Near Mint Officer Breast Eagle

Product Description: This Kriegsmarine Administrative Officer Breast Eagle is a stunningly attractive piece of insignia. It’s an extremely high quality piece, beautifully hand embroidered with great skill. The backing fabric is wool, in a deep, very dark blue color that would almost pass as black Panzer wool to some collectors. The eagle is wrought in fantastic detail using three different types of bullion wire over a cardboard underlay. The bullion work is nicely accented with blue thread highlights. The back of this Kriegsmarine Administrative Officer Breast Eagle is covered with a typical black backing to protect the embroidery. The backing paper is crisp and complete. This fine eagle shows no stitch holes or any other indication of ever having been affixed to a uniform. There is no mothing, damage, or other corrosion to note. This outstanding eagle remains in exceptional, near mint condition.

Historical Description: The German Armed Forces (Wehrmacht), as formed in 1935, and as they existed until the end of World War 2, consisted of the Army (Heer), the Air Force (Luftwaffe) and the Navy (Kriegsmarine). The Waffen-SS fell under the command of the Wehrmacht during the war. Each of these branches of service had a unique eagle design that was worn on both the formal dress and parade uniforms, and the field uniforms, of the members of that branch. These eagles were worn on soft headgear, including service and field caps, as well as on the uniform jacket. In the Heer, the Luftwaffe, and the Kriegsmarine, this eagle was worn on the chest of the tunic; collectors have termed these “breast eagles.” The Heer and the Luftwaffe generally used the same eagle style, though variations in color of the eagle or the backing distinguish between the two. The Luftwaffe used their own flying eagle emblem. The Waffen-SS sleeve eagle (and cap eagle) had wings that came to a distinctive tapered point. The cap, breast and sleeve eagles used by the various military branches were manufactured in many variations. There were machine-woven and machine embroidered versions, usually used by officers and NCOs. Hand-embroidered bullion wire eagles were typically for officers. There were metal eagles, for caps, or for uniforms that were intended to have detachable insignia. There were even eagles embroidered on camouflage fabric, intended for use on special field uniforms. There were also eagles in specific colors for use on tropical uniforms. Some of these eagles were mass-produced and are still common today. Others were, and are, very rare.

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