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 uniforms 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.

The DRK Greatcoat was worn by all ranks of Red Cross personnel as part of the service uniform.

The Greatcoat is composed of grey wool, with lighter coloured grey wool utilized for the tunic’s collar for all ranks below General. The greatcoats worn by Generals have white wool collars. It also features two rows of six pebbled silver-coloured buttons, for Generals these buttons are gold-coloured (gilt). The greatcoats only have two pockets, with one at each hip. They are slash style pockets, and the pocket flaps are rectangular without any buttons.

The back of the greatcoat features a half-belt at waist level.

The right sleeve features the Red Cross pattern national emblem insignia. There are two versions of the national emblem insignia worn on these tunics. The first version was introduced in 1935 for wear by volunteer personnel. This version has a simple machine-woven national emblem eagle on a grey shield backing. The second version was instituted in 1938, and it was worn by all Red Cross personnel. This second version features the grey national emblem eagle in a triangle cloth backing and an inscription below the eagle detailing the wearer’s the service location.