BACKGROUND: Protective leather jackets, pants and coveralls were listed as special clothing and were issued to engine personnel, certain deck and bridge personnel and U-Boat personnel when engaged in specific functions. The protective leather garments came in a variety of styles and colors for specific personnel. This particular style of protective leather jacket was designed for use by engine personnel. Of Note: The German’s concern with leather shortages was evident as early as July 1937 when the Kriegsmarine issued regulations that the protective leather uniforms were only to be issued when necessary in at attempt to conserve the leather and that they were to be returned to a vessels stores for reissued as required, although it appears the order was not strictly adhered to. Officer and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the Navy’s Offizierkleiderkasse, (Officer’s Clothing Account) system. Generally speaking officers bought nice quality, private purchase, uniform items but they could also choose to buy their uniforms directly from the military clothing depots. 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: Multi-panel, blackened leather construction, straight legged, long pants feature a vertical, three button, French fly with an additional, metal, hook and eye and a button positioned on the waistband. The pants have two, diagonally angled, slash, front pockets with scalloped, button down flaps. The tall, horizontally laid, waistband has a vertical belt loop to either side of the fly and an additional two, vertical belt loops to the reverse center. The reverse of the pants have two, short, vertical tapering darts. The crotch has twelve, small inserted, magnetic sheet metal ventilation grommets. The pants have straight cut, non-adjustable cuffs. The interior of the pants have a coarsely woven, natural tan, canvas reinforcement strip to the waistband and an additional, coarsely woven, natural tan, canvas reinforcement panel to the crotch. The interior waistband has four, evenly spaced suspender attachment buttons with an additional two buttons to the exterior, reverse of the waistband. The internal pocket bags are in the same coarsely woven, natural tan, canvas as the waistband and crotch reinforcements. The left front pocket bag has the addition of another small patch pocket. The waistband and the left pocket bag are well marked with purple size inkstamps and the date, "1944", and additional, faint, illegible inkstamps. The pants are in overall very good condition with minor moisture spotting, some light chafe wear and a couple of small tears and the leather is still quite pliable and supple. The buttons are a combination of the molded black bakelite and carved wood types and most appear to have their original stitching. The pants are roughly size 32" waist.

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $445.00