History

The headgear, uniforms, and insignia 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.

Within the Kriegsmarine, only certain groups of personnel wore collar tabs, including all personnel who wore the field-grey uniform, chaplains, and enlisted personnel.

The Collar Tabs of the field-grey uniform were worn on the field blouses and tunics of all ranks, with specific designs for Admirals, Officers, and enlisted personnel.

The tabs were composed of badge cloth, the litzen, and a cardstock backing.

For Officers and enlisted men, the collar tab cloth may be field-grey or dark bluish-green, and the litzen are field-grey. Furthermore, for enlisted men the litzen was machine-embroidered, and for Officers the litzen was hand-embroidered.

The design of the litzen for enlisted men and Officers is known as “double litzen.” This design includes two pillars/litzen separated by a centre stripe, with each column similarly bisected by a yellow-coloured stripe.

For Officers, including Warrant Officers and Bandmasters, the two pillars/litzen are divided down the centre by a stripe that may be embroidered or made from a silk cord. Also, each pillar/litzen features a golden-yellow cord down its centre, and cords dividing the base and the capital.