History

Chevron-based rank insignia for Enlisted Men were initially introduced in 1920. However, the system was slightly changed in 1936. They were worn on the upper left arm.

Chevrons were stitched onto dark blue-green cloth backing for most troops. The backing is black for panzer troops, and tan-coloured for tropical units.
On occasion, field-grey and off-white (for denim uniforms) was used as well.
Sometimes the chevrons were stitched directly onto the uniform with no cloth backing whatsoever.

The colour of the chevrons is either dull grey or silver-coloured. One exception are the chevrons of the Deutsches Afrika Korps, which are dull gold-coloured or copper-brown.

The Obergefreiter rank insignia version used between 1920 and 1936 shows three downward pointing chevrons. In 1936 this was changed to one downward pointing chevron and one star for those with more than six years of service.