This Kriegsmarine button from 1938 represents an important element of German naval uniforms during the period of the Third Reich. With a diameter of approximately 14 mm, this button was specifically designed for the peaked caps worn by officers or Portepee non-commissioned officers of the Kriegsmarine.

The Kriegsmarine was officially established on June 1, 1935, replacing the Reichsmarine of the Weimar Republic. This transformation occurred as part of German rearmament under the National Socialist government. Uniform regulations were fundamentally revised, and new clothing specifications were introduced that integrated both traditional elements from the Imperial Navy and new National Socialist symbolism.

The date 1938 on the reverse of the button is of particular significance. It marks the year of manufacture and falls within a phase of intensive rearmament of the German Kriegsmarine. This year also saw the conception of the Z Plan, an ambitious fleet construction program under Grand Admiral Erich Raeder, intended to make the Kriegsmarine one of the world's most powerful naval forces.

The peaked cap (Schirmmütze) was an essential component of the service uniform for naval officers and Portepee non-commissioned officers. The cap differed significantly in its execution from those worn by enlisted ranks. While ordinary sailors wore caps without peaks, the peaked cap was a status symbol indicating the wearer's elevated rank.

Portepee non-commissioned officers formed a special category within the military hierarchy. The term derives from the Portepee, a sword knot or tassel that served as a rank insignia. Portepee NCOs were non-commissioned officers with patent who occupied an intermediate position between regular NCOs and officers. They carried officer's daggers with Portepee and were entitled to special uniform items, including the peaked cap with special buttons.

The uniform regulations of the Kriegsmarine were extremely detailed and precisely specified which buttons were to be used on which uniform items. Buttons varied by size, material, and design depending on their intended use. Smaller buttons were used for peaked caps, while larger specimens were prescribed for uniform jackets.

The manufacture of uniform buttons was carried out by specialized producers authorized by the Wehrmacht. The marking on the reverse with “Kriegsmarine 1938” served quality control purposes and enabled attribution to a specific production year. This practice facilitated standardization and management of uniform equipment within the navy.

Materials for naval buttons were typically metal, often with gold or silver plating for officers. The exact composition varied depending on raw material availability, especially in later war years when metal shortages led to simplified production methods.

The design of Kriegsmarine buttons followed maritime traditions. They frequently displayed the Reich Eagle with swastika or maritime symbols such as anchors. The aesthetic design combined Prussian-German military traditions with National Socialist iconography.

From today's perspective, such uniform items are important military-historical artifacts that provide insight into the organizational structure, rank hierarchy, and material culture of the Kriegsmarine. They document the attention to detail of military bureaucracy and the importance attributed to external rank insignia.

For collectors and historians, authentic Kriegsmarine buttons are of interest as relatively small but meaningful objects that make the history of this era tangible. The markings on the reverse enable precise dating and attribution, making them valuable objects of study.