BACKGROUND: Motorcyclist’s/Dispatch riders were outfitted with special protective clothing that included protective gauntlets with long, extended cuffs and the unique, motorcyclist’s protective coat. Both the coats and gauntlets proved quite popular with the troops for their stylish appearance and serviceability and were commonly worn by non-motorcycle personnel in spite of regulations. The motorcyclist’s protective coat was originally introduced on November 12^TH 1934, with a unique design that was specifically intended for wear when riding motorcycles. The motorcyclist’s coat was worn for the duration of the war with minor manufacturing modifications. In late 1940, with the impending German entrance into the North African campaign, tropical uniforms and equipment were quickly developed and issued in time for DAK, Deutsches Afrika Korps, (German Africa Corps), personnel’s arrival in Tripoli in February 1941. Eventually these tropical uniforms would be issued to personnel serving in southern areas of continental Europe. The design of the tropical issued uniforms items essentially adhered to the pattern of the field-grey continental uniforms, although in a different color and material, and included the motorcyclist’s protective coat. Originally the only insignia worn on the motorcyclist’s coat was a single strip of NCO’s tress for NCO ranks of Unteroffizier to Stabsfeldwebel and dual strips of NCO’s tress for officers ranks of Leutnant to Generalfeldmarschall but they were abolished in January 1937 to be replaced with slip on shoulder boards/straps. Enlisted ranks did not utilize any rank insignia on the motorcyclist’s coat as per regulations. Of Note: 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: Ribbed, light-weight, khaki/olive, cotton twill construction tropical motorcyclist’s coat with fold back lapels and a large, lay down collar. The coat has a distinctive front closure with dual buttons situated on each upper breast panel with dual, corresponding, button eyelets to the fold back, lapels and a single metal hook and eye positioned at the forward neckline. The coat also has an extended, horizontal, button eyelet tab positioned at each side of the waistline with three corresponding buttons to the right exterior and a horizontal extended, three button, cotton twill strap to the left interior. The coat has a diagonally angled, slash, pocket to the right breast and two, slightly diagonally angled, vertical, slash, hip pockets with scalloped, button down flaps. The raglan cut sleeves have six, small, vertical, tapering darts at the cuffs and a vertical slash to the interior cuff seams with an extended, horizontal, button eyelet, tab and dual, corresponding, fit adjustment buttons to each. The armpits each have an opened, ventilation, slash. The shoulders of the coat have the shoulder strap/board fabric retaining loops and buttons intact but the slip on shoulder strap/boards have been removed. The lay down collar has no collar tabs or any evidence of any ever having been applied, as per regulations. The reverse of the collar has an extended, button eyelet, cotton tab with a single button beneath the left side with a corresponding button beneath the right side for a secure neck closure in inclement weather. The reverse of the coat has a darted, straight edged, partially opened, horizontal, ventilation shoulder yoke to the top and a vertical, tail skirt, vent running from the waistline to the bottom edge of the tail skirt with a three button closure. The left side seam at the waistline has a horizontally extended, waist belt with three button eyelets and the corresponding buttons, machine stitched in place. The belt was designed to wrap around the wearer’s back and button at either the right side seam or the front as required. The coat has a unique buttoning system designed to wrap and secure the bottom tail skirt portion around the wearer’s legs. The buttoning system consists of a single button eyelet to the bottom edge of each side of the reverse tail skirt vent and to either side of the front closure with dual, corresponding buttons positioned on each side of the front skirt and on the interior hip pocket bags. The reverse tail skirt was designed to wrap around the wearer’s legs and fastens to the buttons on the front of the tail skirt sides. The front opening was intended to wrap around the wearer’s legs and fastens to the buttons on the interior pocket bags. The design not only protected the wearer but keeps the tail skirt from interfering with the motorcycles operation. The interior of the coat has a light weight, tightly woven, khaki/olive cotton mesh lining to the reverse of the external top yoke. The interior right breast panel is well marked with black size inkstamps, the manufacturer’s name and location, "Thiele & Co. München", and, "M42", indicating the coat passed through the army’s clothing depot in Munich in 1942. The coat is in overall very good, unissued condition with a few small picks and pulls and minimal age toning although the buttons all show moderate oxidization spotting. The tail skirt vent and under the collar buttons are the molded grey bakelite type and the interior front closure strap buttons are the molded blue/grey glass type. The balance of the buttons are the olive drab painted, pebbled, alloy type and all appear to have their original stitching. The coats were designed to be worn over the standard field uniform and equipment and were cut quite large as a result, with this example being roughly a size 44" chest.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $895.00