BACKGROUND: German Naval uniforms and headgear were based on traditional designs that date back to the creation of the Prussian Navy in 1848, and although the uniforms and headgear did evolve during the interim years, many items used during the Third Reich would still have been quite recognizable to the Imperial sailor. The German navy also had a long tradition of brown and white tropical/landing dress that was worn in hot climates with the white uniform also serving as a walking out dress. The tradition was continued through the Weimar era and in 1929 the Reichsmarine introduced new brown and white tropical/landing dress uniforms with stand-up collars. In 1937 the Kriegsmarine introduced new style brown and white tropical uniforms with lay down collars. With the impending entrance into the North African campaign in late 1940 the Kriegsmarine developed another new tropical brown uniform independently from the Heer and Luftwaffe, but retained the 1937 pattern white uniform. The tropical uniforms were classed as Sonderbekleidungsstücke, (Special Articles of Clothing), and were only issued to personnel serving in tropical climates. Officer and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and headgear and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the OKK, Offizier Kleiderkasse der Kriegsmarine, (Officer’s Clothing Account of the Navy). Although enlisted personnel were issued their uniforms and headgear from government supplies they were also permitted to purchase privately tailored items although the price may have been restrictive. 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. This example is the 1937 pattern white tropical tunic with straight legged, long, white pants.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, 1937 pattern, light weight, white cotton construction tunic features a vertical, four button front closure with small fold back lapels and a lay down collar. The tunic has four, pleated, patch, front pockets with scalloped button down flaps. The right breast has two small, vertical thread loops for securing a removable, national breast eagle. The tunic comes with a removable, fire gilted, die stamped, alloy construction national breast eagle with out-stretched wings clutching a wreathed, canted, swastika in its talons. The eagles wingspan is roughly 3 3/4" from tip to tip. The fire gilted finish is retained about 95% and is still quite bright. The eagle shows nice detailing. The reverse of the eagle is a crude mirror image of the obverse and has a soldered, solid hinge, a thin, round, horizontal pin, a soldered catch and an additional soldered, vertical hook all intact. The lower right breast has two horizontal thread loops while the left breast has four, horizontal thread loops for wear of awards. The front of the tunic has two, small, vertical, tapering darts. The straight cut, non-adjustable sleeves have simulated, dual-ply, French cuffs. The tunic has dual, cotton loops to each shoulder to accommodate slip on shoulder boards but the shoulder boards have been removed. The small, lay down collar has no collar tabs as per regulations. The interior of the tunic is unlined and has no visible size or manufacturer’s markings. The tunic is in overall very good condition with a couple of small picks and pulls and small spots of moderate soiling. All the buttons are the fire gilted, die stamped, removable, alloy type secured by steel "S" rings. The buttons feature an embossed, fouled, anchor on a horizontally ribbed field with a simulated, twisted, rope outer border and are all still clean and bright. The tunic is roughly a size 42" chest. The straight legged, long pants are in the same light weight, white cotton as the tunic. The pants feature a vertical, four button French fly with an additional button positioned on the waistband and an overlapping, horizontal, cotton tab with a single button eyelet and an additional corresponding button. The front of the pants have two, vertical, reverse pleats and two diagonally angled, slash pockets. The reverse of the pants have two, short, vertical, tapering darts and a horizontal slash pocket with a scalloped button down flap to the right seat. The pants have straight-cut, non-adjustable, dual-ply hems. The horizontal waistband has four evenly spaced, vertical belt loops and dual, tunnel looped cotton and elastic, horizontal fit adjustment straps with dual button eyelets and two corresponding buttons to each. The unlined interior of the pants have a pale grey rayon tailor’s label with blue, machine woven, lighthouse logo and script, machine stitched in place. The script to the label includes the tailor’s name and location, "Aug. Geiger Kiel Dänische Str. 24". The interior of the pants also have an additional, small white rayon label with red machine woven initials, "J.N.", handstitched in place. The pants are in overall very good condition a couple of small picks and pulls and minimal age toning. The buttons are all the molded, semi-translucent, white bakelite type and appear to have their original stitching. The pants are roughly size 36" waist.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $880.00