BACKGROUND: The Officer’s cape was an optional, private purchase item, permitted for wear by Officers and certain senior NCO’s for performing light duties and in informal settings. During the Weimar, (Circa 1919-1933), Reichswehr, (National Defence {Force}), era the officer’s capes were manufactured in a silver/grey coloration. The wear of the silver/grey Reichswehr pattern capes was authorized up until March 1938 when wear was to be discontinued. Originally the Third Reich era capes were manufactured in standard field-grey uniform fabric with a field-grey collar until regulations in late 1935 altered the collar to blue/green badge cloth. Further regulations in August 1937 introduced a field-grey, rubberized fabric cape and sometime during the war the collar was altered back to the field-grey coloration. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the army’s Kleiderkasse, (Clothing Account), system. The Officers and certain senior NCO’s could choose to purchase their uniforms from the armed forces clothing depots or to privately purchase garments of higher quality. Of Note: Enlisted ranks weren’t authorized wear of the Officer’s cape but bicyclist were issued a cape that was quite similar with minor variations.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Post-August 1937 pattern, field-grey, rubberized fabric construction, full length cape features dual, front panels and a single, large back panel with machine stitched vertical seams to each side. The cape has a vertical, five button, French fly front closure with a single, metal, hook and eye positioned at the forward neckline. The front of the cape has a roughly, 18" long, vertical slash to each breast panel with an overlapping wind flap and a single button closure to each. The vertical slashes were designed to allow the wearer to extend his arms to the exterior. The cape has a lay down collar in the same rubberized field-grey fabric as the balance of the cape. The reverse of the left hand side collar has dual buttons and a small, separate, dual button holed, fabric tab with a corresponding single button to the reverse of the right hand side collar designed for a secure neck closure in inclement weather. The cape has no insignia as per regulations. The unlined interior of the cape has two, horizontal, fabric straps, machine stitched to the nape of the neck with a button eyelet to the left side strap and a corresponding button on the right strap designed to button around the wearer’s neck permitting him to leave the front closure open if so desired. The interior of the cape also has glued on strips of narrow reinforcing, grey leather to the reverse of the exterior stitched seams. The cape has a faint, illegible, black manufacturer’s inkstamp at the interior nape of the neck. The cape is in overall very good condition with minimal age and usage toning. The buttons are all the molded ordnance blue/grey glass type and all appear to have their original stitching. The capes were a large, loose fitting garment and this example would fit a roughly size 44" chest.

GRADE ****1/4                             PRICE $476.00