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. Beginning in 1935 Kriegsmarine land based personnel, primarily Coastal Artillery units, were issued field-grey uniforms that followed the fundamental designs of the army uniforms with minor variations. The most easily identifiable differences in the Kriegsmarine EM/NCO’s field-grey field blouses and the army field blouses was the Kriegsmarine issue always had the collar in field-grey material as opposed to blue/green fabric in the early army field blouses, the front hip pockets were the horizontal slash type as opposed to the patch type utilized by the army, there were only two sets of eyelets for the belt support hooks instead of four sets as with the army version and the interior was fully lined including the sleeves which were not lined in the army pattern. Of Note: These variations were official regulations although they were not always adhered to. 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 tunic is a light weight, private purchase example that closely follows the regulation pattern.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Light weight, field-grey, cotton construction service tunic with a subtle, vertically ribbed weave, features a vertical, six button, front closure with a brass hook and eye positioned at the forward neckline. The tunic has two, pleated, patch, breast pockets and two, horizontal, slash hip pockets, all with subtly, scalloped, button down flaps. The right breast has a machine embroidered, national breast eagle in golden yellow cotton threads mounted on a cut-out, green wool base. The eagle neatly hand stitched to the tunic. The reverse of the tunic has two, vertical, tapering darts and a short, central, vertical, tail skirt vent. The straight cut, non-adjustable, sleeves with fold back French cuffs which are stitched in the upright position at both the inner and outer sleeve seams. The tunic has slip on shoulder straps for Coastal Artillery, rank of Obermaat. Straps are green wool construction with gilt wire rank tress and a gilt washed winged shell superimposed on a vertical anchor. The shoulder boards retaining buttons are intact. The lay down, field-grey collar has the typical zig-zag reinforcement stitching to the reverse. The collar features sun faded EM’s collar tabs. Tabs have original stitching to the collar. The unlined interior of the tunic has a grey, cotton, reinforced areas. Two of the three original collar liner buttons are intact. The tunic has no visible size or manufacturer’s markings. The tunic is in overall very good condition with minimal chafe wear and minor age and usage toning. All the buttons are the correct, brass and alloy, Coastal Artillery type with an embossed, fouled anchor on a pebbled background field and a raised outer edge. The buttons are the removable type with a combination of cotter pins and S-ring pins holding them in place. The tunic is roughly size 36" chest. Nice field worn example.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $1,114.00