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 Kriegsmarine utilized a white variety of pants and breeches including the standard issue, navy blue, straight legged pants, white dress, tropical and drill pants, brown tropical pants and reed green and field-grey field pants. The pants were manufactured with either the standard, vertical, button fly or with the unique, naval style, fold down, front flap. Officers 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.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Coarse, heavy, deep navy blue, wool/rayon blend construction, straight-legged, long pants feature the unique naval style front closure in the form of a horizontally rectangular, fold down, front yoke panel with four stitched button eyelets to the top edge with corresponding buttons positioned on the waistband. The front yoke panel folds down from the waistband revealing two, small, horizontal, overlapping, inner panels with two, vertically aligned, buttons on the right side panel and dual, corresponding, button eyelets on the left side panel. For secure closure the vertically aligned inner buttons would be button first then the front yoke panel would be buttoned up onto the waistband. When in the closed position the front yoke panel has opened vertical slashes at each side allowing access to two, internal, vertical slash, front pockets. The reverse waistband has dual, horizontal extended fabric fit adjustment straps with corresponding, blued, magnetic sheet metal gripper buckles to each. The reverse also has two, short, vertical tapering darts. The pants straight cut, non-adjustable, dual-ply, hemmed cuffs. The interior waistband lining and the internal pocket bags are all in blue/grey cotton/rayon blend material with an HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), weave. The pants have no visible size or manufacturer’s markings. The pants are in overall good condition with minor age and usage toning, moderate nap wear through-out and a machine stitched repair to the right front pocket. The buttons are a combination of the magnetic sheet metal and molded black bakelite types and a couple appear to be period replacements. The pants are roughly size 28" waist.

GRADE ***                             PRICE $265.00