Kriegsmarine jumper for a senior torpedo mechanic

[Walkwolf]

The nice Officer's jacket you missed is tropical, with early style collar
- apparently popular around the Mediterranean. They look great
with all the insignia !


Oh well, nice jumper - the national eagle is different.........!

[ObKrieger]

Thanks Steve! Yea, I noticed that the eagle was a bit odd. I imagine it's original. I'll post better photos when I get it.

Would this man have served on a U-Boot or perhaps an S-Boot?

[Walkwolf]

Either type I suppose. Not many made it back from U-boat service.
( Of around 40,000 men, approximately 10,000 survived. )

It would be interesting to know the details.........

[ObKrieger]

Auction houses are famous for missing information. Maybe on a tailor-made inside pocket I will find a photo of the original owner, his wehrpass, his U-boot badge, and the name of his boat.

[Redcap]

Sorry to say, but I'd have severe doubts over both of these pieces being original Kriegsmarine garments. The breast eagle on the shirt I'd say is almost 100% certain to be a reproduction and the insignia configuration doesn't match anything I've ever seen for the Kriegsmarine. A Kriegsmarine ratings shirt would have, at the top of the sleeve, a yellow branch insignia, most often a yellow star for line ratings. Under this, for junior ranks, would be a yellow chevron for Matrosengefreiter through to Matrosenhauptgefreiter and then under this a red embroidered speciality patch, but the KM ones were larger than the example on your shirt.

On originals, the cornflower blue collar is a separate piece as is the black silk knot worn at the neck. Looks like the collar on yours is affixed to the shirt. Heres a pic of one offered at Collectors Guild. Note how the collar and silk are separate to the shirt.

I'd be fairly sure the shirt is postwar, possibly Bundesmarine or Volksmarine. Certainly not a regulation Kriegsmarine sailors shirt. I'd say you had a lucky escape not getting the tropical tunic too. Looks to me like the shoulder straps may well be the only original parts on it.

[Jerry B]

The jumper looks odd and the eagle is one of the ugliest I have ever seen.

The other tunic is not tropical, but is a KM "brown" tunic and originals of this type with the upright collar are known to exist and I think it is probably an original.

[Redcap]

Could be. The style is right for an early brown tunic but these usually have a partial lining. Very shiny, polished looking material too. I think better images would be needed before this one could be trusted 100%

[Jerry B]

Could be. The style is right for an early brown tunic but these usually have a partial lining. Very shiny, polished looking material too. I think better images would be needed before this one could be trusted 100%

Indeed, which is why I posted, "probably an original".

[ObKrieger]

I suppose I should have posted before I bought this then. Thanks for your help.

[don_kihotis7]

I concur.
The jumper is a bad one for sure.
I cannot comment on the other one as i haven't seen another example to compare.
At first sight my thought was that it looks American. Especially due to the fabric and color.
Can you get your money back Mo?