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 uniforms and headgear did evolve during the interim years many items used during the Third Reich would still have been quite recognisable to the Imperial sailor. The greatcoat was carried over from the Imperial German Navy, on into the Weimar Reichsmarine era, (National Navy, Circa 1919-1933), and on into the Third Reich. Although the German army utilized at least thirteen different styles of greatcoats with numerous variations and intended purposes for all ranks, Kriegsmarine greatcoats were only manufactured in four, main variations and wear was limited to Senior NCO’s, Officer Candidates and Officers ranks. Of Note: Additional heavier, guard coats and surcoats were also issued as special clothing as required. The long tail skirts of the greatcoat made them rather impractical for on-board wear and the shorter, more practical, reefer and pea style jackets were more commonly worn. Regulations dictated that the only insignia to be worn on the greatcoats were removable shoulder boards. 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).

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Very nice quality, private purchase, navy blue doeskin wool construction, double breasted style, full length, greatcoat features fold back lapels and a lay down collar. The greatcoat has dual, vertical, parallel, rows of six, front closure buttons with corresponding stitched, button eyelets on both the left and right front panels, enabling the coat to be button either left or right handedly. The greatcoat also has an additional, single, front closure button to the interior right side for a neat appearance. The greatcoat has two, horizontal, slash, front, hip pockets with straight edged flaps, situated at the waistline. The left hip pocket has dual, vertical, ribbed, black rayon straps with brass alloy friction clips to each, machine stitched beneath the pocket flap, designed for the dagger/sword hangers. The greatcoat has straight cut, non-adjustable sleeves with deep, fold back, French cuffs which are tacked in the upright position at both the inner and outer sleeve seams. The reverse of the greatcoat has a horizontal, ornamental, half waist belt with a single, retaining button positioned at the waistline and a central, opened, vertical tail skirt vent with a three button closure. The tail skirt vent runs from the just below the half waist belt down to the bottom edge of the coat and is flanked by two, vertical, scalloped tipped panels with three, vertically aligned ornamental buttons to each. The greatcoat has the sewn on shoulder boards removed with the shoulder seams still cut opened as evidence, but the shoulder boards retaining buttons are intact. The pointed tipped, lay down collar has the typical zig-zag reinforcement stitching to the reverse. The greatcoat has no collar tabs as per regulations. The interior of the greatcoat is fully lined in black rayon with white striped, black rayon lining to the sleeves. The lining has a horizontal, slash, pocket to the left breast panel. The interior of the left breast panel pocket has a white oilcloth tailor’s label machine stitched in place with the black printed tailor’s name and location and the typed owner’s name with rank prefix and date, "Lt. Joseph Rother 2. 4. 40". Interestingly the printed tailor’s name and location have been blotted out. Of Note: Rother commanded the U-380 and was credited with sinking two, and damaging the two other allied ships. In July 1941 Rother was promoted to the rank of Kapitänleutnant and was awarded a German Cross in Gold on November 19^TH 1943. Rother survived the war and died in February 1988. The U-380 was sunk in an air raid on March 11^TH 1944 near Toulon France. The greatcoat is in overall very good condition with minimal age and usage toning and minor chafe wear to the cuff and collar edges. The front closure, the reverse half waist belt, the reverse ornamental and the shoulder board buttons, are a combination of the fire gilted, alloy and magnetic sheet metal types with an embossed, fouled, anchor on a horizontally ribbed, field with a simulated, twisted, rope outer border and are still quite clean and bright. The single interior button and the tail skirt buttons are the molded, black bakelite type and most appear to have their original stitching. The greatcoat is roughly size 42" chest. Scarce Kriegsmarine greatcoat.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $1,428.00