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 recognizable to the Imperial sailor. 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. The Kriegsmarine parade jacket was a standard issue item for all enlisted and junior NCO personnel and closely followed the design of the Imperial German Navy and Reichsmarine era parade jackets with minor modifications. Regulations of September 6TH 1939 prohibited wear of the parade jacket, except on special occasions as ordered, until the successful conclusion of the war.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, navy blue doeskin wool construction, waist length, Bolero/Spencer style, simulated double breasted, parade jacket with opened, upswept, peak lapels and a small lay down collar. The jacket has a central, vertical, front opening with nine, stitched button eyelets to each side. Only the top button eyelets are cut opened and the lower eight are just ornamental. The jacket was designed to remain open with a retaining, shackle chain, with dual buttons, worn through the top button eyelets. The shackle chained, closure buttons are included. The jacket features a vertical, parallel row of nine ornamental buttons to each side of the front breast panels with an additional button positioned beneath each lapel. The right breast has a machine embroidered, national eagle hand stitched to jacket. The upswept peak lapels have an closed stitched, ornamental button eyelet to each side. The straight cut, non-adjustable, sleeves have "Brandenburg" style cuffs with dual-ply, horizontal, simulated French cuffs and a small, vertical panel to the forward edge with six, vertically aligned, ornamental buttons simulating an open slash. Trade badge to the left sleeve. The interior of the jacket is fully lined in black rayon with off-white, blue and red striped sleeves. The buttons are all the fire gilt, stamped alloy type with an embossed fouled anchor on a horizontally ribbed field with simulated twisted rope outer border and all appear to have their original stitching. The jacket is roughly a size 38" chest. Nice "BAW" marking with a 1936 date.