History

During the Second World War, German troops stationed in northern Africa are generally referred to as the Afrikakorps. Technically, this is not entirely correct, since some German units operating in Africa were not actually part of the DAK (Deutsches Afrikakorps), and some units of it were, in fact, Italian ones. However, for the purpose of collecting so-called “tropical” uniforms and insignia, collectors have simplified the meaning of the term.

The first German troops were sent to northern Africa in February of 1941, to support their Italian allies against the British. The climate of the African continent made it necessary to wear specialised uniforms and gear that not only supported the soldiers in serving in a hot and arid environment, but also helped them in blending in with the landscape, which, in general, presented itself as brown, olive, khaki, or sand/tan in colour. Worn over long periods of time under the blistering desert sun, some uniforms were eventually bleached to white or off-white. Uniforms and insignia in these colours are often referred to as “tropical”, and it is worth noting that they weren’t just worn by members of units stationed in Africa, but in the entire Mediterranean theatre of war, including southern France, Italy, the Balkans, and Greece, as well as in southern Russia during the summer months. Tropical uniforms were worn by members of all three branches of the Wehrmacht: the Heer (army), the Kriegsmarine (navy), and the Luftwaffe (air force). Members of the Waffen-SS stationed in southerly regions also wore tropical-style uniforms, and even though they technically have no connection to the DAK, all tropical uniforms and insignia of all branches of the German military are listed here.

The chevrons were worn by all Kriegsmarine Enlisted Men, excluding cadets. The number of chevrons, and any additional elements, corresponds with the wearer’s specific rank. The chevrons were worn above the wearer’s elbow, and they were often worn in conjunction with career insignia. The career insignia were worn immediately above the chevron insignia.

The exact colour scheme of the chevron insignia depends on the uniform on which it was originally worn. The triangular backing of the chevrons generally matches the colour of the uniform on which it was worn.

For the white summer version of the blue service uniform, the chevrons were composed of navy blue cloth. These chevrons were generally worn on a white triangular backing.

For the brown tropical uniform, the chevrons were composed of cornflower-blue cloth. These chevrons were generally worn on a brown triangular backing.

The Hauptgefreiter rank insignia features three chevrons on a triangular backing.