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The national eagle was worn by all members of the German Armed forces during World War 2 in some shape or form on their respective uniforms and headgear. This appeared as an eagle (which was traditionally the emblem of Germany) clutching a swastika (Hakenkreutz) in it's talons. The Swastika was the insignia of the National Socialist Workers Party of Germany NSDAP. Another insignia which was worn by al members of the German armed forces (excluding the Waffen SS) was the Reichs Cockade. This consisted of a round disc shaped device which was coloured black, white (or silver) and red. It was worn by officers surrounded by an oakleaf wreath and by other ranks as a round device worn on cloth headgear. This item was also worn by German troops during World War One.

    The Luftwaffe National eagle differed from the both the Wehrrmact and Waffen SS eagles in that the eagle was depicted in flight with it's wings spread. It was displayed in both cloth and metal forms depending on which item of clothing it was worn. The cloth version was worn on tunics, shirts, jumpsmocks on the right breast pocket or corresponding position on garments without breast pockets. The colouring of the insignia varied considerably with field blue backing/silver-grey thread for tunics, green backing /grey thread for various shirts and camo smocks and sand coloured backing/silver or light blue for tropical uniforms and headgear. On cloth headgear the insignia was usually worn on the front of the cap just above the black, white and red  cockade. It was woven onto a backing of either dark blue, tan or green cloth (depending on the type of garment) with the eagle being woven in the respective coloured thread. It also appeared in printed form on sports vests and as a decal on the side of steel helmets. Both metal and cloth versions of the national eagle were worn on officers caps.

The Waffen SS national insignia was first worn on the sleeve in 1935 but was not worn by all ranks until 1938. It was during this year that not only officers were issued with the eagle but other ranks too. The SS eagle which was personally approved by Hitler for use by the Leibstandarte differed from the Army and Luftwaffe eagle due to it's pointed wings. There were various cloth insignia manufactured for both officers and other ranks. The difference being the officer's version was hand embroidered in aluminium thread and the other ranks version being machine embroidered in grey thread. The shades of these threads varied considerably from white, matt grey and beige being fairly common. There were also guides set out for various SS uniforms. They were as follows:
Aluminium thread on a black background for Officers
Silver Grey Thread on a black background for other ranks
Light Khaki thread on a black background for tropical uniforms
Bright green on a black background for camouflage uniforms and certain cloth caps

For headgear there were both cloth and metal (usually tin, silvered Lupal or zinc) national emblems and their colour varied considerably. The metal version was worn on officers peaked caps of every variety. Cloth caps usually had woven cloth insignia often incorporating the deaths head on the same piece of backing cloth. The colour of the tread and backing cloth considered greatly with various shades of green, grey and black being used for the backing cloth. It also appeared in printed form on sports vests in black with the sports vest being white.
    It was not uncommon however for the Army eagle to be worn by some members of the Waffen SS. This was due to supply difficulties of the SS eagle at the front ( a problem their army counterpart did not suffer from). Of course the wearing of the army eagle was unofficial but not unheard of. Certain SS police units also used the army style insignia, most notably the 4th SS Polizei Panzergrenadier Division during the early stages of the war.

Instead of wearing the Reichs cockade the Waffen SS wore the famous Totenkopf (Deaths Head) emblem on their headgear. Despite the sinister imagery of this device (not helped by the Hollywood films depicting the SS) this device is based on the tradition upheld by German cavalry, most notably the Brunswick Black Hussars form the early 1800's who's commander Freidrich Wilhelm chose the skull and crossbones on a black background as a reminder of the the tragedy that had befallen his country having been defeated by the French in 1805.

The Waffen SS had varying styles of the deaths head insignia and differing styles were worn throughout the war. It was adopted by Hitler's Sosstrup in 1923 and this design was based on the above hussar design (known as a Brunswick style deaths head). This was adopted by the Waffen SS for armoured crew berets, "Krätschen" type hats (worn by the SS-VT recruits, and various officer caps.

The "Krätschen" cap displaying the Brunswick style deaths head insignia above an early version of the national emblem. This type of cap was worn by German solder's during the First World War.

In 1934 these Brunswick style deaths heads were replaced by a design specific for the Waffen SS. It was manufactured in both cloth (for cloth headgear and metal for both officers caps and cloth headgear including ski caps and various fur caps of other ranks. It was made at first from tin and then from alloy as the war progressed. The cloth version was machine embroidered using grey or silver coloured thread and worn directly underneath the SS national eagle. Later, both the eagle and the deaths head were manufactured on one piece of backing cloth and worn on both the front of certain caps and on the side of the Feldmütze sidecap.

Three examples of the SS deaths head insignia. Far left is the BeVo type machine embroidered skull worn on cloth headgear by NCOs and other ranks alike. Centre is the tin officer's deaths head insignia which was worn on officers caps. Far right is the deaths head and SS national eagle embroidered onto a black piece of backing cloth and worn on the front of the Einheitsfeldmutze.

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