Archive

A r c h i v e

The Historycolors-Archive, resident in Germany, was founded in 2006. It is working on the basis of thousands of military and civil, digital and paper form primary sources from 1927 up to now. The focus lies, on this occasion, on the period from 1927 to 1945, the german armed forces (Wehrmacht) and in particular the german army (Heer). Nevertheless, the present primary sources enclose a wider range as for example air defence, national railway, imperial post, fire prevention police, police, German Red Cross, SA, NSKK, NSFK, W-SS, agricultural machinery, vehicle paintings and DIN colors. The standard colors are based predominantly on RAL standard collections. Basis forms a time- and cost-intensive primary source research which takes place worldwide. The collection encloses color samples, color cards, standard colors/collections, historical technical literature, some original documents, some original device, documents from public and private archives as well as provided documents from private collections. The evaluation, archiving and lasting preservation of these primary sources as well as their preservation from the often usual disposal, shows a principal purpose of the activity. The information of more than 625 digital NARA-rolls is also part of the collection. Many other primary sources are already localised and have to be checked. The Historycolors-Archive is continuously complemented. Every support like hints to worldwide primary sources as well as their provision for the evaluation and measurement is welcome. Its source will be stated. The Historycolors-Archive, due to temporal points of view, will be accessible not until the publication of "Painting and Camouflage of the german armed forces" to interested users at the request of. The use occurs without a loss or on the basis of an equivalent exchange of information. Already an equivalent exchange of information is possible any time and welcome. More details to the use will be announced on time.

Following a general overview of the collection of Historycolors-Archive and some examples of primary sources:

Color samples, color cards and standard colors/collections:

RAL 840 R - standard collection (including all cancelled colors)
Overview of the standard collection RAL 840 R (R - Ü)
RAL 840 HR - standard collection
RAL-F9 - camouflage colors of the german armed forces (Bundeswehr)
RAL 840 B - standard colors for vehicle paintings
RAL 840 B 2 - standard colors for vehicle paintings + 5 supplements
RAL 840 C - standard colors for floor paintings
RAL 840 F - standard colors for office furniture stains
RAL 840 L - standard colors for agricultural machinery including devices
RAL 840/1 - standard colors for steel piece of furniture
RAL 840/2 - standard colors for steel tin device
RAL 840/3 - standard colors of the germans (empire) postal service for the painting of vehicles, mailboxes etc.
RAL 840/4 - standard colors for fire vehicles, fire devices and ambulance vehicles
Special color extracts for army, air force and navy (armed forces)
(RLM) provisional directions for the use and processing of Reich Air Ministry camouflage paints (camouflage of buildings and sites)
(LS) provisional directions for the use and processing of Reich Air Ministry camouflage paints (camouflage of buildings and sites)
L.Dv. 521/1, 521/2, 521/3 standard colors - regulation of treatment and instruction for use for airplane varnish (RLM)
Standard colors of the german navy 1938 (AK 2 F 1 - F 2, AK 4 - F 1 - F 2), 1940 (AK 4 - F 1 - F 2), 1941 (TL - F 1), 1944 (TL - F 1 - F 2 - F 3)
Technical regulation for the rust protection of steel buildings (Ro St) No. 807 of the national railway
Standard colors for the painting of the signals, interlocking parts, barriers and warning crosses (signal colors) of the national railway
Baumanns new standard collection and color samples
Standard collection A of Wilhelm Ostwald
Vehicle colors of Springer & Möller
Colors of DIN 5381
Standard collection for seat piece of furniture, upholstered furniture and table (SiTi)
Color samples of different color- and varnish factories
Standard colors TGL 21 196 edition 1977 (DDR)
Standard colors TGL 21 196 edition 1987 (DDR)
Standard collection TGL 21 196 edition 1987 (DDR)

Orders, regulations, communications, technical terms of delivery, patents, documents and correspondence to painting and camouflage of the following institutions:

High command of the german armed forces (OKW) and postregular offices
High command of the german army (OKH) and postregular offices
Army weapon office (Wa Abn, Wa Chef Ing, Wa I Rü, Wa Prüf, Wa Ro)
Supreme command of the air force (OKL/RLM) and postregular offices
High command of the german navy (OKM) and postregular offices
Imperial ministry of arming and ammunition (RfBuM) and postregular offices
Imperial ministry of armament and war production (RfRuK) and postregular offices
Waffen SS
Imperial committee for terms of delivery and quality management (RAL)
Imperial place of chemistry
Economic group of the chemical industry
Chemical-technical imperial institution (CTR)
National railway (Deutsche Reichsbahngesellschaft - DRG/Deutsche Reichsbahn - DR)
Color and varnish companies (including color formulas of german army, air force, navy and patents)
Armament companies
German armed forces (Bundeswehr - camouflage plans etc.)

Historical technical literature:

Annual book for color- and varnish companies
Manual for color- and varnish companies
Recipes-guide for color- and varnish companies
Testing methods for varnish and raw materials
"Farbe und Lack"
Color Newspaper
RKW-News
"Industrie Lackierbetrieb"
"Der Flugzeumaler"
Advice for varnishers of airplanes
(...) and about 50 more

Color data base:

continuously complemented color data base on the basis of measurements of historical original color samples, device in original colors and original color chips

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA):