History

Following the First World War, the German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, DRK) was threatened in its existence by the Treaty of Versailles, since the organisation was mainly focused on preparing its members for war and military-related medical service. This resulted in the DRK switching focus to social welfare activities during the time of the Weimar Republic.

The stipulations enforced by the Treaty of Versailles were declared null and void following the NSDAP’s consolidation of power in 1933. The new Reich Minister of the Interior, Wilhelm Frick, an NSDAP member, ensured that the DRK would be ready to support all of the Third Reich’s future military affairs and political ideologies. In 1938, the DRK was merged with the Ministry of the Interior’s Social Welfare Organisation, officially becoming an organisation under NSDAP oversight. The DRK also had ties to the SS, mainly due to high-ranking medical professionals serving in both organisations simultaneously.

The design of the Third Reich DRK insignia was initially based upon the uniforms used during the First World War and the Weimar Republic, but substantial uniform changes were implemented in September 1935.

Initially, the DRK collar tabs were permitted for wear by both male and female DRK personnel on the service tunic and the greatcoat. However, insignia for female members were redesigned in 1938, resulting in collar tabs being only permitted for wear by male DRK members from then on.

The collar tabs are composed of light grey coloured cloth, buckram backing, an enamelled Red Cross emblem (in rare cases it can be embroidered), and twisted cord piping along the exterior borders.

For Generals and Officers, the light grey cloth is made from velvet, while for Enlisted Ranks it is composed of lower quality cloth. The piping is made from twisted aluminum cords for Officers and Enlisted Ranks, but for Generals, the aluminum cords were gilded.

The enamelled Red Cross emblem tends to be located in the centre of the collar tabs, but the regulations allowed permanent duty and non-permanent duty DRK medical doctors to place an additional Aesculapius staff insignia made of metal in the centre of the collar tabs. When the staff insignia is present, the Red Cross insignia is worn closer to the top of the collar tabs. The Aesculapius staff is gold-coloured for DRK doctors on permanent duty, and silver-coloured for DRK doctors not on permanent duty.