Waffenfarbe Waffenfarbe ( German : " corps [ or troop - function ] colour " ) is a means the German military uses to distinguish between different corps or troop functions in its armed services . The waffenfarbe is the colour of the collar patch , of the piping ( coloured edging ) around the shoulder boards or shoulder straps and — for enlisted ranks — of the piping around the collar and the garrison cap ( " Schiffchen " ) . ( In the latter places , NCO ' s wear cords of dark gold , officers silver , and generals gold . ) Army . The Bundeswehr uses a " waffenfarben " scheme of colours to indicate troop types . The colours appear on the collar patch and as piping around the shoulder boards or straps showing a soldier ’ s rank . Although soldiers ’ berets are also coloured , the colours are slightly less differentiated than the waffenfarben , and corps or troop function is indicated by a beret badge rather than beret colour . Air force . The German Air Force ( Bundeswehr ) only uses a small spectrum of colours for the purpose . While the normal colour for the air force is a golden yellow , officers in the general staff service ( today there is no " general staff " as such ) wear wine - red and generals , bright red . Generals ’ and general staff service officers ' collar patches ( " " ) also differ from the normal air force design , being the same the army wears . 1935 - 45 , the air force used a larger number of colours , including bi - coloured ( see below ) . Navy . The German Navy does not use function - specific colours to distinguish between corps . This is done instead by various emblems above the rank stripes on the sleeves . Historical examples . Waffenfarbe worn by the National People ' s Army 1956 to 1990 . East German ( DDR ) Nationale Volksarmee uniforms initially wore the waffenfarbe as worn by the Wehrmacht , i . e . as base and filling of the collar and sleeve patches and as a piping around the shoulder boards / shoulder straps . Between 1974 and 1979 , along with the introduction of uniforms with open collar and tie , the patches of the ground force uniforms were unified with a dark grey base and a white filling , along with a white collar piping ; the piping of the shoulder boards / shoulder straps remained the only part carrying a Waffenfarbe . However , air and air defence forces , paratroopers and generals as well as the navy continued to wear their specially designed and coloured patches . The uniform of the Border Troops was distinguished from that of the NVA ground force and Air Force / Air Defense Force by a green armband with large silver letters identifying the wearer ' s affiliation , and a green cap band . Similarities in other armies . The use of colours to distinguish between troop functions was not unique to the German Army during the Second World War . The Soviet Army also used coloured shoulder boards after 1942 to distinguish troop functions : ground forces general officers and infantry used crimson , cavalry used blue , artillery and tank troops used red , and the rest of the ground forces used black , while the air force and airborne troops used sky blue . Likewise the British Army utilized coloured strips of cloth on the sleeves to likewise identify troop functions . Today , waffenfarbe schemes are also used in Austria , Finland , Hungary , Italy , Japan , Romania , and Switzerland . For a full list of troop function colours currently in use in the US Army , see United States Army branch insignia .