Introduction: This is a basic introduction to what is an intricate subject. As such, it is intended to complement the pages dealing with RAF and USAAF codes. For specific information on Luftwaffe makings I would recommend Ruy Horta's Luftwaffe Page for precise details. While the system at first sight seems over elaborate it did provide a means for extremely accurate identification. As the system for marking Luftwaffe aircraft was unique, it is necessary to describe a generalised command hierarchy. There were, of course many exceptions to the general rule, particularly late in the war.  A Geschwader comprised 100-160 aircraft and was divided into 3-4 Gruppen each of approximately 30-40 aircraft. In turn each Gruppe was made up of 3 Staffeln, these having 12-16 aircraft. Gruppen and Staffeln were indicated by Roman and Arabic numerals respectively. Thus III./KG 26 indicates the third Gruppe of Kampfgeschwader 26, while 3./KG 26 denotes the third Staffel of the Geschwader.  All aircraft, with the exception of Jagdgeschwader, which will be dealt with separately, normally displayed a four digit code, two forward and two aft of the Balkankreuz. The first two digits indicated the Geschwader. The third, usually colour coded, indicated the individual aircraft within the Staffel and the fourth denoted which Staffel and Gruppe within the Geschwader.  The colour codes used were as follows: For simplicity these are roughly matched to RAF units of equivalent status.

	Blue Geschwader Stab (Group HQ )
	Green Gruppe Stab (Wing HQ)
	White 1,4,7,10, 13 Staffeln (Sqn)
	Red 2,5,8,11,14 Staffeln (Sqn)
	Yellow 3,6,9,12,15 Staffeln (Sqn)

Geschwader Stab	Gruppe Stab	Staffel	Staffel	Staffel
Geschwader	A
Gruppe I	B	H (1)	K (2)	L (3)
Gruppe II	C	M (4)	N (5)	P (6)
Gruppe III	D	R (7)	S (8)	T (9)
Gruppe VI	E	U (10)	V (11)	W(12)
Gruppe V	F	X (13)	Y (14)	Z (15)

Kampfgeschwader (Bomber Units)		Kampfgruppen		Zerstörergeshwader (Heavy Fighter Units)		Nachtjagdgeschwader (Night Fighter Units)
KG 1	V4	KGr zbV 1	1Z	ZG1	2J	NJG 1 (Transient)	G9	H1
II./KG 1	3X	KG zbV 6	G6	ZG 1	6U	NJG 2 partial	4R	6M
KG 2	U5	KGr zbV 9	9P	ZG 2	2S	NJG 2	R4	4E
KG 3	5K	KGr zbV 108	7Ü	I./ZG 2	3M	NJG 3	B4	5F
KG 4	5J	KGr zvV 126	1T	I./ZG 26	U8	NJG 3	D5	P2
KG 6	3E	KGr zbV 172	N3	II./ZG 26	3U	NJG 3	3J	4N
KG 27	1G	KGr zbV 172	L5	IV./ZG 26	4A	NJG 4	3C	5D
KG 27	1H	KGr zbV 172	4V	ZG 76	2N	NJG 5	C9	V7
KG 30	4D	KGr zbV 700	7V	I/ZG 52, II./ZG2	A2	NJG 6	2Z	8H
KG 51	9K	KGr zbV 800	8T	ZStaffel 210	2H	NJG 11	3W	H8
KG 53	A1	KGr 100	6N	Stukageschwader (Stuka Units)		NJG 100	W7	6K
KG 54	B3	KGr 606	7T	I./St TrG 126	J9	NJG 101	9W	C2
KG 54	2F			I./StG 1	A5	NJG 102	7J	A6
KG 55	F8			StG 2	S1	NJG 200	8V	C6
KG 60	P1	KFGr 106	M2	StG 3	S7	NJGr 10 and NJ Stfl Finland/ Norway	D9	7A
KG 66	Z6	I./KFGr 806, II./KflGr 806	M8	II./StG 51	6G	NJStfl/KG 40 Kdo Kunkel	4C	E6
KG 76	F1	KFGr 406	K6	III./StG 51	6G	Nachtschlachtgruppe (Night Ground Attack)		T6
KG 77	3Z	KFGr 506	S4	StG 77, SG 77	S2	NSGr 1	V8	F6
KG 100	6N	KFGr 706	61	LG 1	L1	NSGr 4	1K	4U
KG 101	5T	KFGr 806	M7	LG 2	L2	Transportgeschwader Transport Units		G2
KG 200	A3	KFGr 906	8L			TG 1	1Z
SKG210	S9			LLG 1	H4	TG 2	8T	7R
Miscellaneous Units		Minesweeper Units				TG 4	4V	D1
Wetterstaffel 5	1B	Minensuchgruppe der Luftwaffe	3K			TG 5	J4	6R
Stabsschwarm Luftflotte 6	K1					TG 8	C8	6W
		Non-operational	W1			TG 30	S3	X4
X Fliegerdivision Command	2P	Non-operational	W6			TG 290	J4	F7
X Fliegerkorps Command	P4	Non-operational	W8			TGr Herzog	6Z	K7
		Non-operational	W9			TG zbV 600		6M
Sonderstaffel Tranzozean	P5	Bordfliegergruppe 196	T3			222 Lufttransportstaffel	X4
		Bordfliegergruppe 196	6W
		Kommando der Erprobungsstell	E7					J2
Wekusta 1	D7	Erprobungsgruppe 210	S9					9V
Wekusta 26	5M	Versuchsverband ObdL	T9					F2
								T5
Kurierstaffel Finland	1R

Jagdgeschwader	Kampfgeschwader	Zerstörergeschwader
JG 1 Oesau	KG 1 Hindenberg	ZG 1 Wespen
JG 2 Richthofen	KG 2 Holzhammer	ZG 26 Horst Wesel
JG 3 Udet	KG 3 Blitz	Aufklärungsgruppe
JG 5 Eismeer	KG 4 General Wever	10 Tannenberg
JG 26 Schlageter	KG 26 Löwen	124 Richthofen
JG 27 Afrika	KG 27 Boelke	Stukageschwader
JG 51 Molders	KG 30 Adler	StG 2 Immelmann
JG 53 Pik As	KG 51 Edelweiss	Schnellkampfgeschwader
JG 54 Grünherz	KG 53 Legion Kondor	SKG 210 Wespen
JG 77 Herz As	KG 54 Totenkopf
	KG 55 Griefen

The diagram below then gives a coding for a fictitional Fw190 of Gruppen Kommandeur of II./JG 4., the aircraft being "No 8" assigned to the eighth Staffel. In reality, as both the Green 8 and the bar aft of the Balkankreuz indicate the Gruppe, the bar would likely not have been painted.

NB: 1. Not all Jabo Units displayed the bomb emblem. 2. Prior to October 1943 SchG 1 SchG 2 displayed a black triangle on one side or other of the Balkankreuz plus a letter in the Staffel colour. After 1943 this was changed to a coloured letter forward of the Balkankreuz with all other marks similar to the parent Jagdgeschwader. Reichsverteidigungbande: From 20/2/45 coloured bands were applied to the aft fuselage to identify aircraft deployed for the defence of the Reich . I strongly suggest the link at the top of the page for full details.on these and other more specific markings and insignia. Note that in many cases the underside of the fuselage was painted varying shades to alert Ack-Ack gunners to friendly aircraft.