History

The German Wehrmacht was composed of three main branches, the Heer, the Kriegsmarine, and the Luftwaffe. The Heer and Kriegsmarine uniforms were based upon the designs utilized by their predecessor organizations, the Deutsches Heer and the Kaiserliche Marine. Conversely, the Luftwaffe uniforms were based upon the uniforms worn in the sports and para-military organizations that were the forerunners of the Luftwaffe. The Luftwaffe uniforms were specifically designed to deviate from the designs of the other Wehrmacht service branches. It was also necessary that the uniforms differentiate between military and civilian pilots.

The flags and pennants employed by the Luftwaffe during the Third Reich were used as markers for headquarters, vehicles, units, and divisions.

The design of Luftwaffe flags and pennants was based upon those used in the Army (Heer). Vehicle pennants were generally attached to the fender of Luftwaffe vehicles.

This Luftwaffe flag was used to identify Regiment Commanders through the incorporation of the branch of service colours (waffenfarbe). It was produced in cloth, as well painted onto metal.

These flags have a central section that reflects the Commander’s branch of service colour (waffenfarbe), and this section is flanked on the top and bottom by black sections. Also in the centre of the flag there is an embroidered left facing Luftwaffe pattern nation emblem eagle.

The creation of Luftwaffe field divisions in 1942 necessitated the redesign of these command pennants as a means of creating a stark differentiation between the pennants of Luftwaffe versus Heer field combat divisions. Thus the colour design was flipped, and the 2nd model pennants feature the battalion waffenfarbe colour as the centre bar that is flanked by black sections.

From 1935 to 1945, the known Luftwaffe waffenfarbe flag colours include, but are not limited to:

White (for Infantry),
Red (for Anti-Aircraft Troop/Luftwaffe Artillery),
Pink (for Panzer Divisions),
Golden Yellow (for Armoured Reconnaissance),
Meadow Green (for Motorized Infantry),
Light Green (for Light Infantry),
Light Blue (for Transport Units),
Black (for Construction Engineer Corp).

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