Corps colours (NPA)


Corps colours, or Troop-function colours, were worn by the National People's Army of the German Democratic Republic from 1956 to 1990.

Introduction

The GDR NPA uniforms initially bore the corps colours as worn by the Wehrmacht, i.e. as base and filling of the collar and sleeve patches, and as a piping around the shoulder boards/shoulder straps.
Between 1974 and 1979, alongside the introduction of uniforms with open collar and tie, patches of the NPA Landstreitkräfte uniforms were unified across all corps, with a base and a white filling, along with white collar piping; the piping of the shoulder boards/shoulder straps remained the only part carrying Waffenfarbe.
However, Air Forces of the National People's Army, paratroopers and generals as well as the Volksmarine continued to wear their specially designed and coloured patches.
The uniform of the Border Troops was distinguished from that of the NVA ground force and Air Force/Air Defence Force by a green armband with large silver letters identifying the wearer's affiliation, and a green cap band.
The tables below contain the corps colours used by the NPA since 1986.)

Land Forces of the National People's Army

⇒ see main article Ranks of the National People's Army
Regiment or Battalion typeColourInsigniasRank
General Officers, ground forcesScarlet
'		 Colonel general

WhiteGefreiter
PanzersRose-pink
'		:de:Stabsoberfähnrich|Stabs-Oberfaehnrich
  • Engineers
  • Chemical services
  • Motor vehicle service
  • Military transport service
    		• BlackFeldwebel
    SignalsYellowOberleutnant
    Rear service:
  • Supply
  • Legal service
  • Financial service
    		• Dark greenMajor
    Military bandsWhiteOberstleutnant
    ParatroopersOrange:de:Oberfähnrich#Nationale Volksarmee|Oberfaehnrich
  • Rocket troops & Artillery
  • Rocket and weapon technical service
  • Army air defence
  • Mechanization and automation of command and control
    		• Karmesine 'Captain
    Olive
    Steingrau Steingrau''' basic colour of the uniform

    Air Forces of the National People's Army

    Regiment or Battalion typeColourInsigniasRankRemarks
    General officersSky blueLieutenant generalAlso Generals of the Air defense forces and of the :de:Funktechnische Truppen|Funktechnische Truppen
    Air ForceLieutenantOfficers and warrant officers '
    Air ForceStabsgefreiterRank and file and sergeants
    Air Defence ForceLight grey'''Including rank and file, sergeants, warrant officers and officers

    Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic

    Border troop ratingsColourInsigniasRankRemarks
    GeneraleGreenMajor generalPipings, peaked cap stripe, collar patches, lampasses and stripes in green
    Officers,
    warrant officers
    		Warrant officer of the border troopsPipings, peaked cap stripe, and stripes in green
    Sergeants, rank and file:de:Unterfeldwebel|UnterfeldwebelPipings, peaked cap stripe, and stripes in green

    Volksmarine

    Civil defense of the GDR

    Waffenfarben were also worn by the troops of the Stasi, "Ministry for State Security", the Ministry of Internal Affairs with several branches of the police, fire brigades, etc.