Uniforms of the Eastern Occupied Territories

Reichsministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories

The Ostministerium, or Reich Ministry of the Occupied Eastern Territories (Reichsministerium flir die besetzten Ostgebiete-RMBO), was the German governing body of the occupied Soviet territories. It was under the control of Reichsminister Alfred Rosenberg, with Alfred Meyer as his Deputy Minister.

Knowledge of the organizational structure of the RMBO is essential to better understand the rank structure. Headquarters of the Ministry was located in Berlin. Each occupied eastern area was administered by a Reichskommissariat with a Reichskommissar at its head. Each Reich Commissariat was subdivided into at least six General Commissariats (Generalbezirke), each headed by a Generalkommissar. Each Generalbezirk was in turn subdivided into districts (Kreisgebiete-up to 20 throughout the entire RMBO), each headed by a Gebietskommissar. Each district was composed of a series of villages, or Rayon, but there was no German administrative official below the district level.

The uniforms of the RMBO, like those of the Foreign Ministry, underwent continued, and sometimes radical changes.

In Order Nr. 1 dated 2 September 1941 Rosenberg specified the uniform for the general membership in the cut of the uniform be that of the official's uniform as prescribed by the Reichsgesetzblatt of 8 March 1940, but in a dark brown uniform cloth. His order directed the following:

Order Nr. 1: Concerning: Uniforms of male personnel of offices in the Occupied Eastern Territories.

Cut of the Uniform

All male personnel in occupied territories must wear uniforms of dark brown uniform cloth (giving rise to the derisive description of "The Golden Pheasants" in concurrence with the gold rank insignia). These are to be made in cut and style of the uniforms in accordance with the order of introduction of uniforms for the (Reich) officials dated 8 March 1940, Reichsgesetzblatt I p.463. Part of No. 43 of Reichsgesetzblatt 1940 part I, in which these uniform regulations were published, is added. (NOTE: The uniform pattern for 1940 was that of a double-breasted tunic.)

Personnel already sent into the occupied territories were issued uniforms of Ordensjunker (High Schools of the NSDAP) as these uniforms were available. For the same reason other personnel sent to the occupied territories in the future will be issued those uniforms. Uniforms of the new production have to be manufactured after the regulations (8 March 1940) of the uniforms of the officials.

Headgear of the new production are to be with insignia in accordance with the above mentioned regulations (8 March 1940).

All members under my authority have to wear the uniforms as mentioned in paragraph 1, above, without exception. The order of the Fuhrer for the Altreich (that territory of the Reich within the boundaries of 1939) that officials with ranks of Kreisleiter or Standardenflihrer and above have to wear their respective uniforms of the NSDAP, but not the uniforms of officials is not valid for members under my authority. (NOTE: It is interesting that Rosenberg took it on himself to countermand Bitler's order, an act that Hitler was not to allow to go unnoticed.)

Rank Insignia

Rank insignia are determined by the respective pay grades of the personnel .Shoulder boards and shoulder straps are not allowed. Rank insignia are worn on the lower left sleeve of the tunics and greatcoats. They are in gold embroidery. Rank insignia are as determined by the added summary (Annex 2).

Officials of uniform Group 1 (Reich Minister to Ministerialdirigent) wear greatcoats with lapels of dark brown velvet. Officials of the high grade, elevated and medium grade services and the employees (Angestellte) of corresponding ranks wear caps with gold cord; officials of the lower grade service, employees of corresponding ranks and personnel on salary (Lohnempfiinger-workers, etc.) wear caps with a leather chin strap.

Trousers

Varying from the uniform regulations, breeches are without piping and long trousers without lateral stripes. Long trousers are with light brown lateral piping.

Belt, Pistol and Side Arms

All personnel are uniformly equipped with a leather belt (color not identified) and a pistol (thus a holster). Daggers are allowed only for those officials which were permitted to wear the uniform of officials (Beamtenuniform) according to the Uniform Regulations dated 8 March 1940.

Other

It is intended to introduce a uniform for female members. At this time, the problem is under consideration. Orders will be issued at the proper time. (NOTE:There are no subsequent indications that uniforms for female personnel were ever introduced.)

In typical German officialdom fashion, Order Nr. 2: Zu Rk.14915 B was distributed to amplify the already clear Order Nr. 1. It again specified that "The dark brown uniform will be in cut and style of the general uniforms of officials, with corresponding insignia." That "shoulder boards are not under consideration," and that "in variance to the general regulations, the embroidery on sleeve will be in gold in lieu of silver." (NOTE: The pattern of the embroidered sleeve insignia was identical to those of the diplomatic and government officials as prescribed by the March 1940 regulations except that all pay groups prescribed to have the sleeve insignia wore that insignia in gold.)

Hitler responded "politely" to Rosenberg's "oversight" in countermanding his order. A brief letter from the Reich Chancellery was sent stating: "To the Reichsminister: The Reich Minister of the Occupied Eastern Territories issued his orders before he got knowledge of the most recent intentions of the Fuhrer. The Fuhrer wishes to see samples of uniforms and insignia before he gives his approval, and before beginning production of uniforms will be ordered. As the regulations ordered by the Reichsminister of the Occupied Eastern Territories are not in contradiction to the hitherto existing principal intentions of the Fuhrer, especially as shoulder boards are not under consideration, it is assumed that the Fuhrer will give his approval. Everything else will be left to Reichsminister." Apparently, sometime between the issuance of Order Nr. 1 and the issuance of the uniform regulations below dated 25 March 1942, Rosenberg commissioned the noted designer Egon Jantke to create uniform designs for personnel assigned to the Occupied Eastern Territories. While in an article written by him, Jantke takes all the credit for the resultant designs. It should be noted that a great deal of direction came from Rosenberg himself.

John R. Angolia: "In the Service of the Reich", R. James Bender Publishing, 1995

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