Kriegsmarine Brown Uniform

[NickG]

Here's my KM Brown uniform.
It was purchased on ebay as a Heer Pz tropical uniform...
Incorrectly restored...so the insignia came off!

The cufftitle which was stitched on the sleeve (but in the wrong spot on the cuff, not above it) ...so that got removed,
probably a fake DAK CT, but the Pz Lt shoulderboards are real. A nice bonus!

[NickG]

Now restored back to its former KM glory!
It's in excellent cndition with some minor stains on collar and sleeve areas.

[NickG]

details

[NickG]

More details like button holes and size markings in typical KM spot!
I do still need to find KM anchor buttons for the shoulderstraps!

[NickG]

I got it for $500 (down from $600 original price) and I figure the removed Heer insignis is worth $200, so the (bare) tunic cost me $300 !
Just need KM shoulderboard (scew-in post type) anchor buttons and its completed!

[Mike TM]

Nice catch and restoring

Mike

[Joe Slavick]

That is a sweet catch! Great work.

[-Ray-]

I really like those boards on there. Does this example have the vents under the arm?

Any headgear projected for this, what kind please?


-Ray-

[NickG]

I really like those boards on there. Does this example have the vents under the arm?

Any headgear projected for this, what kind please?


-Ray-

No vents Ray...The arm pit vents are seen on true KM tropical uniforms, which this one is not. It is a brown uniform which was worn in all theatres, so to include the tropics,
but just as commonly worn at the home front, any Naval base in Germany (Hamburg, Wilhemshaven and Bremen etc...)
Headgear question: a standard blue KM side cap with enlisted quality insignia.

[NickG]

Image borrowed from a past thread from Norm...
On the left a "Brown Uniform" and on the right a true KM text book Tropical uniform, the latter would have the arm pit ventilation holes that you mention.
The tropical KM uniform can also be buttoned up to the neck unlike the open neck "Brown Uniform" which was of course also often worn in the tropics,
as this great comparison photo shows...
The brown uniform would have a pinned on golden breast eagle and the tropical uniform a factory applied BeVo KM breast eagle,
but those in theory could have been swapped out for a metal eagle as well (officer preference I guess)

The "Brown" uniform btw also came in varying shades like khaki - tan, light brown and even olive green!

[-Ray-]

No vents Ray...The arm pit vents are seen on true KM tropical uniforms, which this one is not. It is a brown uniform which was worn in all theatres, so to include the tropics,
but just as commonly worn at the home front, any Naval base in Germany (Hamburg, Wilhemshaven and Bremen etc...)
Headgear question: a standard blue KM side cap with enlisted quality insignia.

The "Brown" uniform btw also came in varying shades like khaki - tan, light brown and even olive green!

Mine is the same but in an olive timge, no under arm vents. I also had the tropen model w/ vents but sold it some years ago. To my knowledge another reference to these types are drill work jackets.


-Ray-

[Norm F]

Image borrowed from a past thread from Norm...
On the left a "Brown Uniform" and on the right a true KM text book Tropical uniform

That's my Dad there on the left in the brown summer jacket from 1944 in Opicina near Trieste where he was M.N.O. (Marinenachrichtenoffizier) in charge of Navy communications for the Adriatic.

Best regards,
---Norm

[NickG]

That's my Dad there on the left in the brown summer jacket from 1944 in Opicina near Trieste where he was M.N.O. (Marinenachrichtenoffizier) in charge of Navy communications for the Adriatic.

Best regards,
---Norm

Nice Norm. (I had read that).
I thoroughly enjoyed all the photos that you shared with us in the past on this site of him in the KM!
Thanks for allowing me to borrow it for this thread to show the difference between a KM "brown uniform" and a true tropical KM uniform.
A great comparison image!

For officer use these "Brown uniforms" did look a lot smarter than a standard tropical KM uniform and were worn as such by officers in the Adriatic.
Here's another example of that practice! Note also tan schirmmutze (visor)!

Next image shows KM men surrendering to Russian Naval forces on the coast of the Crimea!
Note brown uniform (or true tropical tan ) of a KM petty officer with Naval blue NCO tresse applied on collar and shoulderboards!

[NickG]

The latter (surrendering NCO) is actually wearing a true tropical tan KM uniform.
Petty officers(NCO's) in the KM would not wear such collar rank tresse on their so called "brown uniforms"...
Another distinction between the two! (besides cloth breast eagle and closed neck collar folded-pressed open)
(photo credit "antiquesarmorandarms.com")

[Norm F]

Note also tan schirmmutze (visor)!

Great photo! Excellent thread.