History

Organisation Todt, abbreviated OT, was a paramilitary construction organisation named after its founder, Fritz Todt. It was founded in 1938 and became well-known for its construction projects in Germany and German-occupied areas during the war, including the Siegfried Line (Westwall) and the Atlantic Wall. Only a comparatively small number of OT labourers were uniformed and salaried German nationals, while large numbers during the war years were made up of forced labourers, including Jews and other “undesirables”, as well as prisoners of war.

Members of OT were to wear uniforms distinct from other Third Reich paramilitary organisations. However, due to problems with availability, they de facto often wore a mixture of different uniform patterns, including uniform parts from other organisations.

Sleevebands, next to identifying a member of OT, indicated the belonging to a rank group, either the Higher OT Leader ranks (General ranks equivalent), the OT Stabsführer ranks (Field Grade Officer ranks equivalent), the OT Führer ranks (Company Grade Officer ranks equivalent), or the OT Unterführer ranks (NCO ranks equivalent) and Enlisted Men.

The sleeveband of the OT Higher Leader ranks is grey with the black Latin letters “Org. Todt”, with a red top and bottom stripe with a gold-coloured oak-leaf pattern. There are different variants, sometimes including lower case letters, but most often in upper case letters only.

It was initially worn on the lower left sleeve, but later changed to the upper sleeve, right above the NSDAP armband.