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.

The Sleeve Insignia were worn by active and reserve Kriegsmarine Officers as identifiers of a trade specialty or branch of service. They were worn on both sleeves immediately above the rank insignia stripes. The Kriegsmarine uniform pieces on which they were worn include the reefer jacket, the blue mess jacket, and the frock coat.

The career icons were embroidered in yellow on a blue cloth backing. The insignias were either machine-embroidered with yellow thread or hand-embroidered with gilt bullion or golden-yellow celleon thread.

The Technical Communications Insignia features a gear with a downward pointing lightning bolt.