Pioneer Standard Bearers Sleeve Insignia

Product Description: This Pioneer Standard Bearers Sleeve Insignia is a great, unissued example of a rare and desirable piece of Heer cloth insignia. These patches date from the prewar period. This one features a central Heer eagle and swastika emblem, flanked with detailed unit standards with the black color of the Pionier (Pioneer) units, with an oak leaves emblem at the bottom. This very ornate design is beautifully worked in rayon thread and aluminum wire, in “Bevo” type machine weaving. The shield emblem is woven is on a backing of thin rayon, in a medium green color. The reverse of this Pioneer Infantry Sleeve Shield allows a look at how these patches were woven. There are no stains or holes, and no damage of any kind. This Pioneer Standard Bearers Sleeve Insignia has never been sewn on a uniform and doesn’t appear to have ever been folded. These patches are not easy to find, and the Pioneer branch version is very desirable. This patch remains in outstanding, near mint condition.

Historical Description: Trooped unit flags were an important part of ceremonial regalia for every German military, paramilitary and civil organization. In parades and rallies, the flag would be carried by a person appointed as standard bearer, a position of honor. As an external indicator of his prestigious role, the standard bearer would be adorned with a variety of regalia including, in many organizations, the standard bearer sleeve shield. This sleeve shield was generally a cloth patch that would be always worn on the uniform, not only when the standard bearer was performing his function. Standard bearer sleeve patches usually bore organizational emblems and sometimes had colors or numerals that designated the wearer’s branch of service or his specific unit. Because the standard bearer sleeve patch served a ceremonial function, it was generally attractively designed for visual impact. The total number of standard bearers in most organizations was relatively few compared to other roles, so the standard bearer insignia was generally made in limited numbers, and most types are rare to find today.