What is the difference between the SS and the Wehrmacht?
The SS had a number of branches which were active all over Germany and in the nations occupied by Germany. The Wehrmacht was a unified military force that included the German air force.
What is the difference between SS and Waffen-SS?
The two main constituent groups were the Allgemeine SS (General SS) and Waffen-SS (Armed SS). The Allgemeine SS was responsible for enforcing the racial policy of Nazi Germany and general policing, whereas the Waffen-SS consisted of combat units within Nazi Germany’s military.
What does the Balkenkreuz mean in German?
The Balkenkreuz (lit. “beam cross” or “bar cross”) is a straight-armed cross that was first introduced in 1916-18 and later became the emblem of the Wehrmacht (German Armed Forces) and its branches from 1935 until the end of World War II. It was used by the Heer (Army), Luftwaffe (Air Force), and Kriegsmarine (Navy).
Why is the Balkenkreuz national insignia black and white?
Late in World War II it became increasingly common for the Balkenkreuz national insignia to be painted on without the black-color “core cross”, using only the quartet of right-angled “flanks” for its form to reduce its visibility – this could be done in either white or black, and with both the narrow and wide-flank forms of the cross.
Why did the Wehrmacht put a black cross on tanks?
At the beginning of WW2 German tanks showed a white cross on all sides. However, already the Polish campaign showed that this conspicuous sign was used by opposing anti-tank units as aid for aiming. […] For this reason the Wehrmacht added a black cross in the middle leaving only white borders.
What is the meaning of the Black Cross of Germany?
During the Second World war, became the emblem of the German armed forces of balkenkreuz or black cross on a white background, has deep historical roots. This symbol is a stylization of two distinctive signs of the cross St. Nicholas, and the cross of the Teutonic spiritual knightly orders.