The Reich Ministries

The uniform for officials of the ministries of the Reich was awarded, by an edict of the Fuhrer, on March 30, 1933. The officials of the highest Reichs and State administration were obliged to appear in uniform when they were present during state occasions or similar events at which they would serve as representatives of their office. One exception to this was that officials who belonged to Party organizations were permitted to wear the N.S.D.A.P. uniform, upon permission being granted by the Deputy Fuhrer through the Ministry of the Interior. Officials could also appear in uniform on non-official occasions such as during private or social events. The highest Reichs administration, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Finance, determined exactly which officials would be permitted to purchase a uniform. The officials of the following departments here to receive a uniform:

I. Highest departments of the Reich. Prussian State Ministry, Prussian Rnance Ministry: Reich Ministers and chiefs who were equal to them, state secretaries, ministerial directors,ministerial section heads, ministerial councilors personal sides of the Reichs Ministers and state secretaries. Prussian Ministry of Finance, and also the Prussian Ministry of State were distinguished from other ministerial officials by the use of silver twisted cord piping around the collar of their tunics and greatcoats.

II. State governments (state ministries) except Prussia: State secretaries (state councilors), ministerial directors, ministerial councilors as heads of independent subdivisions.

III. Governmental departments under the jurisdiction of the Reichs Ministry of the Interior:

1. President and vice president of the Reich Department of HeaIth.

2. President of the Reichs Department for Land Survey.

3. Director of the Reichs Archives.

4. Director of the Central Locator Office for War Casualties and Graves.

5. Presidents and vice presidents of the highest administrative courts of the states.

6. Chief presidents and the city President of the Reichs Capital Berlin.

7. State Attorney Generals at the highest administrative courts of state.

8. State governors.

9. President of the Prussian Construction and Finance Agency.

10. Vice presidents of the Supreme Pressia.

11. Vice president in the office of the City President of the Reichs Capital Berlin.

12. Lieutenant state governors.

13. Vice president of the Prussian Construction and Finance Agency.

14. Provincial governors.

b) Reichs Finance Ministry:

1 . President and vice president of the Reichs Fiscal Court.

2. Chief President of Finances.

3. Presidents for Finances.

4. Heads of the Reich Schools for Finances.

5. Head of the Academy for Finances.

6. Superintendents of Revenue and Customs Offices.

c) Reich Ministry of Justice:

1. Presidents and, as far as they existed, vice presidents of the Reichs Court, the Peoples Court, the Supreme Court and Court for Patents in Vienna, the Reichs Patent Office, the State Court for Hereditary Farms in Celle and the State Supreme Courts.

2. Chief Reich Attorneys at the Reichs Court and thePeoples Court.

3. The Procurator General in Vienna.

4. Seat: Attorney General (in Austria: Chief State Attorneys)at the Supreme Coups.

5. Presidents of the State Courts.

6. Chief State Attorneys (in Austria: Leading State Attorneys)at the State Courts.

7. State Attorney General at the State Court in Berlin.

d) Reichs Ministry of Economics:

1. President and vice president of the Reichs Office of Statistics.

2. President and vice president of the Reichs Court for Economic Affairs.

3. President of the Control Beard for Private Insurance Companies.

e) Reichs Ministry for Nutrition and Agriculture:

1. President and vice president of the Reichs Court for Hereditary Farms.

2. Chief State Representative of the Ministry.

f) Reichs Ministry of Labor:

1. President and vice president of the Reichs Insurance Agency.

2. Presidents and vice presidents of the State Employment Agencies.

g) Reichs Ministry of Sclence, Education and Culture:

1. Presidents and vice president of the Reichs Institutefor Physlcs and Technology.

2. President of the Reichs Institute for Chemical Technology.

3. Curators of the universities.

4. President of the Bureau for the Testlng Of Materials.

5. Director General of the Prussian State Library.

6. Director General of the State Museums in Berlin.

7. Director of the state castles and gardens in Berlin.

8. President of the Academy of Fine Arts.

h) Reichs Ministry of Transportation:

1. Presidents and vice presidents of the Reichs Rallroad Directorates, the Reichs Railroad Construction Directorates and the Reichs Railroad Central Offices.

2. Chief Director for Construction and Directors of Constructionas heads of the chief construction administrations of the Reichs Autobahnen.

i) Reichs Postal Ministry:

1. Presidents and vice presidents of the Reichs PostalDirectorates,

2. President of the Reichs Central Postal Administration.

IV. General Accounting Office of the German Empire:President and vice president.

V. Presidium of the Reichs Parliment Director.

VI. Governor of Prussia: Director of the State Archives.

Two forms of dress could be worn by ministerial officials, and it was the responsibility of each person to inquire at the appropriate high administrative department in order to insure that all officials would be correctly dressed. For example, if an official were to attend an event sponsored by the Party, he would inquire at the highest Party office. Officials who retired from service could obtain permission from their superior department to continue wearing their uniform, but no special insignia denoted their retired status. The ministerial officials were provided with two uniforms: 1) a dark navy blue uniform, which has often been confused with the black uniform of the Foreign Office. A field grey uniform, which was also similar to the field grey uniform worn by Foreign Office officials.

The manner in which the uniform was worn denoted whether it was for a formal occasion (Service Dress 1), or an informal occasion (Service Dress 11). Service Dress I consisted of:

a) Tunic,

b) appropriate trousers,

c) greatcoat or cloak,

d) visored hat,

e) white shirt with long black tie,

f) grey or white suede gloves,

g) brocade belt,

h) dagger.

The dark navy blue uniform had a double-breasted tunic which had two rows of four embossed silver buttons. The tunic exhibited French cuffs and a pocket to each side. The flaps of the pockets were not secured by buttons, but had a loose flap. The status of the wearer was denoted by the use of sleeve insignia, collar piping, and for a time, shoulder straps. Officials of the highest state offices, the Prussian Ministry of Finance, and also the Prussian Ministry of State were distinguished from other ministerial officials by the use of silver twisted cord piping around the collar of their tunics and greatcoats.

Jill Halcomb, Uniforms and Insignia of the German Foreign Office and Government Ministries 1938-1945, Agincourt Publishers, 1984