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. Officer 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: Field-grey, wool/rayon blend construction field blouse features a vertical, five button front closure with a single metal hook and eye positioned at the forward neckline. The eagle is original to the tunic and is neatly handstitched to the field blouse. Tunic has two pleated patch front pockets with scalloped button down flaps on the chest and two slash hip pocket. The field blouse has two sets of three, vertically aligned, stitched eyelets situated at either reverse side panel, at the waistline for the belt support hooks. The field blouse has the, post May-1940 pattern, field-grey wool construction pointed tip, slip on shoulder straps with a machine embroidered, winged artillery shell superimposed on a vertical anchor in golden yellow cotton threads. The collar features machine woven collar tabs with field-grey rayon litzen with an interwoven, pale grey center stripe and golden yellow branch of service stripes. The collar tabs are original machine stitched directly to the collar. Nice complete liner. Straps for the belt support hooks have been removed. Excellent size and makers marking. The front closure, exterior pocket and the shoulder strap buttons are all the correct, field-grey painted, sheet metal Coastal Artillery type with an embossed, fouled anchor on a pebbled background field and a raised outer edge and most look to have original stitching. The field blouse is roughly size 36" chest. One small mothed area to the lower back skirt (see photo). Shows the expected period use and wear but overall very nice condition.

Additional info from the consignor.  "The jacket was bought from a small farm from a man from northern Norway who lived in Ramsundet, the man said that when he was eight years old the Germans retreated from Finnmark. They arrived on horses and motorbikes. The soldiers painted a number on his house, then his family was ordered to surrender the first floor of the house to the soldiers and that the family had to use the second floor. German officers lived on the first floor. he says that the soldiers were very kind to the family and they got food from them. The Germans began to build an extension to the barn where they baked bread. After the end of the war, the family took over a large horse named "Petronela" as well as all the equipment that came with the horse, along with this equipment the coastal artillery jacket was found."