Epaulette
A shoulder flap (in Austria : Achselspange ; in Germany originally called Achselspange ) is a cloth flap attached to the shoulders of uniforms , which is generally sewn into the sleeve seam and fastened to the side of the neck with a button. Epaulettes are used to fix the rifle shoulder strap as well as to attach badges of rank , unit markings and special-use markings, such as the rifle cord . The name comes from the previously common position of the armpit seam, which was halfway between the shoulder and armhole (armpit), between the armhole and the neck. The first armpit flaps were placed over the previously common seam in the 18th century. When the armpit seam was moved to the shoulder in the 20th century, the name epaulets came about.
The cloth shoulder flap of the men and officers is to be distinguished from the shoulder piece (Austria: armpit sling) of the officers, which was once made of gold or silver braid . The shoulder flap also differs in type and function from the epaulette .
Previously typical for military and police uniforms , epaulets are now also widely used in civilian fashion (e.g. trench coats ) as non-functional accessories .
German armed forces
Imperial Army 1871 to 1918
With the exception of the hussars and dragoons, non-commissioned officers and men of the German Army wore shoulder boards of different colors depending on their membership in an army corps . In addition, the number of the regiment , a name or other mark of affiliation to a unit was carried in color embroidered on the epaulettes. Only the officer’s deputy and the sergeant lieutenant wore silver braids or officer's shoulder pieces. Up until World War I, it was customary in the German army to wear shoulder flaps rolled up after the end of service.
Old Army shoulder boards
Old Army shoulder boards
Old Army shoulder boards
Reichswehr and Wehrmacht
The NCOs and men of the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht wore the number of their regiment or other unit (division staff, itself. Unit) on the epaulettes in the color of the tunic . Furthermore, the shoulder flaps were provided with piping in the respective weapon color .
NVA
In the NVA, the terms shoulder flap and armpit flap became equally common. With a few exceptions, these were similar to those of the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht. The attachment to the uniform jacket and coat as well as to the field service suit had also been taken over. Only the gun colors of the piping were different compared to the Wehrmacht.
| Epaulets crews / NCOs | |||
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Soldier (artillery) |
Corporal (Air Force) |
Sergeant (engineer troops) |
Oberfeldwebel (telecommunications force) |
armed forces
According to the Central Service Regulations 37/10, suit regulations for soldiers of the Bundeswehr, epaulets are often part of many Bundeswehr uniforms . The epaulets worn on both sides are attached to the shoulder area in different ways, depending on the part of the uniform.
- Some types are firmly sewn (but can be detached for change) to a tab sewn into the sleeve insert seam and connected to the shoulder area with a button sewn onto the uniform. In uniforms that you have procured yourself, the shoulder flap is often sewn directly into the sleeve insert seam.
- In the case of simpler types of suits (e.g. field suits), the epaulettes are firmly sewn directly to the seam of the sleeve insert and connected to the shoulder area with Velcro instead of a button.
- Other types are looped into a loop attached to the sleeve (removable). The removable shoulder flap consists of a visible upper part and an equally long but narrower lower part, which is used for fixation. A button sewn onto the shoulder area connects the two ends of the shoulder flap to form a loop and fixes it on the shoulder.
- Another type of epaulette is looped into a tunnel (removable) sewn onto the shoulder area. The button does not connect the shoulder and epaulette, but only the two ends of the epaulette. Only the tunnel fixes the epaulettes on the shoulder.
The epaulettes can be "folded up" (hence the name). As loops for the identification of the can on the shoulder flaps candidate and reserve or strands for the identification of the branch of service be pushed (or part Force). The slip- on loops pushed onto the shoulder flaps of the combat clothing indicate the rank of service of the wearer and are often themselves incorrectly referred to as shoulder flaps. The shoulder flaps of the dress and service suit for army and air force uniforms are piped. The piping for NCOs (with the exception of senior middlemen ) and men is made in the form of weapon-colored advances, for officers and senior middlemen in the form of a silver-colored or gold-colored spun metal cord. Officers also carry weapon-colored documents under their epaulettes. Where no slip-on loops are worn, the rank is indicated by metal emblems or embroidered rank badges inserted into the epaulettes (embroidery usually only in formal suits ); all wefts (for NCOs and naval officers) are sewn directly onto the epaulettes.
Other states
Soldiers do not wear insignia epaulettes in all armies. American and British men and officers wear their badges on their upper arms. The way of wearing often differs with the different types of suit.
Austrian Armed Forces
The rank badges in the Austrian Armed Forces are worn on the collar tabs when wearing a gray suit (starting suit) and a white suit (evening suit). With suit 75 (formerly field suit 75, now used as a service suit), the rank badges are worn as postponement loops (postponement distance) on epaulets, with suit 03 (combat suit) in the same way in the middle of the chest.
Others
Epaulets are also worn on other uniforms, e.g. B. in the police (cf. official titles of the German police and official titles of the federal police ) and in the units of the DRK and the fire brigade . What is special about the epaulettes in the DRK: they do not give a rank , but an s. G. Service position , i.e. an office that one de facto holds.
Even pilots wear epaulettes that their educational level ( Captain , First Officer reflected etc.).
Epaulets are also common on ships to show the hierarchy on board. On cruise ships, there is a special rule that classic seafarers wear gold stripes and service staff wear silver stripes on their shoulders.
literature
- Hein, Das kleine Buch vom Deutschen Heere, reprint of the edition from 1901 , Weltbild Verlag GmbH, Augsburg 1998, ISBN 3-8289-0271-5
