K19653 GEFREITER'S WORK/DRILL UNIFORM. (Drillich Anzug)  

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 white work/drill uniform was originally introduced into the Prussian Navy and was carried over into the Reichsmarine and eventually the Kriegsmarine with minor variations. The white work/drill uniform for EM and Junior NCO ranks consisted of a white shirt and pants and a white jacket for the Junior NCO’s and was utilized as the standard uniform for shipboard, barracks and infantry drill duties. Regulations of February 5^TH 1940 discontinued issue of the white work/drill shirt for Junior NCO’s to be replaced with the blue jumper shirt. Of Note: In 1940 a field-grey version of the work/drill uniform was introduced which was also used as a summer duty uniform. Originally enlisted personnel didn’t wear any insignia on the work/drill tunics but NCO’s did. After 1940 when the work/drill uniforms were utilized as a summer duty uniform EM’s also began wearing insignia on them. In late 1941 or early 1942 the work/drill jackets were modified with the addition of breast pockets.  

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: This example consists of the work shirt with separate collar dickie/collar and the work pants. The standard issue, natural, unbleached, off-white cotton/rayon construction pullover work shirt with an HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), weave features a central, front, V-neck slash opening with closure tie strings and an integral, fold back, rectangular collar. The fold back, rectangular collar hangs over the top reverse of the shirt. The reverse of the V-neck slash has a vertically rectangular, dual-ply reinforcement panel machine stitched in place. The right breast has a large, vertically rectangular patch pocket. The shirt doesn’t have a breast eagle as per regulations. The left breast has a small light weight cardstock label, stapled in place, with black inkstamped size, "2", and handwritten script which includes a name that appears to be, "Hans Rudel", the location abbreviation, "W’Haven", (Wilhelmshaven), and numeral, "N0346346". The straight cut sleeve cuffs have a small vertical slash to the inside seams with a single closure button. The upper left sleeve has a separate rank chevron and a speciality badge. The rank chevron consists of a single, matte grey, waffle pattern rayon chevron with fine black outer edge stripes machine stitched to an inverted triangular, tan cotton base with an HBT weave. Of Note: This example of chevron was first introduced in 1933 and signified the rank of Obermatrose, until January 1938 when it was allocated for the rank of Gefreiter and remained in use for the duration of the war. The specialty badge consists of a machine embroidered, downward pointing, vertical, arrow positioned above dual chevrons in bright red cotton threads mounted on a vertically oval, light weight white cotton base. The specialty insignia indicates the individual was a qualified Hydrophone operator. The chevron and specialty badges are both machine stitched to the shirt. The bottom edge of the tail skirt has a small, internal, dual-ply, vertically rectangular reinforcement panel with a single stitched eyelet to each side seam designed to secure the shirt to the pants. The reverse of the fold back, rectangular collar is well marked with a black inkstamped size marking, "2", and the manufacturers name and location, "F. Engel Hadersleben". The shirt is in overall very good condition with minimal age toning and the alloy dish, cuff buttons appear to have their original stitching. The work shirts were designed to be a loose fitting item and this example is roughly a size 43" chest. The separate collar dickie consists of small, rectangular, white cotton construction, breast and back panels with a fold back mid-blue "nankeen" collar. When the collar is folded back in the proper position it hangs over the top reverse of the shirt and creates a "V" slash at the forward neckline. Originally the bottom edge corners of both the breast and back panels had extended tie tapes allowing the dickie it to be tied around the wearers body underneath his shirt but only remnants of the tie tapes remain on the breast panel. The back panel is well marked with black inkstamped markings within a boxy "T" shaped border that include the designation abbreviation, "B.A.W." indicating, Bekleidungs Amt Wilhelmshaven, (Clothing Depot Wilhelmshaven), the date, "9. 6. 40", and the grade, "I". The back panel also has additional handwritten markings including the date, "1943", and an additional unknown mark, "IMB 45/60". The fold back mid-blue collar has three, roughly, 3/16" wide, parallel white cotton strips machine stitched near all three outer edges although about half of the stripes on the left edge of the collar have torn away. The collar dickie shows light age and usage toning. The standard issue, natural, unbleached, off-white cotton/rayon construction work pants with an HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), weave features the unique naval style front closure in the form of a horizontally rectangular, fold down, front yoke panel with four stitched button eyelets to the top edge with corresponding buttons on the waistband. The front yoke panel folds down from the waistband revealing two, small, horizontal, inner panels with two vertically aligned buttons on the right side panel and dual corresponding button eyelets on the left side panel. For secure closure the vertically aligned inner buttons would be button first then the front yoke panel would be buttoned up onto the waistband. When in the closed position the front yoke panel has opened vertical slashes at each side allowing access to internal front pockets. The waistband has a small inverted "V" slash to the reverse center with an internal wind flap and three vertically aligned stitched eyelets to each side designed for a fit adjustment tie string. The fit adjustment tie string is absent. The waistband also has a single stitched eyelet to each side designed to secure the pants to the shirt. The pants have wide legs with a slight outward flare at the straight cut, non-adjustable cuffs. The straight cut, outwardly flared cuffs were designed to assist the wearer if he was required to swim. The dual-ply interior waistband is well marked with an unknown black inkstamp, "K.U.W ", the sizing and an RB number. Of Note: The RB numbers, Reichsbetriebnummer, (National factory code numbers), were introduced in late 1942 and were intended to replace the manufacturers marks on garments and equipment to conceal the manufactures name and location from the allies, to prevent bombing raids on German industrial factories. The pants are in overall very good condition with minimal age toning. The buttons are the alloy dish type and all six appear to have their original stitching. The pants are roughly size 32" waist.

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