The form and location of the initial cross was largely up to the painter, which led to considerable variation, and even to the white portion being omitted. The fuselage was also usually marked with a cross on each side, but this was optional. The Imperial German Army's mobilization led to orders in September 1914 to paint all-black Eisernes Kreuz (iron cross) insignia with wide-flared arms over a white field - usually square in shape - on the wings and tails of all aircraft flown by its air arm, then known as the Fliegertruppe des Deutschen Kaiserreiches. After evaluating several possible markings, including a black, red and white checkerboard, a similarly coloured roundel, and black stripes, it chose a black "iron" cross on a square white field, as it was already in use on various flags and reflected Germany's heritage as the Holy Roman Empire. Of all the early operators of military aircraft, Germany was unusual in not using "round" roundels.
Similar national cockades were designed and adopted for use as aircraft roundels by the air forces of other countries, including the U.S. In addition, aircraft rudders were painted the same colours in vertical stripes, with the blue vertical stripe of the tricolors forwardmost. The chosen design was the French national cockade, which consisted of a blue-white-red emblem, going outwards from center to rim, mirroring the colours of the French flag. The first use of national insignia on military aircraft was before the First World War by the French Aéronautique Militaire, which mandated the application of roundels in 1912. World War I French Nieuport 10 showing large wing roundels France
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