BACKGROUND: The Greatcoat was an essential uniform item worn by all ranks, with minor variations, and followed the basic design of the Imperial German army’s greatcoat. During WWII the German army utilized at least thirteen different styles of greatcoats with numerous variations and intended purposes. The standard issue greatcoat produced during the Weimar, (Circa 1919-1933), Reichswehr, (National Defence {Force}), era utilized a field-grey collar that was altered to a blue/green badge cloth collar circa 1935. During the war the standard issue greatcoat underwent a few minor modifications. The early production greatcoats came with button holes on both the left and right front closure panels which allowed the coat to be button up either left or right handedly but regulations of December 1^ST 1939 abolished all but one of the button holes on the right side of the closure panel. Early production greatcoats also came with small metal hooks positioned at both sides of the bottom front closure panels, and additional small metal hooks positioned at both sides of the reverse tail skirt vent with corresponding thread loops situated at the side seams just below the waistline. The metal hooks and thread loops allowed the wearer to hook the tail skirt up out of the way when mounted or on the march. Regulations of 1940 abolished these metal hooks and thread loops and also reverted the collar back to a field-grey fabric. Of Note: Both of the above regulations were not strictly adhered to. 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. Although enlisted personnel were issued their uniforms from government supplies they were also permitted to purchase privately tailored uniforms although the price may have been restrictive.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, heavy, early pattern, (Circa Pre-December 1939), slightly mottled, field-grey wool construction, double breasted style, full length, greatcoat with a blue/green badge cloth lay down collar. The greatcoat features dual, vertical, parallel, rows of six, front closure buttons with corresponding button holes on both the left and right front panels, enabling the coat to be button either left or right handedly. The greatcoat also has a single, large metal hook and eye positioned at the forward neckline. The greatcoat has two, diagonally angled, slash, front, hip pockets with slightly angular flaps situated at the waistline. The straight cut, non-adjustable, sleeves have deep, fold back, French cuffs which are tacked in the upright position at both the inner and outer sleeve seams. The reverse of the greatcoat has a horizontal, half-waist belt with dual, retaining buttons at the waistline and a central, vertical, tail skirt vent with a four button closure. The tail skirt vent runs from the half waist belt down to the bottom edge of the coat. The greatcoat has small, metal, hooks positioned at both sides of the bottom, front, closure panels and additional small, metal, hooks positioned at both sides of the reverse, tail skirt vent. The hooks were intended to slip into corresponding, horizontal, thread loops situated at the side seams just below the waistline but the thread loops don’t appear to have ever been applied. The waistline side seams and the back panel also have a small, dual-ply rectangular panels with central, vertical, seams designed for the belt support hooks. The vertical seams were never cut opened and the belt support hooks are absent. The greatcoat has slip on, shoulder strap, fabric retaining loops and alloy buttons but the slip on shoulder straps are absent. The greatcoat has a lay down, blue/green, badge cloth collar with the typical zig-zag reinforcement stitching to the reverse. The reverse of the left collar has two buttons and an extended, dual button holed, field-grey wool tab and a single, corresponding button on the reverse of the right side of the collar for a secure neck closure in inclement weather. The greatcoat has no collar tabs as per regulations. The interior of the greatcoat is partially lined with ribbed, greyish/tan, cotton to the upper breast and back panels and the sleeves. The lining has a horizontal, slash pocket to the left breast panel and is well marked with faint black size inkstamps, the manufacture’s name and location that appears to be, "Winterhoff Osnabrück", and "E 38", indicating the greatcoat passed through the army’s clothing depot in Erfurt in 1938. The interior, lower right tail skirt also has a faint, illegible, circular white inkstamp. The greatcoat is in overall very good condition with minimal nap wear and age and usage toning although it has some small areas of moth grazing resulting in about a half dozen, pin head sized holes. The front closure, reverse half waist belt, and the shoulder strap buttons are the field-grey painted, pebbled, alloy type while the tail skirt vent and the buttons positioned beneath the collar are the molded grey bakelite type. The pebbled alloy buttons retain all of their field-grey paint and most appear to have their original stitching. The greatcoat is roughly size 42" chest.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $488.00