SEE BELOW FOR DESCRIPTION

H046963 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIAL’S SHOULDER BOARD. (Schulterstücke für Verwaltung Beamten)

BACKGROUND: Although military ranks and rank designations can be traced back to the mercenary armies of the 17TH century it wasn’t until the creation of standing armies in the early 18TH 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 German army had a tradition, dating from the 1700's, of maintaining a separate branch of Administrative Officials attached to the army to oversee all administrative functions, thus freeing up active army Officers and allowing them to concentrate on actual military matters. The Officials were responsible for a wide variety of administrative tasks from Court Martial, Librarian, Supply, Technical and Meteorological Services, to School, Barracks, and Hospital administration. Most Officials careers consisted of four varying grades, of high, elevated, medium and low grade with slightly differing identifying insignia for each grade. The grade of the career was determined by the education and/or experience of the individual. During the Reichswehr, (National Defence Force, Circa 1919-1933), era the Officials were divided into military and civilian personnel until December 22ND 1934 when the German High Command did away with the differentiation and consolidate all the officials into the newly formed Wehrmachtbeamte-Heer, (Armed Forces Officials-Army). Originally only the civilian Officials utilized the distinctive, "HV", shoulder board cyphers indicating, Heeres Verwaltung, (Army Administration), until the regulations of December 22ND 1934 stipulated that the "HV" cyphers were to be worn by all Officials with a couple of exceptions. The "HV" cyphers were in silver/white metal for Officials holding the equivalent positions/ranks of Generals, NCO’s and Reserve Officials and in gilt metal for Officials holding the equivalent positions/ranks of Field and Company grade Officers. After the war started the "HV" cyphers were produced in matte grey metal for all positions/ranks. Regulations of March 12TH 1937 reorganized the Officials and instituted the new Beamte auf Kriegsdauer a.K., (Wartime Officials for the duration of the war), to be activated in times of mobilization. Originally the uniformed Officials were allotted identifying, dark green waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), with a nebenfarbe, (Secondary Color), to indicate their actual career. Of Note: Regulations of March 21ST 1940, replaced the assorted nebenfarbe colors with a secondary color of light grey for all Officials regardless of career or function. In January 1944 the Army instituted a new career for Officers and certain Officials, entitled, TSD, "Truppensonderdienst", (Special Service). This new career used light blue waffenfarbe and did away with secondary colors as worn by Officials in the other careers. On May 1ST 1944 all high grade career Administrative Officials were transferred to the TSD.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Post-1940 pattern, slip on shoulder board in matte, silver/aluminum Russian braid with a fine, dark green cord separating the two outer and inner braids and a matte grey washed, stamped alloy, overlapping, stylized, "HV", cypher indicating Heeres Verwaltung, (Army Administration). The shoulder board is mounted on a dark green wool waffenfarbe base with a light grey wool nebenfarbe, (secondary color). The secondary color is sandwiched between the Russian braid and the green base and is just visible at the sides. The shoulder board has it’s narrow, dark green wool, slip on retaining tongue intact. The shoulder board is in overall good condition with light age and usage toning and a small scar that appears to indicate a rank pip had been applied at one time. As is the shoulder board was worn by an Administrative Official with the equivalent position/rank of an army Leutnant, with the specific career determining the Official’s actual title. With the addition of the missing rank pip the shoulder board would indicate an Administrative Official with the equivalent position/rank of an army Oberleutnant.

GRADE ***1/4                             PRICE $15.00

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