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 Parade jacket was a basic uniform item issued to Junior NCO’s and EM’s, with minor variations, and followed the basic design of the Imperial German Navy and Reichsmarine Parade jackets.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, waist length, Bolero or Spencer style, simulated double breasted, navy blue doeskin wool construction parade jacket with open peak lapels and a lay down collar. The jacket features a vertical, parallel row of nine ornamental buttons to each side of the front breast panels. Each side of the vertical front opening has nine stitched button eyelets, with only the top button eyelet actually cut open to receive buttons. The jacket was designed to remain open with a retaining shackle chain with buttons at either end, worn through the top cut-out button eyelets. The chained closure buttons are intact. The right breast has a machine embroidered national eagle in golden yellow threads on a cut-out navy blue wool base. The eagle is neatly handstitched to jacket. The left breast has a Commemorative Medal of 1ST October 1938 ribbon bar with a Prague Castle bar, and two horizontal thread loops for wear of an award. The straight cut, non-adjustable, sleeves have Brandenburg style cuffs with a horizontal panel at the bottom edge and a small vertical panel to the forward edge with five vertically aligned ornamental buttons. One button has come unstitched from the left cuff but is included. The upper left sleeve features a Narvik Campaign Shield and separate career and rank insignia. The gilt washed, stamped alloy, Narvik campaign shield features a stylized national eagle with down-swept wings and a static swastika to the top above embossed script, "Narvik 1940", an edelweiss, crossed propeller and an anchor. The edelweiss, propeller and anchor represent the Heer Gebirgsjäger, (Army Mountain troops), the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe respectively that participated in the victory at Narvik. The shield retains about 90% of its original gilt wash and is mounted on a vertically oval navy blue wool base which is handstitched to the sleeve. The career insignia consists of a machine woven, five point star in golden yellow threads on a circular navy blue wool base. The rank insignia consists of a single ribbed gilt tress chevron mounted on an inverted triangular navy blue wool base. The insignia indicates a Bootsmann’s, (Boatswains/Sea Service) career, with the rank of Obermatrose/Gefreiter. Of Note: The rank designation Obermatrose was in effect from 1933 until January 31ST 1938 when it was re-designated Gefreiter which was utilized until the end of the war. Both pieces of insignia are neatly handstitched to the sleeve. The peak lapels each have a closed stitched button eyelet with a corresponding ornamental button positioned on the breast at the juncture of the lapels and lay down collar. The jacket has no shoulder boards or collar tabs as per regulations. The interior of the jacket is fully lined in ribbed black rayon with off-white striped sleeves. The lining has a horizontal slash pocket to both left and right breast panels and an additional small diagonally angled slash pocket to the left breast panel. The left sleeve lining is well marked with black inkstamped markings which include, "B.A.K. 8. 2. 39", and sizing, within a "boxy" "T" shaped border. The inkstamp signifies, Bekleidungsamt Kiel , (Clothing Depot Kiel), with issue date of February 8TH 1939. The lining also has red chain stitched personal roster number and a separate white rayon tag with machine woven owners name in red. The chain stitched roster number consists of, "O2453" with a horizontal separating line positioned above "39 S". The personal roster number indicates owner was the 2453RD person inducted into the navy in 1939, and was a nautical personnel assigned to the Baltic Sea. The white rayon tag has the machine woven owners name, "Zinndorf". The jacket is in overall very good condition with minimal nap wear to the collar and cuff edges. The buttons are all the fire gilted 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 size 38" chest.