German Kriegsmarine Senior PO Engine Mechanic Career Sleeve Badge

This Kriegsmarine badge consists of a vertically oval 85mm by 65mm navy blue wool base with a gilt stamped alloy device over a single chevron. The reverse of the insignia has an alloy base plate and backing material intact.

All Kriegsmarine service personnel were assigned and trained for a specific career after entering the service. 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. Enlisted ranks of Matrose up to and including Hauptgefreiter career insignia were generally embroidered on small, round, bases while NCO ranks of Maat up to and including Oberdeckoffizier career insignia were on larger, vertically oval bases and could come in embroidered or stamped alloy versions. Regulations dictated that the base color of the insignia was to match the color of the uniform it was worn on.