BACKGROUND: The Kriegsmarine adopted rank chevrons for all Enlisted ranks in 1933. The chevrons were worn on the upper left sleeve of most garments, with a few exceptions and the base color of the chevron was to match the uniform it was worn on. Beginning in 1935 Kriegsmarine land based personnel, primarily Coastal Artillery units, were issued field-grey uniforms that followed the fundamental designs of the army uniforms with minor variations. The Kriegsmarine rank chevrons underwent four modifications between 1933 and 1940, in an unsuccessful attempt to conform to the army EM’s rank chevrons. Of Note: Quite often the rank chevrons were combined with the individuals career insignia. Depending on the time period that this chevron was worn it would signify the rank of Gefreiter from 1933 to January 1935, the rank of Oberstabsmatrose from January 1935 to January 1937 the rank of Stabsmatrose from January 1937 to January 1938 and the rank of Obergefreiter from January 1938 until the end of the war.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The insignia consists of dual, waffle patterned, woven, gold celleon chevrons, machine stitched on an inverted triangular feldgrau wool base.