Original German WWII Kriegsmarine Coastal Artillery EM/NCO Steel Belt Buckle by Josef Feix & Söhne and Insignia Lot – 4 Items Original Items

Original Items: Only One Lot of 4 Available. The Kriegsmarine (War Navy) was the navy of NSDAP Germany from 1935 to 1945, having superseded the interwar Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was involved in World War II from its outset, and was originally intended to achieve a fleet power in parity with the UK Royal Navy per “Plan Z”, implemented in January 1939. The breakout of WWII in September 1939 however caused a change in direction to favor U-Boat warfare, so plan Z was shelved for the remainder of the war.

This grouping is a fantastic set of German Kriegsmarine Belt and Insignia, which would be a worthy part of any collection. This grouping includes:

– EM/NCO Steel Belt Buckle and Belt by Josef Feix & Söhne: This is a very good condition WWII German Kriegsmarine (Navy) EM/NCO’s Belt Buckle (Koppelschloß). The Navy used the standard Wehrmacht pattern buckles, but instead of the Field Gray color used by the Heer, they usually painted them a gold color. However, this was deemed most likely not the best color to use in Küstenartillerie (Coastal artillery) emplacements, so in 1937 they began to issue these dark blue belt buckles instead.

The Buckle design features a smooth outer field with central, high relief, embossed Wehrmacht eagle with down swept wings to slightly domed center, encompassed by an oak-leaf cluster to bottom and bears the Wehrmacht motto GOTT MIT UNS, (God with us), on the top. The oak-leaf cluster and script are on a ribbed background and encircled by an inner and outer simulated twisted rope border. This is a great field gray painted steel construction box buckle with a smooth background. The buckle is in great condition, with what appears to be a well retained paint or possibly repaint. The back of the buckle is nicely stamped with maker mark JFS for Josef Feix & Söhne of Gablonz, in the so-called Sudetenland. The leather tab, which would often be on buckles by this maker, is unfortunately missing. Belt has a makers mark but is unable to be read. Total length is 35”

– Teletypist Petty Officer Rating Insignia: 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. 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. This career patch is in lovely, unused condition.

– Kriegsmarine EM/NCM Embroidered Breast Eagle: The Kriegsmarine’s version of the national eagle was identical to the army version except for the coloration with the army utilizing silver, white and grey eagles while the Kriegsmarine utilized golden yellow eagles. The only exceptions in the coloration of the Kriegsmarine eagles was that personnel serving in the Administrative branch utilized a silver eagle while eagles worn on the white jumper shirts were in cornflower blue. Generally, office ranks used hand embroidered breast eagles while NCO/Maanschaften ranks used machine embroidered or machine woven breast eagles. Besides the hand embroidered, machine embroidered and machine woven breast eagles the Kriegsmarine also utilized removable, metal breast eagles on a limited basis. The metal breast eagles were generally restricted to Officer ranks and were worn on the white tunic, the white mess jacket and the tropical brown and white tunics as opposed to the metal breast eagles utilized by the German army which were only worn on the white summer tunic. This embroidered example is in unused condition.

– Kriegsmarine Officer’s Cap Pin Insignia: It appears to have once been painted a field gray but is in lovely condition with a straight pin.

This lot of items is perfect for the individual who is looking for a place to start collecting. Comes more than ready to display!