REICHSMARINE Cap tallies

[Odulf]

The Kaiserliche Marine [Emperor's Navy] became Reichsmarine [imperial Navy] in 1919. The most significant change of the cap tallies was the omission of the prefix S.M.S. (Seiner Majestäts Schiff = His Majesty's Ship) from January 1920; the Latin script in capitals remained, but this was changed in October 1929 to Gothic script.

This photo, from the first period (before 1929) shows a group of sailors from the torpedoboat branch of the Navy, wearing some different tallies

worn by 4 men: 1. HALBFLOTTILLE. 1.

worn by 9 men: ?. TORPEDOBOOTS-HALBFLOTTILLE. ?

worn by 1 man: I. FLOTTILLE. I.

worn by 2 men: ?. TORPEDOBOOTS-FLOTTILLE. ?

worn by 2 men: 1. TORPEDOBOOTSFLOTTILLE. 1.

Interesting to note that these tallies were all worn at the same time.

[Odulf]

men from the 6. Komp. II. SDO [schiffs-Division der Ostsee], Stralsund 1922/23, Komp. Chef Oblt.z.S. Rothe-Roth

[Odulf]

Some more pre 1930 tallies

[Odulf]

An interesting recent catch.

On his hat, the cap tally LINIENSCHIFF HANNOVER (in Latin script) and the (new) oval Kokarde with the eagle, which replaced the black-white-red Kokarde  from 29. September 1919(MVBl Nr.34, 1. Nov. 1919).

On the left sleeve however, he is wearing the old style career badge of Artilleriemaat, with the Imperial Crown. Also the buttons on his jacket are Imperial; from 4. Juni 1919 all old buttons (with the Imperial Crown) had to be replaced by new gilt buttons with a foul anchor only (MVBl Nr.24, 7. August 1919).

Edited April 8, 2016 by Odulf