Lampasse

Lampasse(s) (German: Lampasse(n)) are trouser stripes adorning the dress uniforms of many armed forces, police, fire and other public uniformed services. In German speaking countries as general staff–qualified officers, their uniform featured these distinctive double-wide lampasses.[1]

Not to be confused with the fabric lampas.
Soviet marshals, Zhukov and Rokossovsky with red double lampasses, in 1945.

Germany

The lampasses of the General Staff–qualified officers up to colonel were in carmine. However general uniforms featured lampasses in corps colour (German: Waffenfarbe.), e.g. Air Force in Skyblue.

For general officers of the German Bundeswehr the tradition to use lampasses was given up[2] in 1956. However, general officers of the National People's Army, Volkspolizei and Stasi, as well as flag officers of the Volksmarine wore double-wide lampasses on uniform trousers in the appropriate corps colour until 1990.

See also
Main article: Corps colours (NPA)

In Germany today the general officers of the Bundespolizei wear double-wide Lampasses in deep green.

Historical examples
  • Red double-wide lampasses of the Wuerttemberg 3rd Kavalery-Regiment, 1825.
    Red double-wide lampasses of the Wuerttemberg 3rd Kavalery-Regiment, 1825.
  • Red double-wide lampasses of the Prussian General officers.
    Red double-wide lampasses of the Prussian General officers.
  • Field Marshal Sir Henry Evelyn Wood VC, GCB, GCMG with gold-lampasses.
    Field Marshal Sir Henry Evelyn Wood VC, GCB, GCMG with gold-lampasses.
  • Mounted officer with red lampasses.
    Mounted officer with red lampasses.
  • Friedrich Wilhelm III with red double-lampasses.
    Friedrich Wilhelm III with red double-lampasses.

Lampasses today

Lampasses are worn even today in a large number of national armed forces on dress uniform, full dress uniform, or duty uniform of general officers. The gold-coloured lampasses of the US-Cavalry is also well known.

See also

Sources / references
  1. BROCKHAUS Encyclopaedia in 24 Volumes, volume 13: ISBN 3-7653-3673-4, 2001, p. 27. (in German)
  2. Word and tradition in the German Army (de: Heer), by Transfeldt – v. Brand – Quenstedt, 6th increased edition, Hamburg 11 H.G. Schulz 1967, p. 55/§76, Lampasse
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