WW2 German Kriegsmarine Gefreiter Sleeve Rating Patch

The WW2 German Kriegsmarine Gefreiter Sleeve Rating Patch was used by enlisted men in the German Navy during the Second World War. The term “Gefreiter” refers to a junior enlisted rank, roughly equivalent to a private first class in other military organizations. This patch consists of two yellow chevrons on a dark blue wool background, consistent with Kriegsmarine uniform standards of the period. The patch would have been sewn onto the upper left sleeve of the naval uniform, signaling the wearer’s rank to others. The use of cloth insignia for rank identification was standard practice within the German armed forces during WWII, and the Kriegsmarine maintained their own distinct color schemes and designs. Condition, stitching, and fabric type are important to collectors and historians in verifying the patch’s authenticity and age. The Gefreiter Sleeve Rating Patch is relevant for those interested in German military uniforms and insignia from the 1939–1945 era.