Imperial German Navy Rank

[fregatte]

What are the rank and insignia of this Kaiserliche Marine member?

[Guest Rick Research]

Rank would depend on whether his sleeve badge was silver or gold. The sleeve anchor (no rope) with Crown over it was probably for an administrative Obermaat-- say a Schreiber. I do not know what the big chevrons mean.

But the officer's jacket and Deckoffizier cap indicate that this "Obermaat" was serving as a "Feldwebel." That is what the navy called this position. Naval Feldwebel was not a rank, but a position.

An actual Deckoffizier would have worn his rank on shoulder straps.

[Glenn J]

An Admiralty Order of 21 March 1914 introduced braid chevrons to be worn on the upper arm beneath the trade badges for the Feldwebel and Wachtmeister as follows:

Two chevrons: Wachtmeister and Feldwebel

One Chevron: Vizefeldwebel and Vizewachtmeister

Regards

Glenn

[fregatte]

Thank you both, Rick and Glen, for the clarification

Juergen

[The Prussian]

There is still a difference about the anchor. If it´s silver, it stands for "Materialverwalter" (administrator of materiel?) and if it´s golden, it´a a "Meister" (Master) I think that it´s a technical one