Germany - Third Reich: Kriegsmarine Coastal Artillery Marineartillerie Non-Commissioned Officers trade sleeve badge. A very good early quality example, most probably pre-war, with the trade insignia in gilt-washed stamped alloy. This complete with three of the four retaining prongs, and attached to its navy blue oval cloth backing.
Condition: one retaining prong missing, gilding mostly complete though slightly rubbed on highpoints, overall Good Very Fine.
Personnel in the Marineartillerie were responsible for coastal batteries, anti-aircraft (Flak) units on ships, and defence fortifications. The insignia were awarded or assigned to sailors after basic training and the completion of specific technical or career courses.
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 colour of the insignia was to match the colour of the uniform it was worn on. Most land based Kriegsmarine personnel were issued with field-grey uniforms. Coastal Artillery personnel wore the field-grey uniform exclusively while most other land based units only wore it as a drill uniform.
