This Original German Officer Shoulder Board is an excellent example of privately tailored wartime officer insignia. Constructed using hand-laid silver aluminium Russian braid over a black wool foundation, it demonstrates the skilled craftsmanship associated with German military tailors during the Second World War.
€ 400
1 in stock
This Original German Officer Shoulder Board is an excellent example of privately tailored wartime officer insignia. Constructed using hand-laid silver aluminium Russian braid over a black wool foundation, it demonstrates the skilled craftsmanship associated with German military tailors during the Second World War.
Unlike factory-produced enlisted shoulder straps, officer shoulder boards were frequently made by specialist outfitters. Consequently, variations in braid style, stitching and finish are common among original examples.
The substantial braided construction and quality workmanship make this an attractive display piece for collectors of original German military uniforms and cloth insignia.
The Original German Officer Shoulder Board has been manufactured using traditional officer-grade materials.
Construction features include:
The reverse reveals the hand-sewn fixing stitches that secure the braid to the backing, a feature frequently encountered on privately tailored officer insignia.
Officer shoulder boards formed an important part of German military uniforms throughout the Second World War. They indicated rank and, together with coloured underlays, piping, collar patches or cyphers, identified the wearer’s branch of service.
Many officers purchased uniform components privately from military tailors. As a result, shoulder boards often display subtle differences in braid pattern, stitching and construction while still conforming to official regulations.
Today, original officer shoulder boards remain highly collectable because they illustrate the quality of wartime tailoring and preserve important details of German military uniform manufacture.
This Original German Officer Shoulder Board remains in very good original condition.
The aluminium braid retains excellent definition and has developed an attractive natural patina. The black wool backing remains intact, while the hand stitching visible on the reverse confirms period construction.
There is light age-related wear together with minor loose stitching, all consistent with careful service use and long-term preservation.
The construction, materials and workmanship all appear consistent with an original wartime officer shoulder board.
Notable period characteristics include:
However, because this example lacks branch-colour piping, rank pips and identifying cyphers, it cannot be confidently attributed to a specific service branch from the photographs alone.
Collectors value the Original German Officer Shoulder Board because it represents an authentic component of German officer uniforms.
It will appeal to collectors of:
Collector Value: £80–£130
Specialist Dealer Retail: £140–£190
If later identified as belonging to a specific elite formation through provenance or a matching pair, the value could increase considerably.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Officer Shoulder Board |
| Construction | Hand-laid aluminium Russian braid |
| Backing | Black wool |
| Manufacture | Private purchase |
| Period | c.1935–1945 |
| Configuration | Single |
Explore related listings: Insignia, Shoulder Boards and Breast Eagles.
For further research, consult:
