KM specialty patches : a basic question...

[longislandercjv]

I don't collect Kriegsmarine insignia, but often get them in groups of insignia I buy.
I can't seem to find the answer to my very basic question:

What is the significance of the color thread?
On the dark blue wool KM specialty patches, YELLOW seems to be the common color of the embroidery, but RED was used as well

I'm sure there's a learned WAFer out there that can answer!

Thank you in advance!

Chris Varrichio
longislandercjv
zoods@aol.com

[Larrister]

Hi Chris,


To put it in simple terms:


Yellow on blue: Career
Red on blue: Specialist\Trade


In the photo attached the Matrosengefreiter wears the yellow on blue Bootsmann (Boastwain-sea service) career patch.


The lower patch is the pre-1940 red on blue Unterwasserhorcher (Hydrophones) specialty patch.


Cheers,
Larry

[km-spain]

And for the white backing insignias,

Light blue on white for career
Red on white for specialty

[Larrister]

Hi,


What do members think of this patch.
The grey material has a larger than normal amount of white fiber in it .
It kind of reminds me of blanket material.

The back looks OK


Cheers,
Larry

[Fred Green]

Hello,


Looks like a nice original to me.


Fred

[Larrister]

Hello,


Looks like a nice original to me.


Fred

Thanks.


Cheers,
Larry

[marine]

hello,


looks like a nice original to me.


Fred

+1

[longislandercjv]

Thank you for your response.
"Mystery solved"
Chris

[longislandercjv]

Thank you for your response.
"Mystery solved"
Chris

Hi Chris,


To put it in simple terms:


Yellow on blue: Career
Red on blue: Specialist\Trade


In the photo attached the Matrosengefreiter wears the yellow on blue Bootsmann (Boastwain-sea service) career patch.


The lower patch is the pre-1940 red on blue Unterwasserhorcher (Hydrophones) specialty patch.


Cheers,
Larry

Thank you for the information.
"Mystery Solved"
MfG,
Chris Varrichio
longislandercjv
zoods@aol.com

[John R.]

The photo of the sailor is interesting as he is wearing his cap tally in a non regulation fashion, usually to send the photo home to impress his parents or girlfriends. It should be cut to the shoulder for regulation use. The war badge itself was instituted on August 31, 1940. So the photo dates after that. John

[Marine HJ]

Well spotted, John. Good eyes and I have to say I wouldn't have seen this.
This tells us, that the tally is a cellon thread as the cotton ones were manufactured in 120 cm length max... with some very very rare exceptions.

Rgds

Daniel