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 navy blue wool base with a machine embroidered vertical, upward pointing arrow positioned above a single chevron in bright red cotton threads. The reverse of the insignia still has its protective black fabric backing intact.