GetFuzzy2
Senior Member
This was marketed as a Panzer Uniform but obviously not. Is there any Value to it at all, Kreigs Weather Gear?
Thanks and God Bless
Thanks and God Bless
What the Hell Did my Friend Buy
- Thread starter GetFuzzy2
- Start date
These are later war KM associated sets mostly seen connected to the midget sub program (not standard U-Boats) but also seen in a few photos worn around E-boats and similar craft. There are also photos of HG panzer officers wearing these in 1944/45 East Prussia and a very few other other late war panzer personnel wearing these not to be confused with late war panzer wear of standard U-boat leathers which also exist. Bottom line is there was clearly some cross pollination between the KM and PZ with these specific sets. These came as a set with a wrap jacket (about 3-4 makers identified) trousers with flapped pockets, both pieces designed to be worn both alone or over a wrap uniform, belt, suspenders and also a skull cap type “driving cap” all marked to the same makers of identical leather and clearly a set. These have been misidentified as about everything over many decades including NSKK which they had nothing to do with.
DaveDavis
Well-known member
There were, and still are mint trousers and jackets available, that were found unissued in a warehouse in the 1980s. They are KM, and while some may have been modified during the war, and worn by Panzer crew members, I strongly suspect most are post war modified into fake panzer uniforms. I own a complete set, that were never issued, that I bought in Germany in 1985.
Bottom line is Caveat Emptor.......
This may be true but I have found about three examples of the jackets, un-worn, brought back by 1st ID vets from the war. I found these in the 80s and 90s. I’ve never seen any type of modification done to any of these sets other than some with added insignia but nothing altered in the cut off the uniforms. I saw my first ones here in the states in the mid 1970s so they were here then as well. There have been a very few examples from one maker with the date 1943 and few more examples dated 1944 but very few are found dated in my experience. About 90% of all I’ve see are the ones by Rudolph Heine in Prossnitz Bohemia like the example posted. Most of these still have he paper tags and I’ve never seen a piece of this make KM eagle stamped and yes I believe most by this maker never were issued but I have seen a few of these makes brought by vets. The other to o makers were in Crailsheim and I believe Worms (I believe but may be mistaken) and these pieces are usually found eagle M stamped into the leather and mostly issued. Some of these other makers are also made from seal skin leather. All makers followed the same general specs which are very interesting in that they are only partial lined with course linen and contain some specific inner compartments in both the jacket and trouser pockets. No one has to my knowledge satisfactorily figured out what the two external left chest buttons are for either. There have now been around 8-10 photos of what clearly are these uniforms being worn by mainly KM Midgit sub personnel, some panzer including the HG PZ commander group in East Prussia and one surrendering FJ soldier (I believe) from the Brest garrison 1944. Lastly it’s interesting that Michael Beavor cites a U.S. army intelligence report from 1944/45 that states that leather suits were being tested by several panzer formations to establish their ability to reduce “flash burns”. One thing is for sure and that is as these are designed to be worn when needed as an over garment the only base uniform that existed in the German military in 1944-early 1944 that these could be worn over and not stick out a half foot or more from the bottom (!) would have been the PZ wrap set or perhaps in the KM a sweater.