This Kriegsmarine cockade for the peaked cap represents a remarkable example of late-war production during World War II. As part of the uniform of enlisted ranks (non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel) of the German Kriegsmarine, this object embodies both the traditional symbolism of the German Navy and the increasing material shortages of 1943/44.

The Tellermütze (peaked cap) was an essential component of the Kriegsmarine uniform and was worn by all ranks. The cockade, as a national emblem, was attached to the front of the cap and traditionally consisted of the black-white-red colors, the national colors of the German Reich. The cockade for enlisted ranks differed in size and design from those worn by officers.

Particularly noteworthy about this specimen is its manufacture from glass. While the early war years still permitted the use of metals such as aluminum, zinc, or silver-plated brass, the constraints of the war economy from 1942/43 onward led to dramatic changes in the production methods of military equipment. The shortage of raw materials in the German Reich made it necessary to use substitute materials. Glass offered itself as an alternative since, unlike war-essential metals, it remained available.

The production of such glass cockades took place in specialized facilities, often in regions with traditional glassmaking industries such as Thuringia or the Bavarian Forest. The glass was molded, painted in color, and decorated with the characteristic colors of the Reich cockade. The rear fastening by means of two prongs corresponded to military standards and enabled secure attachment to the cloth cap.

The unworn condition of this specimen is remarkable, as many of these late-war cockades were either used or destroyed at the war's end. The fact that this piece was never in service suggests that it was possibly part of a stock inventory that survived the end of the war.

The uniform regulations of the Kriegsmarine, established in the “Anzugordnung für die Kriegsmarine” (Dress Regulations for the Navy), precisely regulated the appearance and manner of wearing all uniform items. The cockade was an indispensable element, the absence of which constituted a violation of dress regulations.

In the context of naval history, this cockade represents the continuity of maritime traditions despite adverse circumstances. The Kriegsmarine, as successor to the Imperial Navy, retained many traditional uniform elements but adapted production and materials to wartime requirements.

For collectors and historians, such objects provide valuable insights into the improvisational capacity and economic constraints of the German war economy. They document how even symbolic uniform items were affected by the impacts of total war.