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: The Specialist career insignia for Junior NCO’s and EM’s was originally introduced in 1933 and was slightly different then the standard career insignia in that more in-depth training was required and the emblems were worked in red thread as opposed to the gilt metal, golden yellow or cornflower blue emblems of the standard career insignia. The Specialist career insignia was modified in 1940 and remained in use for the duration of the war.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The insignia consists of a vertically oval, ribbed, white cotton/rayon blend material base with a hand embroidered, vertical, winged, artillery shell with "flames" emanating from the top edge positioned above dual chevrons all in bright red rayon threads. The outer edge of the base has a strip of protective white cotton/rayon tape machine stitched in place. The insignia indicates the specialist career of a heavy anti-aircraft artillery gun chief.