History

Armbands were usually used to identify a soldier’s special duty position or function. It would normally only be worn in the carrying out of said duty or function. It could also be used to identify a civilian as an official employee of the army.

Most armbands were worn on the left upper sleeve, but there were exceptions to this rule.

Railway Subordinate Personnel (Unterpersonal) as part of the transportation offices (Transportdienststellen) wore a white armband with “Bhf. O.” in black Gothic letters, sometimes including the Arabic number of the respective railway station office. This armband was introduced on March 12, 1937 and discontinued on March 26, 1943.