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. Included with the 1940 pattern tropical brown uniform were service tunics and field blouses. The tropical uniforms were classed as Sonderbekleidungsstücke, (Special Articles of Clothing), and were only issued to personnel serving in tropical climates. 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: 1940 pattern, light weight, ribbed, tan cotton twill construction field blouse features a vertical, five button, front closure with a lay down collar. The field blouse has four, pleated, patch, front pockets with scalloped button down flaps. The right breast has a machine woven, national breast eagle in cornflower blue rayon threads on a woven tan rayon base. The eagle has sections of its original, tan, rayon, factory roll folded into an inverted triangle and machine stitched in place, but looks to be restored to the tunic. The left breast has three horizontal and four vertical, thread loops for wear of awards. The field blouse has straight cut, non-adjustable, simulated French cuffs. The reverse of the field blouse has a central, short, vertical, tail skirt vent. The waistline side panels each have dual, vertically aligned, stitched eyelets for the belt support hooks. The belt support hooks are absent. The armpits each have nine, stitched, ventilation eyelets. The field blouse has cotton shoulder strap retaining loops and small, cotton panels with an opened end and a stitched eyelet to accommodate the shoulder strap retaining buttons. The removable shoulder straps are absent but the screw post magnetic sheet metal buttons are intact. The lay down collar has no collar tabs as per regulations. The interior breast and upper back panels are lined in a light weight, white, cotton/rayon, blend fabric. The right breast panel is well marked with black inkstamped sizes and an illegible manufacturer’s inkstamp. The interior side panels each have a vertical, tan, cotton twill strap with three, stitched, eyelets to each for the belt support hooks. The field blouse is in overall very good condition with the typical small picks and pulls, minor age and usage toning and a couple of small rust colored stains. The front closure and pocket buttons are the Coastal Artillery style, removable, die stamped, olive drab washed, alloy type secured by steel "S" rings while the shoulder strap buttons are the removable, die stamped, olive drab washed, magnetic sheet metal, screw post type. The buttons all feature an embossed fouled anchor on a pebbled background field with a raised rope outer border. The buttons all retain the majority of their olive drab finish. The field blouse is roughly size 38" chest.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $1,050.00