BACKGROUND: The German EM/NCO’s "Donald Duck" style sailor’s cap was based on a traditional design that dates back to the creation of the Prussian Navy in 1848. During the Imperial German Navy, the Reichsmarine and the early Third Reich eras these Donald Duck style sailor’s caps were issued with a named cap talley to identify the ship, flotilla or land unit the individual was serving with. On November 1ST 1938 the Navy mobilization order introduced the "Kriegsmarine" cap talley to replace the named cap tallies as a security measure in the case of active mobilization. Personnel who had no possible contact with the outside world retained the privilege to wear the named tallies until mid-1940 when additional orders restricted wear of all named cap tallies excluding personnel of the NCO’s Preparatory Schools. Originally the script on the cap tallies was worked in gilt wire but due to the potential tarnish discoloration of the wire regulations of October 29TH 1936 dictated that the manufacture of the gilt script on the cap tallies was to be discontinued and replaced with golden yellow celleon threads although the directive was not strictly adhered to.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A 1936 to 1945 pattern, woven, black rayon construction cap talley features machine woven, Gothic script, "Kriegsmarine", in bright golden yellow celleon threads. Cut to a length of roughly 90cm. Shows the expected age and use.