An original WW2 Kriegsmarine NCOs breast eagle, machine embroidered in gold-yellow thread on dark blue wool. The reverse measures 4 inches (w) x 1. 3/4 inch (h) complete with no moth holes or damage in mint condition. Naval uniforms and headgear were based on traditional designs that date back to the creation of the Prussian Navy in 1848, and although uniforms and headgear did evolve during the interim years many items used during the Third Reich would still have been quite recognizable to the Imperial sailor. The Kriegsmarine adopted a slightly modified version of the NSDAP’s, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), national eagle for wear on the front of the headgear and the right breast of the uniform on March 24TH 1934. The Kriegsmarine’s version of the national eagle was identical to the army version except for the coloration with the army utilizing silver, white and grey eagles while the Kriegsmarine utilized golden yellow eagles. Of Note: The only exceptions in the coloration of the Kriegsmarine eagles was that personnel serving in the Administrative branch utilized a silver eagle while eagles worn on the white jumper shirts were in cornflower blue. Due to the silver insignia the Administrative personnel were contemptuously referred to as Silberlinge, (Silvered Ones). Generally officer’s ranks utilized hand embroidered breast eagles while EM/NCO’s ranks utilized machine embroidered or machine woven breast eagles. Machine embroidered breast eagle with out-stretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted, swastika in its talons, in golden yellow cotton threads, on a cut-out, dark, navy blue, wool base.
