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H084156 ANIMAL SKIN PARKA. (Pelz Jacke)
BACKGROUND: With the first devastating winter of 1941-1942 on the Russian front the German army found that it was drastically under equipped with cold weather garments to withstand the severe cold and a wide variety of improvised garments including a broad assortment of donated civilian garments were utilized as a temporary solution. To rectify the situation the OKH, Oberkommando des Heeres, (High Command of the Army), began testing heavier winter clothing in the spring of 1942 to develop suitable garments for the Russian front. Numerous winter garments were developed and issued for the winter of 1942-1943 and included the expedient animal skin vests and parkas for issue to personnel serving in Russia during the winter months. The fur vests and parkas were issued for the winter season, (September 15TH to April 15TH), with other winter garments and were to be returned to the units storage depot at the end of the season for reissue the following year. The fur vests and parkas gained wide spread popularity amongst the troops serving on the Eastern front and were produced for the duration of the war. 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. Originally Officers and senior NCO’s responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and headgear were required to purchase the new winter garments until regulations of December 1942 extended the issue winter clothing to all ranks in the colder theatres of operation.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Three quarter length, natural off-white, machine stitched, multi-panel, patchwork sheep skin construction parka with small fold back lapels and a large, field-grey wool lay down collar. The parka features an overlapping, vertical, front closure with three, leather reinforced, wooden dowel, "buttons" on the right panel with corresponding, hide button loops on the left panel and a single metal hook and eye positioned at the forward neckline. The parka has two, slightly diagonally angled, slash front hip pockets situated at either side of the waistline. The straight cut, sleeve cuffs each have a horizontal, button holed, field-grey wool tab stitched to the inner sleeve seams with dual corresponding fit adjustment buttons to each. The large, field-grey wool, lay down collar has the typical zig-zag reinforcement stitching to reverse and a dual, button holed wool tab to the left hand side with corresponding buttons and an additional corresponding button to the right hand side for a secure neck closure in inclement weather. The interior of the parka, including the sleeves are fully lined in multi-panel, patch worked, white sheep’s wool. The internal pocket bags are in ribbed greyish/tan cotton twill and one is well marked with black inkstamped size numerals and a RF number. Of Note: The RF numbers were intended to conceal the manufacture’s name and location from the allies, to prevent bombing raids on German industrial factories. The parka shows light to moderate age and usage toning and chafe wear, a couple of small tears and no fewer then six crudely handstitched repairs. The cuff fit adjustment buttons are the field-grey painted, pebbled alloy type while the collar closure buttons are the natural alloy dish type and all appear to have their original stitching. The parkas were cut large enough to fit over the standard service uniform and this example would fit about a size 40" chest.
GRADE ***1/2 PRICE $398.00
To Order this item, please use one of the two e-mail addresses below to contact us. Please make sure to quote the item number in your e-mail
-E-Mail Address pawmac@nbnet.nb.ca Or guild@nb.aibn.com
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