Germany - Third Reich: Kriegsmarine Officer’s single shoulder board for an Oberleutnant in the Engineering Branch, complete with a gilt washed and stamped alloy single rank pip, and stamped alloy Engineer’s career cipher consisting of a multi-cogged gear wheel with six internal spokes and a central circular hub, and gilt washed alloy Kreigsmarine fouled anchor device button with screw and brass back plate, all mounted on a pass through style shoulder boards in silver/aluminum Russian braid, affixed to a white wool base, indicative of a white / summer tunic.
Condition:evidence of wear, overall Good Condition.
Although military ranks and rank designations can be traced back to the mercenary armies of the 17th Century it wasn’t until the creation of standing armies in the early 18th Century that distinguishing insignia of rank began to be developed. Originally the shoulder straps were functional items designed to secure the sabre and ammunition shoulder cross straps and the larger, metal trimmed epaulettes were a throw back to the protective shoulder pieces worn on medieval armour. With the formation of the Imperial Prussian Navy in 1848 Senior NCO’s and Officer ranks adopted a series of rank identifying shoulder insignia for the traditional blue and white uniforms. With the later introduction of the brown tropical uniform and field-grey uniforms for land based personnel the wear of shoulder rank insignia was utilised by all ranks, but only on these specific uniforms. 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, most personnel were issued distinctive career cipher insignia to be worn on the shoulder boards/straps.
