Waffenfarbe (Austria)

Waffenfarbe(n), also Egalisierungsfarbe(n) (en: corps colours, or egalisation colours | i.e. colours to, on, or/and of service uniforms), are traditional used by the Federal Army of the Republic of Austria (de: Bundesheer der Republik Österreich). The collar patches (de: Kragenspiegel) of the Federal Army report traditional the rank and are also used in the police. However, any defined (particualar) corps - or egalisation colour is always in correspondence to the appropriate arm of service, unit or formation.

With the formation of the Austrian Federal Army of the first Republic (de: Bundesheer der ersten Republik) in 1920/21 the German Reichswehr uniforms and Waffenfarben (corps colours) were adopted as well. However, slight different were only the Grasgrün (en: grass-green) of the Austrian infantry (Reichswehr – white) and the Gelbgrün (yellow-green) of the Austrian hunter troops (Reichswehr – hunter-green). Late in 1933 a new uniform was introduced by almost close orientation to the Austro-Hungarian Land forces 1867-1914. The so-called k.u.k. "Adjustierungsvorschrift" (en: service dress instruction) contains the colour pattern tables from the year 1912 and regulated the Egalisierungsfarben to be worn.

In Austria collar patches (de: Kragenspiegel) of the Bundesheer (Federal Army) report traditional the rank and the arm of service. They are also used in the police. The corps colours dominate the basic colours of the rank insignia.

The table below contains some corps colours and examples, actually used by the Bundesheer.

One of the features of person in uniform of the Austrian Bundesheer is the beret. Normally, it will be worn to the dress uniform or on special occasions to the field suit. Exempted are only members of the Air Force and the Gebirgsjäger (en: mountain infantry) with an own headgear. The colour of the particular beret corresponds to the appropriate branch of service and/or the particular unit or formation. The colour of the Bundesadler (en: federal eagle) and the eagle double-wing on berets is as follows:

The Bundespolizei uses corps colours on the so-called distingtion (en: rank insignia) and peaked cap (de: Tellerkappe):

The so-called "Adjustierungsvorschrift" (en: service dress instruction) contains the colour pattern tables from the year 1912. The name ″Egalisierung″ consists of uniform coloure at the one hand, and corps colour, egalisation colour (de: Waffenfarbe) or badge colour at the other hand. The system was extremely complicated and was called by slang Farbkastel (en: paint boxlet). Ultimately, in the k.u.k. common army it was very difficult to distinguish the 102 infantry regiments from Hussars, Lancers or Dragoons, as well as services, service branches, specialm services, appointments, etc.

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