BACKGROUND: The separate branch of Kriegsmarine Officials, was a tradition that harkened back to the 17TH century, as a separation of personnel performing non-military duties from personnel performing specifically military duties. As early as the mid 1800's with the formation of the Imperial Prussian Navy the Officials were allotted distinctive uniform insignia. This tradition continued right up to the Third Reich era and new insignia for the assorted Officials was introduced on October 1ST 1936. The new insignia was worn by Officials with officers rank on both of the lower sleeves of the service uniforms and by Officials with NCO ranks on the shoulder boards. Officials careers consisted of four varying grades, of high, elevated, medium and low grade with slightly differing identifying insignia for each grade. The grade of the career was determined by the education and/or experience of the individual. Of Note: Generally all Kriegsmarine insignia was golden yellow with the exception of Administrative personnel which utilized silver insignia. Due to the silver insignia the Administrative personnel were contemptuously referred to as Silberlinge, (Silvered Ones). This example signifies an Administrative Officials with an elevated career grade.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Vertically oval, navy blue wool base with a hand embroidered Wehrmacht pattern national eagle with down swept wings positioned above a canted swastika and dual, overlapping, stylized, looped chevrons all in bright silver/aluminum wire and bullion threads.