Deutsche Rote Kreuz ( German Red Cross )

By Uscha. Schäfer

Germany had possessed a Red Cross organisation for almost 70 years from the time that is was first established in 1864. Like the majority of those organisations that existed in Germany prior to the Nazis coming to power the DRK was bought into line with other uniformed bodies. Its organisational structure was altered, its uniforms were redesigned  and its insignia of rank, qualification badges and decorations reflected both the National Socialist control as well as the new and complex rank  structure. The colour traditionally used for DRK uniforms, other than the white nursing clothing, had always been slate grey. This was retained when in 1937 a range of new clothing for nursing sisters, medical officers and medical attendants was introduced. Nurses and sisters displayed their rank insignia by a system of pips worn on the collar of either their white blouse or slate grey tunics depending on the grade. These pips were in blue for the white blouse worn by the lower ranks and silver and gold for the more  senior females. A series of coloured enamelled brooches  were worn by the nursing  sisters to indicate various grades of nursing qualification.

DRK Ranks (Highest to Lowest)

DRK-Generalhauptführerin 

DRK-Generalführerin

DRK-Oberstführerin

DRK-Oberfeldführerin

DRK-Feldführerin

DRK-Hauptführerin

DRK-Oberwachtführerin

DRK-Wachtführerin

DRK-Haupthelferin

DRK-Oberhelferin

DRK-Vorhelferin

DRK-Helferin

DRK-Anwärterin