German WWII Infantery signals trade badge (Nachrichtenpersonal Tätigkeitsabzeichen)

Originally the trade badges were worked on a blue/green badge cloth base, but in early 1940 this was altered to a field-grey wool base or the appropriate color of the uniform it was to be worn on. Accurate intelligence and secure lines of communication are crucial elements to all armies in the field and during WWII each division in the German Army had an integral Signals unit. The Signals unit were usually of Battalion strength and generally consisted of a Headquarters Company, a Radio Company and a Telephone Company. Besides the specific Signals personnel other branches of service also trained personnel to utilize a wide variety of radio receivers, field telephones and associated communications equipment in all theaters of operation. The different branches of service within the German army were allocated a specific, identifying waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), with white being selected for Infanterie, (Infantry), personnel. On the Signals trade badge the appropriate branch of service color was displayed as a 'blitz' arrow.