208. German Red Cross: Red Cross Nurse, 1942, Hospital Uniform.
209. German Red Cross: German Red Cross General, 1944, Greatcoat.
210. German Red Cross: Nursing Sister, 1942, Tropical uniform.
Germany had possessed a Red Cross organisation for almost seventy years from the time when it was first established in 1864. Like the majority of those organisations that existed in Germany prior to the Nazis coming to power the German Red Cross (Deutsche Rote Kreuz) was brought into line with other uniformed bodies. Its organisational structure was altered, its uniforms were re-designed and its insignia of rank, qualification badges and decorations reflected both the National Socialist control as well as the new and complex rank structure. The colour traditionally used for Red Cross uniforms, other than the white nursing clothing, had always been slate-grey. This was retained when in 1937 a range ofnew clothing for nursing sisters, medical officers and medical attendants was introduced. Male personnel showed their ranks by means ofa system ofshoulder straps. Bars of silver lace in varying numbers and thicknesses were worn on the tunic sleeve to indicate the length of service held by the wearer. Nurses and Sisters displayed their rank insignia by a system of pips worn on the corners of the collar of either their white blouse or slate-grey tunics depending on grade. These pips were in blue for the white blouse worn by the lower ranks, and silver or gold for the more senior fetnales. A series of coloured enamelled brooches were worn by the nursing sister to indicate various grades of nursing qualification. Few changes were made during the course of the war years to the uniforms first introduced in 1937. The most notable exception being the introduction later of a tropical uniform for use by Nursing Sisters who were to work with the German forces in North Africa and other hot climate countries. Their uniform (see No. 210) consisted of a light brown tropicaljacket and matching skirt. To this was added a sun helmet. The greatcoat as worn by General Officers of the German Red Cross was distinguished by having pale dove-grey lapel facings, the same colour material as was used for the Red Cross collar patches which bore a small red enamelled cross and which were worn by all male Red Cross personnel regardless of rank.

211. Organisation Todt: Haupttruppführer, 1941, Undress Uniform.
212. Organisation Todt: Reichsminister für Bewaffnung und Munition, Professor Albert Speer, 1943, OT Ministerial Uniform.
213. Organisation Todt: OT-Frontarbeiter, 1940, Duty Uniform.
The Organisation Todt or OT was yet another prime example of a uniformed organisation, created during the time of the Third Reich, which had no historical connection and it was during its period of existence constantly altering its uniform styles, rearranging its rank terms and changing its rank insignia. The Organisation Todt was created and originally directed by Dr Fritz Todt. As a qualified civil engineer it was he who was responsible before the war for the construction of much of the Autobahn system throughout Germany and for the building of the German 'West Wall' defensive system known as the Siegfried Line. In 1940 he was appointed as Minister of Armaments, a position he held until his death in an aircraft crash in 1942. As Armaments Minister he was succeeded by Albert Speer (No. 212). Speer was born in 1905. He was an architect by profession. He joined the Nazi Party in 1932 and on succeeding Professor Troost he became Hitler's personal architect in 1934. He designed the New Reich Chancellery built in Berlin together with the Nurnberg Kongresshalle and other major works. In 1942 on the death of Fritz Todt he was appointed Minister of War Production and Armaments and was also made responsible for State construction work. He proved to be an extremely able organiser, so much so that production and output of war material increased during the years 1943-44 far beyond what had previously been achieved despite the massive Allied boInbing offensive levelled against German industry. As a Minister of State Speer wore a uniform similar to that worn by senior OT officials but without OT rank insignia. Silver cording worn around the edge of the collar indicated his Ministerial position (No. 212. See also Nos. 187-189.) OT construction workers, once war had broken out, found themselves in front-line situations. It was necessary to arm the German personnel in order that they could defend themselves against surprise attacks from the enemy or partisans. Efforts were made so that every German worker, regardless of age, received some instruction in the use of weapons, mostly small arms. Equipment was scarce, most of it going to the regular Armed Forces so that OT units were forced to make do with whatever captured or obsolete stocks they could lay their hands on (No. 213). OT Einsatzgruppen (Work Groups) were employed in construction work in France (the Atlantic Wall etc), Italy (various defensive positions) and the Low Countries. The OT co-operated closely with German and foreign private construction and supply firms and as the war progressed made full use of ever increasing numbers of foreign workers, sometimes slave labour. The transport system used by the Organisation Todt was maintained by the NSKK.

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