Comments on: Insignia of Armed Forces in WW2

Insignia of Armed Forces in WW2

adamdschneider — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:10:30 -0800

The Armed Forces of World War II, a flash presentation of rank insignia. The creator implies that it's a work in progress, but what I've clicked through seems pretty complete to me. Bonus Babylon 5 link on the left.

By: Dizzy

Dizzy — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:23:32 -0800

Fascinating imagery, and clean and efficient interface to boot! This makes me curious as to the history of military insignia-- how they've evolved over time, the chief cultural differences in color and shapes and sizes... Can anyone point me in the direction of a concise text?

By: Quonab

Quonab — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:02:13 -0800

I always wondered what the insignia for a WWII Japanese Army Superior Private Acting Corporal was. Neat, Thanks!

By: stbalbach

stbalbach — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:25:13 -0800

I'm not sure what the scope is, but every unit has its own badge of some sort, usually. Like the "big red 1". The Nazis took it to extremes. So my guess is yeah, probably not complete but got the main ones.

By: mattoxic

mattoxic — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:38:09 -0800

The Nazis took it to extremes? Man, check out the royal navy.

By: porpoise

porpoise — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:48:51 -0800

Yeah, I was about to mention the Greater Britain insignia; but I guess that might have something to do with the many independent-minded members of Greater Britain, vis a vis the flag. I wonder why the British Lieutenant* Royal Navy Reserve - Electrical (hmm, that link isn't going to work) has a star of David on it? * and why is it not leftenant?

By: parmanparman

parmanparman — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:58:29 -0800

Do the Dutch still have a rank called "Scout in the Night"? That is awesome.

By: parmanparman

parmanparman — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:00:56 -0800

They do have that rank. It's better translation is Night Watchman

By: Ljubljana

Ljubljana — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 01:34:26 -0800

I was surprised to see so many swastikas on Finnish insignia. I can't believe another country actually out-swastika'd Germany. (At least when it came to shoulderwear.)

By: djgh

djgh — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 06:55:47 -0800

I'm pretty sure the second GB Lance Corporal is wrong - isn't two stripes corporal? porpoise, isn't it just pronounced leftenant?

By: Comrade_robot

Comrade_robot — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:12:26 -0800

According to Army Air Corps Ranks, lance corporal is one stripe, corporal is two...

By: Lord Chancellor

Lord Chancellor — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:08:40 -0800

Yeah, lieutenant is pronounced (but not spelled) "leftenant" in British English, just as colonel is pronounced (but not spelled) "kernel" in both British and American English. Okay, I take that back. The Canadians also pronounce it leftenant. So I guess everyone except American English speakers from the former Empire do it.