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K007558 KAPITÄNLEUTNANT'S TROPICAL SERVICE TUNIC. (Tropen Dienstrock)
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, field blouse and both short and long pants. 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: Nice quality, private purchase, 1940 pattern, mid-weight, tan, cotton construction tunic with a pronounced, vertical ribbing, features a vertical, five 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 horizontal thread loop for securing a removable breast eagle. The tunic comes with a removable, gilt washed, injection molded alloy construction national eagle with out-stretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted swastika in its talons. The eagle’s wingspan is roughly, 3 3/4" from tip to tip. The gilt finish is retained about 95%. The eagle shows nice detailing. The solid reverse has a raised integral hinge, a curved, rounded, tapering horizontal pin and a catch inserted into a circular base plate all intact. The left breast has four horizontal thread loops for wear of awards. The front of the tunic has two, small, vertical tapering darts and the reverse has a central, vertical, tail skirt vent. The side panels each have a single, stitched eyelet positioned at the waistline, for the belt support hooks. The bent, natural wire alloy belt hooks are intact. The straight cut, non-adjustable sleeves have dual-ply, simulated French cuffs. The tunic has nine, stitched, ventilation eyelets to each armpit. The tunic has slip on shoulder boards in bright, silver/aluminum Russian braid with two gilt washed, stamped alloy rank pips to each, mounted on dark navy blue wool bases. The shoulder board’s narrow dark navy blue wool slip on retaining tongues are intact. The shoulder board thread retaining loops and buttons are also intact. The shoulders also have small, pointed tipped, fabric tabs with a central stitched eyelet to secure the removable shoulder board buttons. The fabric tabs are unstitched at one end and side to access the buttons. The lay down collar has no collar tabs as per regulations. The unlined interior has small, ribbed, cotton twill reinforcement panels at the armpits and two, vertical, ribbed, cotton twill straps with dual stitched eyelets to each for the belt support hooks. The interior of the tunic is well marked with black size inkstamps and an unknown manufacturer’s initials, "BL GWH". The tunic is in overall very good condition with a couple of small picks and pulls and minimal age toning. The buttons are all the tan painted, molded glass or bakelite type and feature an embossed, fouled anchor on a subtly horizontally ribbed background field with a raised, simulated twisted rope outer edges. The reverse of the front closure and pocket buttons all have matching impressed script, "Kriegsmarine", and the manufacturer’s initials and date, "JFS 1940", indicating manufacture by Josef Feix Söhne of Gablonz in 1940. The buttons are all the removable type secured by steel "S", rings and screw-posts. The buttons retain all of their original tan paint. The tunic is roughly a size 40" chest.
GRADE **** PRICE $1,190.00
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