sized moth nips to the cornflower blue wool bases. The shoulder boards indicate the medical rank of Assistenzarzt, which is the equivalent of a Leutnant.