History

During the Second World War, German troops stationed in northern Africa are generally referred to as the Afrikakorps. Technically, this is not entirely correct, since some German units operating in Africa were not actually part of the DAK (Deutsches Afrikakorps), and some units of it were, in fact, Italian ones. However, for the purpose of collecting so-called “tropical” uniforms and insignia, collectors have simplified the meaning of the term.

The first German troops were sent to northern Africa in February of 1941, to support their Italian allies against the British. The climate of the African continent made it necessary to wear specialised uniforms and gear that not only supported the soldiers in serving in a hot and arid environment, but also helped them in blending in with the landscape, which, in general, presented itself as brown, olive, khaki, or sand/tan in colour. Worn over long periods of time under the blistering desert sun, some uniforms were eventually bleached to white or off-white. Uniforms and insignia in these colours are often referred to as “tropical”, and it is worth noting that they weren’t just worn by members of units stationed in Africa, but in the entire Mediterranean theatre of war, including southern France, Italy, the Balkans, and Greece, as well as in southern Russia during the summer months. Tropical uniforms were worn by members of all three branches of the Wehrmacht: the Heer (army), the Kriegsmarine (navy), and the Luftwaffe (air force). Members of the Waffen-SS stationed in southerly regions also wore tropical-style uniforms, and even though they technically have no connection to the DAK, all tropical uniforms and insignia of all branches of the German military are listed here.

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

Afrikakorps Heer chevrons were stitched onto a tan or brown cloth backing. Sometimes the chevrons were stitched directly onto the uniform with no cloth backing whatsoever. The colour of the chevrons is dull gold-coloured or copper-brown.

Afrikakorps chevrons of the Heer and Luftwaffe may look very similar, but can be distinguished by their tresse (braid) patterns: Heer chevrons feature a zig-zag pattern, while Luftwaffe chevrons are simply dotted.

The Oberschütze rank insignia differs from all other ranks in that the cloth backing is smaller, round, and features no chevrons and a single pip in the shape of a four-sided star.