History

The Zollgrenzschutz (Customs Border Guards) has its roots in the Grenzaufsichtsdienst (Border Surveillance Service) established in 1919. Before the First World War, every German state managed its own border units, but in the Weimar Republic this was done at the national level for the first time. The Grenzaufsichtsdienst was a subdivision of the Reichsfinanzministerium (Ministry of Finance). It is not to be conflated with the Grenzpolizei (Border Police), a subdivision of the German Police.

Initially, the organisation was tasked with preventing smuggling and illegal border crossings. This changed when its members were deployed to most of the occupied territories during the war. Border guards saw action fighting enemy military troops, especially during the final war years, as well as partisans. They were also tasked with foiling espionage.

Under Third Reich rule, not much changed in the beginning. However, SS leader Heinrich Himmler, who took control of the German Police in 1936, also tried to be placed in charge of the border guards. His advances were warded off in 1937. At the same time, the term Zollgrenzschutz was first used, and sometimes Zollgrenzdienst (Customs Border Service) as well.

1937 also brought changes to the border guards’ uniforms, which were designed in a new style more akin to the uniforms of the army. Throughout the late 1930s, personnel numbers increased in preparation for the coming war. A need was felt to watch the neighbouring countries more closely.

In order to achieve readiness, especially in the case of an armed invasion, the VGAD (Verstärkter Grenzaufsichtsdienst, Reinforced Border Surveillance Service) was trained as an auxiliary border guard force. It was made up of conscripts that had received basic military training. They were called into action during the annexation of Austria, the Sudetenland, Memel, and Czechoslovakia. During the war, the VGAD became a permanent part of the Zollgrenzschutz to the point that both names were used interchangeably.

In July 1944, after the Stauffenberg assassination attempt, Himmler finally convinced Hitler to place the Zollgrenzschutz under his control, and it was merged with the border police.

Zollgrenzschutz shoulder boards were introduced on July 31, 1937. The cloth backing is in dark green for land customs personnel and dark blue for water customs personnel. Gold-coloured metal cyphers indicated the wearer’s branch. Land customs members wore the Gothic letters “RFV” for “Reichsfinanzverwaltung” (national finance administration), water customs mechanical engineers wore an anchor with a superimposed steering wheel, and water customs shipping personnel wore two crossed anchors.

If used, rank pips are gold-coloured and in the shape of four-sided stars. All buttons are silver-coloured, except for the higher leader ranks, the four highest ranks, for which gold-coloured buttons were used.

The lowest enlisted ranks, Grenzwachmann and Zollmann, did not wear any shoulder boards.

The ranks are as follows:
The Reichsfinanzminister wore shoulder boards made up of braided triple-cords with four bends. The cords are gilt/silver/gilt, the silver-coloured part features dark green chevrons. Additionally, the shoulder boards feature three rank pips, one at the top below the button and two at the bottom, arranged horizontally.
Staatssekretär shoulder boards are of the same design as those of the rank above, except that only two rank pips were worn, one above and one below the cypher.
Generalinspektor & Ministerialdirektor as well as Oberfinanzpräsident shoulder boards are of the same design as those of the rank above, except that only one rank pip was worn, below the cypher.
Finanzpräsident Zoll & Ministerialrat shoulder boards feature double-laid cords braided to form five bends. The cords are silver-coloured with dark green chevrons. Additionally, the shoulder boards feature two rank pips, one above and one below the cypher.
Oberregierungsrat shoulder boards are of the same design as those of the rank above, except that only one rank pip was worn, below the cypher.
Oberzollrat & Regierungsrat as well as Zollrat and Zollamtmann shoulder boards are of the same design as those of the rank above, except that no rank pips were worn.
Oberzollinspektor & Regierungsassessor shoulder boards feature two parallel silver-coloured double-laid double cords with dark green chevrons, as well as two rank pips, one above and one below the cypher.
Zollinspektor shoulder boards are of the same design as those of the rank above, except that only one rank pip was worn, below the cypher.
Außerplanmäßiger Zollinspektor shoulder boards are of the same design as those of the rank above, except instead of a rank pip a dark green bar was worn across the lower part of the shoulder boards.
Oberzollsekretär shoulder boards are of the same design as those of the rank above, except no bar was worn.
Zollsekretär shoulder boards feature two parallel double-laid double cords, the outer one in alternating silver-coloured and dark green chevrons, the inner one silver-coloured with dark green chevrons. Additionally, the shoulder boards featured two rank pips, one above and one below the cypher. Hilfszollsekretär shoulder boards were of the same design, except with an additional green bar across the bottom.
Zollassistent shoulder boards are of the same design as those of the rank above, except that only one rank pip was worn, below the cypher. Hilfszollassistent shoulder boards were of the same design, except with an additional green bar across the bottom.
Außerplanmäßiger Zollassistent shoulder boards are of the same design as those of the rank above, except instead of a rank pip a dark green bar was worn across the lower part of the shoulder boards.
Zollbetriebsassistent shoulder boards feature two parallel double-laid double cords, the outer one in dark green with silver-coloured chevrons, the inner one silver-coloured with dark green chevrons. Hilfszollbetriebsassistent shoulder boards were of the same design, except with an additional green bar across the bottom.
Zolloberwachtmeister shoulder boards feature two outer borders of silver-coloured Tresse (braids) as well as one rank pip below the cypher.
Zollwachtmeister shoulder boards are of the same design as those of the rank above, except that no rank pips were worn.
Finanzanwärter Zoll shoulder boards feature one double-laid parallel double cord in silver with dark green chevrons.
Zollanwärter shoulder boards feature one double-laid parallel double cord of alternating silver-coloured and dark green chevrons.
Zollgrenzangesteller shoulder boards feature two parallel double-laid double cords in dark green with dark green chevrons.