History

The headgear and uniforms worn by members of the Kriegsmarine were based upon the designs utilized by the Kaiserliche Marine and the Reichsmarine. The official regulations governing the uniforms of the Reichsmarine were issued on April 5, 1921, and they were embraced, with a few alterations, as the Kriegsmarine uniforms in 1935. New guidelines concerning rank insignia were issued in 1936.

This Hat was worn by Officers and Administrative Officials as part of their dress uniform, and it could be worn at important social occasions, official events, visits abroad, and funerals.

The hat was first established in 1925, during the Kaiserliche Marine, and very little of its design was altered during the Reichmarine and the Kriegsmarine.

The hat is composed of several main elements, including the black wool body, the brim, the ribbon/tress along the brim, the Agraffe, the bullion braid/clasp surrounding the Agraffe, the bottom Agraffe button and top silk cockade, the interior silk lining, and the sweatband.

The body of the hat is composed of black, shiny, wool that has been needle-felt (nadelfilzbezug), and the brims of the hat are trimmed in a ribbon/tress, whose colours are associated with the rank of the wearer.

The right side of the hat is decorated with an Agraffe, which is made by twisted cords and has a button at the lower end. The Agraffe is surrounded by a tubular, bullion braid/clasp. From 1934 onward, the Agraffe was secured to the hat via a bottom button embossed with the national emblem, an eagle holding a swastika. While from 1933 onward, the top of the Agraffe rests on a silk ribbon rosette. Prior to 1933, during the Reichsmarine, the bottom button was embossed with an anchor and the top of the Agraffe was secured by an eagle cockade.

For Admirals and Commodores, the hat features gold-coloured tress along the brim, with a gold-coloured Agraffe and enclosing tubular bullion braid/clasp, and a gold coloured button.

For Officers below the rank of Admiral, the hat features a black Moiré (watered silk) band along the brim, with a gold-coloured Agraffe and enclosing tubular bullion braid/clasp, and a gold coloured button.

For Administrative Officials with the rank of Officer, the hat features a black Moiré band along the brim, and the button and Agraffe, and enclosing tubular bullion braid/clasp are silver-coloured. While, for Administrative Officials with the rank of Admiral (Wehrmachtbeamte), the hat features silver-coloured tress along the brim, and silver-coloured tress, button, and enclosing tubular bullion braid/clasp.