German Red Cross General's Cockade & Wreath Insignia

SKU: 70.GOR.03.01.02.003

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  • German Red Cross General's Cockade & Wreath Insignia Obverse

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  • country
    Germany

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.

The cockades worn on DRK headgear feature three concentric rows of national colours, red-white-black.

The cockades are either composed of cloth and thread on the Field Cap or metal and plastic on the Visor Cap. Beginning in 1938, they were surrounded by a stamped metal oak leaves wreath for the Visor Cap. The colour of the wreath correlates with the wearer’s rank, with gold-coloured (gilt) wreaths for Generals, and silver-coloured (aluminum or silvered) wreaths for Officers and Enlisted Ranks.

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