GERMANY.
Insignia of rank in the German army is worn on the shoulders by officers and on the collar by non-commissioned officers.
Prior to 1808 there were no recognized badges of rank in the Prussian army, although Bavaria had already adopted them to some extent. During that year a system of rank badges was devised for the officers of the Prus sian army which were worn on the shoulder pieces of the coat. During the campaign of 1813-14 these shoulder pieces were converted into epaulets and the insignia of rank was transferred to them, and the epaulet has ever since remained the distinctive mark of the offi cer. The German army in 1914 was composed of 22 army corps named after die different kingdoms which composed the empire. Each kingdom had some distinctive mark which was worn only by its troops; the insignia of rank however was the same throughout the army without regard to corps or arm of service.
Except in the case of a general field-mar shal, the rank of i officers is indicated by means of stars worn on the shoulder knots or epaulets.
Officers below the grade of major wear shoulder knots or scale-like epaulets, all other officers fringed epaulets. Shoulder knots are formed of half moon shaped pieces of gold or silver embroidery (according to the regiment) enclosing a cloth field of the color of the army corps to which the .regiment belongs. On the field is displayed the regimental number ancIthe insignia of rank. Epaulets for officers below
the grade of major-general are of the same design as that of the shoulder knot with the addition of gold or silver fringe, according to the embroidery of the knot.
The epaulets of general officers are of silver bullion.
Insignia of rank for officers is as follows: General Field-Marshal.— Two gold crossdd batons.
Colonel-General.— Three gold stars. General of Infantry or Cavalry.— Two gold stars.
' Lieutenant-General.— One gold star. Major-General.— Blank epaulet. Colonel.—Two gold stars. Lieutenant-Colonel.— One gold star. Major.— Blank field.
Captain.— Two gold stars.
Field Lieutenant.— One gold star.
Second Lieutenant.— Blank field.
Non-commissioned officers wear the insignia of their rank on the standing collar of their coat, the different grades being distinguished in the following manner: Lance Corporal.—Two small buttons of gold or silver (according to regiment) worn, one on each side of the collar directly above the shoulder.
Corporal.— A stripe of gold or silver lace extending around the top of the collar.
Sergeant.— The same collar stripe as that of a corporal with the addition of two large buttons worn on either side of the collar in the same manner as the buttons of a lance corporal.