German PW 1945

[Mike Jackson]

From a history of the Norfolk Yeomanry in the Second World war:
April 1945
"The Regiment then took under command 2,000 Canadian soldiers, 500 trucks and four Disbandment Control Units. The Germans were stripped of all military rank and were obliged to wear a green and yellow patch on their jackets, were put on the trucks, with Norfolk Yeomanry escorts and convoys despatched to take them home"
Can anyone add anything on the subject of green and yellow patches? The Recce Corps cannot have been best pleased! Mike

[grey_green_acorn]

I think I have seen black and white photo images of German POW with football size light coloured circular patches on the back of their jackets.

Tim

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by grey_green_acorn

I think I have seen black and white photo images of German POW with football size light coloured circular patches on the back of their jackets.

Tim

Correct - for PW held in UK a circular hole was cut in the back of the jacket and a separate piece of a different coloured cloth then has to be stitched into the hole. I think the flashes referred to by the Norfolk Yeomanry must have been simpler and could even have been mass produced in UK for this exigency - part of the G1098 of a Disbandment Control Unit perhaps. Mike

[Mike Jackson]

Some relevant images here - uniforms stripped or badges (note the chevrons on the table) but no sign of British-supplied flashes. Mike

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q...064DBFF437273D

[badjez]

Somewhere I read that a shortage of civilian clothes in post-war Germany led to German PoW taken in May 1945 being allowed to keep their uniforms, greatcoats, eating irons etc. Shortages persisted so long that in the early 1960's the West German government finally passed legislation banning the wearing of the old greatcoats etc. I cannot vouch for this info though.

Stephen.

[leigh kitchen]

I have a German RAD tunic dark khaki with green collar, its insignia & shoulder straps removed & metal buttons replaced with sliced stag horn ones, obviously for post war wear.
I've always been under the impression that the German population had to wear what was to hand so there was plenty of uniform in wear for years.
I read an account by a German soldier who was released & headed home in his black panzer uniform, no mention of PW patches or inserts.
Once a PW's released there seems little point in ensuring that his clothing has any form of insignia, surely the purpose is to distinguish a PW who is "in the system" or has escaped?

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by grey_green_acorn

I think I have seen black and white photo images of German POW with football size light coloured circular patches on the back of their jackets.

Tim

And in this Osbert Lancaster cartoon from 1942 - Italian PW in this case. Mike
Italian PW_O Lancaster cartoon.jpg

[norfolk regt man]

Originally Posted by Mike Jackson

From a history of the Norfolk Yeomanry in the Second World war:
April 1945
"The Regiment then took under command 2,000 Canadian soldiers, 500 trucks and four Disbandment Control Units. The Germans were stripped of all military rank and were obliged to wear a green and yellow patch on their jackets, were put on the trucks, with Norfolk Yeomanry escorts and convoys despatched to take them home"
Can anyone add anything on the subject of green and yellow patches? The Recce Corps cannot have been best pleased! Mike

Green and Yellow is also Norwich city football club colours, Norwich is the only city in Norfolk, just in case there's someone reading this from afar.