BACKGROUND: On entering Kriegsmarine service all personnel were assigned and trained for a specific career. These careers consisted of a wide variety of specialty trades and functions with some of the careers restricted to certain rank groups. On successful completion of the appropriate training, personnel were issued distinctive career insignia to be worn on the upper left sleeve of the uniforms. For EM/NCO’s the career insignia could be worn combined with the rank insignia or as separate insignia. Regulations dictated that the base color of the insignia was to match the color of the uniform it was worn on. Of Note: Rank designations were tied to the career the individual was assigned to and in this case the proper rank designation is Matrosen-Hauptgefreiter.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The insignia consists of a navy blue wool base with an inverted triangular bottom and a semi-circular top. The top of the base has a hand embroidered, five pointed star in gilt wire threads positioned above a three gilt wire rank chevrons.