Original WWII RARE MATCHING SET German Kreigsmarine (NAVY) OFFICER’S ENGINEERING LEUTNANT’S SHOULDER BOARDS. (Schulterstücke) Brought Home By A U.S. Veteran Certified

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Original WWII RARE MATCHING SET German Kreigsmarine (NAVY) OFFICER’S ENGINEERING LEUTNANT’S SHOULDER BOARDS. (Schulterstücke) Brought Home By A U.S. Veteran Certified. 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 saber and ammunition shoulder cross straps and the larger, metal trimmed epaulettes were a throw back to the protective shoulder pieces worn on medieval armor. With the formation of the Imperial Prussian Navy in 1848 Senior NCO’s and Officers 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 utilized by all ranks, but only on these specific uniforms. The Imperial Prussian Navy rank shoulder insignia remained in use through the Weimar, Reichsmarine, (National Navy, Circa 1919-1933), era and on into the Third Reich with minor variations. 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 cypher insignia to be worn on the shoulder boards/straps. Pass through style, removable, shoulder boards in bright, silver/aluminum Russian braiding, mounted on white wool bases. Fire gilted, alloy, Engineering cyphers. In good but used condition. Gettysburg Museum Certified (COA) provided. 100% Guaranteed to be authentic. Sold for historic purposes only. See our other pieces on our web site. Also note when browsing our web site there are several pages of items, at the bottom of the list look for other page numbers. Nice UNTOUCHED EXAMPLE! DO NOT MISS THIS! A RARE MATCHING SET!