Original German WWII Kriegsmarine Female Auxiliaries M38 Overseas Wool Cap size 56 – dated 1944 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available.  This is a very nice and hard to find example of a German WWII Kriegsmarine Navy Female Auxiliaries (Marinehelferinnen) overseas cap. The overseas cap, was nicknamed in German military slang as Schiffchen, or literally “little ship” as it resembled an up-turned row-boat, was standard issue for this organization. The kriegsmarine however officially referred to these as a Bordmütze (Board Cap).

This example is constructed of a Kriegsmarine Navy Blue wool exterior, with the correct “fold down” surround without scallops, which is tacked stitched to the front around the insignia. The top edge of the fold down panels are piped in golden yellow (Gold-gelb), which is still quite vibrant. The front center of the cap has a machine embroidered Kriegsmarine eagle with yellow threads on a cut-out navy blue base neatly handstitched to the cap. No cockade as per regulations.

The lining has a clear RB NR National Business number marking, complete with size and date:

1944
RB Nr. 0/0415/0023
56

Condition of this cap is very good to excellent, and has very little sign of wear or moth damage. It mainly is a bit dusty from storage, and has age related wear that would be seen on any cap from WWII. 

A very nice example, ready to display!

Background on the Kriegsmarine Female Auxiliary

Although the Kriegsmarine had utilized female personnel even before WWII, they were employed on an individual contract basis and classed as civilians. In December 1941 the War Service Laws dictated that females between 18 and 40 years of age could be drafted into military service as non-combatants with the Wehrmachtgefolge (Armed Forces Retinue). Assorted auxiliary services were instituted up to July 1942, when the Marinehelferinnen (Navy Auxiliaries), was established.

Uniform regulations for the Marinehelferinnen personnel was published in late 1942 and early 1943, and included the overseas cap. The design of the female auxiliary overseas cap was basically identical to the male overseas cap with distinctive rank identifying piping. Originally the female auxiliaries wore the standard national eagle on the upper front of the cap and no national cockade, in May of 1944 regulations altered the placement of the national eagle to the front center of the fold down panel and altered the color of the rank piping.