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. 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. This example is the 1937 pattern, white tropical tunic.

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 and one small, horizontal thread loops for securing a removable, national breast eagle. The tunic comes with a removable, gilt washed, injection molded, 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 gilt wash is retained about 95% and is still quite bright. The eagle shows nice detailing. The reverse of the eagle has an integral hinge, a thin, round, horizontal pin, a soldered catch inset into a circular recess with raised retaining lips and an additional soldered, vertical hook inset into a circular recess with raised retaining lips all intact. The left breast has six, 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 left sleeve has horizontal stitch outlines just above the simulated French cuff that appears to indicate a cufftitle had been applied at one time. The tunic has the pass-through style shoulder boards of interwoven, bright, silver/aluminum Russian braid with two, gilt washed, stamped alloy, rank pips, 2 to each, mounted on white wool bases. The shoulder boards each have a small, transverse, wooden dowel sewn into the pass-through ends to secure them to the tunic. The shoulder boards show light to moderate age tarnish. The tunic has small opened slashes at the shoulder seams to accommodate the pass-through dowels and screw post retaining buttons. 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 light to moderate age and usage toning. 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.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $1,012.00