World War 2 German reenactors basically know the meaning of the term “waffenfarbe.” The German military color-coded the uniforms of soldiers according to their units’ branch of service. For example, white was worn by members of infantry units. Red was worn by members of artillery units. Lemon yellow was worn by signals troops (Nachrichtentuppen). Etc. Colors were displayed on tunic piping, shoulder boards, and collar tabs.
Many reenactors believe that the lemon yellow waffenfarbe was worn by radiomen, telephone operators, and all personnel who had anything to do with operating field communications. Well, that is a common misconception..
Soldiers who wore lemon yellow waffenfarbe were members of signals companies. They were all highly trained in setting up, trouble shooting, repairing, and dismantling radio equipment, telephone equipment, telephone cables, and telephone wires. Upon completion of training, each was awarded a blitz trade patch in lemon yellow waffenfarbe.
Signals companies were assigned to a division. It was their job to provide the division with reliable field communications upon capture of new territory. In each company, there were three telephone platoons.
The telephone platoons installed wires and cables, switchboards, and field telephones in each of the division’s units. After installation, members of each platoon did not operate the telephone equipment. Operation was generally assigned to members of the division units…. Preferably to someone who earned a blitz patch in telephone training. Telephone equipment operators were not always graduates of training schools and therefore had no blitz patches.
That is why switchboard operators wore other than lemon yellow waffenfarben on their uniforms and blitz patches (if any). For example, a switchboard operator in an infantry unit would have white waffenfarbe, which might include a white blitz patch. A switchboard operator in an artillery unit would have red waffenfarbe, which might include a red blitz patch. Etc.
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WW2 German Field Telephone Equipment 