Kriegsmarine Navy

The Kriegsmarine sabre appeared with the Kaiserliche Marines before World War I. During the periods when the naval sabre was allowed to be worn, its basic design underwent very little change. It was one of the few sabers that did not suffer from the impact or influence of the changing political scene in Germany.

Kaiserlich means "imperial" and was used in German-speaking countries to refer to those institutions over which the Kaiser ("Emperor") had direct personal authority.

Among the earlier models, there were at least ten variations of the ephesus style, all similar, but nevertheless different in variation. In some of these styles, the ephesus have the image of the Imperial Crown in the motif of the pattern on the guard, while others were limited to only the various patterns of the "Anchor Entwined with a Rope" that were characteristic of the Navy.

There were no special restrictions on the drawings of the saber that had to be worn, provided that permission to wear was given in cases where the styles were more diverse. As in the case of daggers of that period, financial resources made it possible to obtain a better or more refined version, which was usually worn, for example , an ivory handle, a Damascus blade, etc.

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The only precise rules that were deemed important regarding the wearing of sabers related to rank, service, or ceremonial uniform.

During the twelve years of the Third Reich, stricter rules were introduced to the wearing of ceremonial weapons . However, even this could be overcome in some cases on special request. Shortly after Hitler became head of the Armed Forces of the Reich (OKW), he authorized the revision and addition of the Uniforms and Clothing Regulations for the Navy. These dress codes were revised in 1935 and again in 1937. The rules that applied specifically to the sabre were set out in the book "Bekleidungs-und An-zugsbestimmungen fur die Kriegsmarine M.Dv.Nr. 260-Berlin, 1935.” (Dress codes and uniforms for the Navy, Naval Service Regulation 260, Berlin, 1935 – Revised 1937)

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Swords and Daggers of the Kriegsmarine

The rules for wearing clothes contained a general, but rather superficial description of the issuance of sabers and daggers. As options, numerous variations were available to the buyer, such as engraved or damask blades, engraved sheaths, etc.

A. Sabre (Marinesabel): The naval sabre, whose shape remained virtually unchanged from the Imperial Navy until the end of the war in 1945, had a gilded ephesus with a handle made of white ivory or celluloid.

A sample of the sabre of a naval officer E. & F. Horster without glass eyes (far right) and the example of glass-eyed sabers are one green and one red (like the ship's side lights) from WKC and one specimen without a stamp.

The winding of the handle in the form of a gilded wire with an interval of about 1 cm. The pommel ends with a lion's head, which usually had eyes with inserts of red and green glass (denoting the ship's running lights "left" and "starboard side"). The ornament of the arch varied depending on the manufacturer. Oval front and back. Guard blades usually had springs to rotate the shield for easier carrying and storage. The front shell was decorated with a centered, Anchor intertwined rope.On the reverse side there was a small shield with a hole, and in the back of the mouth was an insert with which the saber was attached to the sheath and did not fall out.

2. The sabre should be worn on two slings for the sword and worn as follows:
   a) When the ceremonial belt is not worn:
   b) Without a coat, the sabre is put on the inner belt.
   In a coat, the saber is worn on the inner belt.
   In the overcoat, the saber is worn on the inner belt.
   In a tropical dress, the sabre is worn on the inner belt.
   In the ceremonial uniform (Mess dress): the use of a sabre is prohibited.
   When wearing a ceremonial belt:
   Without a coat, the saber is worn on the inner belt.
   In a coat, the saber is worn on the inner belt.
   In the overcoat, the saber is worn on the inner belt.
   In a tropical dress, the sabre is worn on the inner belt.

Those who participated in the war before November 1, 1918 and had the right to wear a sabre with a lanyard were allowed to carry the same naval weapons that they carried in high esteem at that time. They could carry these weapons unchanged, both in the line of duty and after hours, provided that the current rank allows the carrying of the appropriate weapon and is a permissible reason for carrying such a sword.
The saber-shaped lanyard should be worn on the ephesus, and it should be worn tied to the top of the temple and then laid in a woven pattern on the guard.

Section 28:
When wearing a gray navy dress, the saber may be worn in a black army-style metal sheath.
When worn with combat clothing or an overcoat, the saber should be worn on the inner belt.
Inherited or personally donated sabers and daggers other than the statutory model (except for jewelry and inscriptions) could be worn only with the individual permission of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.

Permission for inherited personal weapons was given only if they were inherited from ancestors during the war "in the face of the enemy" – this is more of a symbolic than a real situation.

The blade could be nickel-plated, could be decorated with an etched pattern on each side or without a pattern, and could also be with an elman on top of the blade tip.

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