History

The German Reichspost (national postal service) was founded as a result of the transition from empire to Weimar Republic after the First World War. During the time of the empire, several German states had had their own postal service, but during the time of the Weimar Republic, the postal service was transformed into a unified, national, government-run operation. As such, during the time of the Third Reich, the postal service conformed with the NSDAP ideology and was used to further it. The Reichspost incorporated the postal services of annexed territories (i.e. Austria, Sudetenland) as well as conquered territories (i.e. Poland).

The Postschutz (postal service protection) was a paramilitary organisation tasked with protecting postal buildings and property. It was established in March of 1933. During the war, postal protection personnel stationed outside of the German borders in occupied territories were referred to as Deutsche Dienstpost.

Just like the Reichspost, the Postschutz used orange piping and orange cloth underlay for their garments and insignia. Unlike the Reichspost, however, the Postschutz uniform colour was field-grey. This was changed to brown in 1941.
Members of the Deutsche Dienstpost used the same uniforms and insignia as the Postschutz, but with green piping and cloth underlay.

In March of 1942, the Postschutz came under control of the Allgemeine SS and shortly after under control of the Waffen-SS. It was henceforth known as SS-Postschutz.

Feldpost (field mail) is the term for all mail sent to and from soldiers, either private letters for individuals or orders sent from one unit or office to another. Feldpost was entirely controlled by the German Wehrmacht (armed forces) and not a part of the regular Reichspost.

Reichspost collar tabs are dark blue with orange piping. Rank pips are gold-coloured and in the shape of four-sided stars. Pre-1935 rank pips were in the shape of five-sided stars.
Reichspost members who drove motorised vehicles received an additional gold-coloured collar tab cypher in the shape of a bus.

The collar tabs are as follows:
Postamtmann collar tabs feature a 3mm gold-coloured border and two large laurel branches crossed at the bottom.
Oberpostinspektor collar tabs feature a 3mm gold-coloured border and two small laurel branches crossed at the bottom, as well as three rank pips above them.
Postinspektor collar tabs are in the same design as the ones worn by the rank above, except that they only feature two rank pips.
Postpraktikant collar tabs are in the same design as the ones worn by the rank above, except that they only feature one rank pip and no laurel branches.
Postsupernumerar collar tabs are in the same design as the ones worn by the rank above, except that they don’t feature any rank pips.
Oberpostsekretär collar tabs feature a 1mm gold-coloured border and four rank pips. (This is the case for those of salary group A5. Those of salary group A4 wore collar tabs featuring a 2mm gold-coloured border and two rank pips.)
Postsekretär collar tabs are in the same design as the ones worn by the rank above, except that they only feature three rank pips.
Postassistent collar tabs are in the same design as the ones worn by the rank above, except that they only feature two rank pips.
Postassistenthelfer collar tabs are in the same design as the ones worn by the rank above, except that they only feature one rank pip.
Postanwärter collar tabs are in the same design as the ones worn by the rank above, except that they don’t feature any rank pips.
Postbetriebswart collar tabs feature four rank pips.
Postbetriebsassistent collar tabs feature three rank pips.
Postschaffner collar tabs feature two rank pips.
Postbote collar tabs feature one rank pip.
Hilfspostschaffner collar tabs don’t feature any rank pips.
Postjunbote collar tabs don’t feature any rank pips or piping.