Uniforms of the Imperial Navy
The uniforms of the Imperial Navy essentially followed the pattern of the Royal Navy . Basic colors were blue and white. After various changes, the uniforms remained almost unchanged between 1889 and 1918 . The clothing regulations listed below correspond to the status of 1913 .
Overview
In addition to the special suit types of the individual rank groups , the ranks could be recognized by special naval rank badges. These were worn up to and including sergeants or sergeants on the left upper arm with a career badge (not senior seaman). Deck officers had special epaulets, officers epaulettes and sleeve strips.
The visor cap of naval officers, deck officers and portepee NCOs had a golden yellow, then a black trim strip made of moiré tape until 1888 .
The rank badges (as well as the braids of the minstrels and hoboists ) up to and including the rank of chief mate were available in two versions: in blue with the white uniform, with the blue uniform in yellow / gold (land troop units / shipyard divisions: silver; only chief seaman also here yellow). The functional badges (gun leader, drill master, etc.) were red in both uniforms.
The braids, buttons and lettering of all ranks, including the admirals, were either in gold (seafaring personnel) or silver (land troops / shipyard divisions and officials) depending on their career.
The naval saber, which belonged to the uniform of the ranks from Vice Sergeant upwards, was only worn on board on special occasions (naval parade, admiral visit) and was otherwise reserved for shore leave. The naval officers and prospective naval officers (and only these) donned the naval dagger on board, and increasingly also on land.
Crews and NCOs without portepee
For the sailors and mates , a wide shirt with a light blue “seaman's collar” (drill collar) with three white stripes, held by a black knot in the neck, was prescribed. In the winter half-year shirt and trousers were dark blue, in summer white; but the blue and white garments were also worn in combination. As headgear, a blue or white umbrella-less sailor's cap with a black cap band ending in two loose ends at the back; on it in metal letters either the name of the ship with the prefix "SMS" (for "His Majesty Ship") or the words "Kaiserliche Marine". A blue short jacket was worn with a navy shirt for the parade and as a dressing-out suit, the collar of which was knocked over the jacket. There were nine metal buttons on each side of the jacket. The Brandenburg serves were six buttons. The mates' lapels were edged with metal braid.
NCOs with portepee
The sergeants or vice sergeants and sergeants ( vice-sergeants ) wore the blue short jacket as standard; with impeccable conduct, the deck officers were allowed to wear the double-breasted coat of the deck officers after 25 years of service (1913: 15 years; since 1914 all Portepee NCOs) (but still with the previous rank badge). In addition, instead of the sailor's shirt, a white shirt with a corner collar ("parricide") and a bow tie. Also the cap of the deck officers, long blue trousers and loafers, and the marine saber with portepee.
Deck officers
The deck officers put on the officers' uniforms, but instead of the arm braids, three horizontally arranged anchor buttons on the cuffs. The officers' peaked cap, but in a flatter design and without a wreath of oak leaves, instead an imperial crown with flying ribbons over the black-white-red national cockade. A black leather belt and officer's saber on duty. The gala uniform was reserved for the officers, as were the epaulettes and the silver sash, instead of which the deck officers donned the buckle belt made of black moiré ribbon with a circular, silver-plated metal clasp with an anchor motif on special occasions.
Officers
To dress uniform carrying officers and admirals a double-breasted, to the knee ranging skirt of dark blue cloth, including a white shirt with raised Eckkragen and black bow tie. In addition, dark pants and loafers. As headgear, a cap with a blue or white cover and a fabric peak, the cap band made of black moiré band (until 1888 made of gold band). The national corkade has been wreathed with golden web of oak leaves since 1888, with the ribbonless imperial crown above it. The sidearm (saber, since 1901 the marine dagger as an alternative) was worn on a moiré strap for everyday service (see deck officers).
On special occasions, naval officers, naval doctors and naval engineers (but not, for example, torpeder, fireworks and gear officers) put on the gala uniform : double-breasted suit reaching to the knee with breast flaps framed in gold metal (officials: silver metal) and three-buttoned curly sleeve flaps in the color of the lining (e.g. white for naval officers, black for engineers, blue for medical doctors). The imperial crown over the sleeve flaps (only nautical service).
The gold-colored (officials: silver-colored) epaulettes were reserved for the gala uniform. The silver, red and black interwoven sash (field band) was worn with a circular gold metal clasp, non-nautical career paths instead put on a buckle made of black moiré ribbon.
A low, two-pointed hat ( two-masted ) made of black fur felt served as gala headgear . The edge was covered with black moiré ribbon for officers up to the sea captain, for admirals with a broad gold braid (for officials with admiral rank silver braid). The national cockade on the right side of the hat was held in place by an approximately 15 cm long and 4.5 cm wide clasp. The agraffe made of thick gold bouillons (officials: silver) was held in the middle by a gold-colored anchor head.
This included dark blue trousers with gold braid on the outer trouser seams and black loafers, and the marine saber with portepee was mandatory. Since 1901, the officer's dagger with an ivory handle has been permitted for other types of suits.
The ranks could be read from the number of stripes made of gold braid on the sleeves (officials: silver) and on the shoulder pieces. From 1890 to 1900 oak leaf embroidery adorned the cuffs and collars of the admirals.
See also
literature
- Georg Ortenburg, Ingo Prömper: Prussian-German uniforms from 1640-1918 , Orbis Verlag, Munich 1991.
