BACKGROUND: The Kriegsmarine, (War Navy), 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. Physical fitness of its personnel was a prime concern of the German Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces), including the navy, and each new recruit was issued a specific sport uniform that consisted of a pullover "tank top" style shirt, navy blue or white shorts, athletic shoes and a two piece "sweat suit" type sports uniform. Originally Kriegsmarine personnel wore a fouled anchor insignia on their sports shirts until regulations of August 25TH 1932 introduced a Unit Sports Badge, of an unknown design, that was to be applied to the front center of the sports shirt. On May 3RD 1935 the M35 sports shirt eagle for EM/NCO’s was introduced to replace the previously used Weimar era Reichsmarine, (National Navy, Circa 1919-1933), Unit Sports Badge. Of Note: Following the Kriegsmarine’s lead, on May 14TH 1935 the Army introduced the M35 sports shirt eagle for EM/NCO’s, to replace the previously used Weimar Reichswehr era, (National Defence Force, Circa 1919-1933), Troop Sports Badge. The army’s version of the M35 sports shirt eagle was identical to the Kriegsmarine’s except for coloration, with the army utilizing black eagles while the Kriegsmarine utilized cornflower blue eagles.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Cornflower blue, machine woven, national eagle, with out-stretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted, swastika in it’s talons, to the center. 24cm wingspan.