Kriegsmarine Cockade for Enlisted Men's Visor Cap

This Kriegsmarine cockade for the enlisted men's peaked cap represents a remarkable example of the material-economic constraints under which the German Reich operated during the late war years of World War II. The dating to approximately 1943/44 and the unusual material of glass are clear indicators of the advancing shortage of raw materials during the final phase of the war.

The Tellermütze (peaked cap or visor cap) was part of the standard uniform of the Kriegsmarine and was worn by all ranks, with versions for officers and enlisted men differing in details and quality. The cockade, as a central identification symbol, was mounted directly above the visor and displayed the national colors of the German Reich in the form of concentric rings: black on the outside, white in the middle, and red in the center.

During the first war years, cockades were traditionally manufactured from metal, frequently aluminum or zinc alloys, which were enameled or painted. With the increasing duration of the war and the accompanying shortage of strategically important raw materials, the German armaments industry was forced to search for substitute materials. From 1943 onwards, substitution materials that did not require metals critical to the war effort were systematically introduced.

The manufacture from glass represents a particularly interesting solution in this context. Glass was abundantly available as a material and did not require raw materials essential for armaments production. The technical challenge consisted in creating a sufficiently robust yet lightweight product that could withstand the demands of military daily life. The colored painting imitated the national colors and enabled cost-effective mass production.

The rear attachment using two mounting pins corresponded to the Kriegsmarine standard and allowed secure mounting on the cloth base of the peaked cap. This construction was practical and also permitted replacement of damaged cockades when necessary.

The unworn condition of this specimen is remarkable, as most military equipment items from the final phase of the war saw intensive use. This could indicate that the cockade was either stored as a spare part or that it was not issued after production, possibly due to the war events in spring 1945.

The uniform regulations of the Kriegsmarine were governed by various service regulations, particularly in the “Dress Regulations for the Kriegsmarine”. These regulations precisely specified how uniform parts were to be worn and which insignia were designated for which rank and purpose. Enlisted men, unlike officers, did not wear additional metal effects such as golden oak leaves or cords on their caps.

The glass version of cockades is today of particular interest among collectors and military historians, as it vividly documents the material war history of World War II. It demonstrates how total war affected even the smallest details of military equipment and how German industry attempted to maintain production despite collapsing resources.

Comparable substitution materials were also used for other uniform parts during the same period: buttons were manufactured from pressed glass or synthetic resin, belt buckles from sheet steel instead of aluminum, and rank insignia were increasingly embroidered rather than woven. This development accelerated particularly after the defeat at Stalingrad in February 1943 and the proclamation of “total war” by Propaganda Minister Goebbels.

For historical research, such objects are valuable sources, as they document the economic and industrial situation of the German Reich in the final phase of the war. They supplement written sources and offer material evidence of the increasing desperation and resource shortage under which the Nazi regime suffered in its final years.

The production of glass cockades required specialized manufacturing techniques. Glass had to be molded, cooled properly to avoid cracking, and then painted with durable lacquer that could withstand weather conditions. The fact that such items were produced in significant numbers speaks to the organizational capabilities that remained even as the Reich crumbled.