Description
This is a fine pair of oberst’s shoulder boards. The owner served at the German War Ministry, which also meant serving on the General Staff. The shoulder boards are in well above-average condition. They measure 4 1/4″ x 1 3/4.” They clearly were worn, as they are slightly rounded from having been mounted on a tunic. Each displays the pattern as worn by officers ranking as majors, oberstleutnants, and obersts. Each also features Prussia’s black chevrons and an oberst’s double rank pips. You might ask how we know they are for the War Ministry? Their backing material is a handsome shade of magenta, the color reserved for officers serving on the War Ministry’s General Staff. This fellow was a VERY high-level officer. He probably commanded a department that specialized in some sort of staff function to support field officers.
The only flaw that we can detect is that one of the two slip-on straps is missing, while the other is in very poor condition. As you will most likely display them featuring the obverse, it should not present a major problem. They are very rare shoulder boards. Even with the reverse’s faults, they are more than fairly-priced.
