BeVo "Litzen" Collar Tabs - Signals (Yellow)

The Wehrmacht Litzen collar tabs with yellow Waffenfarbe were standard uniform insignia worn by members of the German Army signals troops (Nachrichtentruppe) during the Second World War.

These collar tabs formed part of the identification system used on the Feldbluse, the standard field tunic of German soldiers. They were worn by enlisted personnel and non-commissioned officers, distinguishing them from officer insignia which followed different patterns.

The typical Wehrmacht Litzen design consisted of a pair of parallel decorative bars mounted on a rectangular backing. The color of the backing indicated the branch of service through the Waffenfarbe system, a standardized color code used across the German armed forces.

In this case the yellow Waffenfarbe represented the signals and communications branch, known as the Nachrichtentruppe. These units were responsible for maintaining the extensive communication network required by the German military.

Signals personnel operated and maintained a variety of communication systems, including field telephones, radio transmitters, telegraph lines and command communication networks, enabling coordination between headquarters, combat units and support formations.

The Litzen were produced using the BeVo weaving technique, named after Bandfabrik Ewald Vorsteher, a German manufacturer specializing in woven uniform insignia. This production method allowed detailed patterns to be woven directly into the fabric rather than embroidered, resulting in durable and precise insignia suitable for field use.

Typically the tabs consisted of a feldgrau cloth base with the Litzen pattern woven in light grey or silver thread, mounted on a colored underlay representing the Waffenfarbe.

During the war numerous German textile manufacturers and uniform suppliers produced woven insignia for the Wehrmacht. Original examples often show distinctive weave patterns, construction details or manufacturer characteristics that can help identify the period and source of production.

As a result, the yellow Litzen of the Nachrichtentruppe remain a recognizable element of the uniform worn by German Army communications personnel during World War II, reflecting the importance of military communication systems within the operational structure of the Wehrmacht.