SS leather "Panzer" jacket?

[zbv500]

Hello at all.

Iam glad that this thread comming up, because a few months ago i bought the same Jacket + trousers in a little Antik Store because of it was too cheap to pass. The jacket is exactly the same posted above by Marc. The trousers are exact in the style of the Panzer Hose. There are the same markings inside (trouser and jacket) like in the pic.
There is no sign that the ensamble has ever insignia. I Quest the Seller in the Store where it cames from. He said that he bought it from an old Lady and here Man was at U-boot.

Another proof that these Uniforms was originaly used by the KM.

If somebody wants to see a photo please email me at zbv500@aol.com

Bests Jens

[Chris_Werner]

The story I have heard time and time again is that these were issued to the Italian Navy, and confiscated after Italy capitulated. They were distributed to the HJ tank crews as they provided better protection against fire than the normal panzer kit. There are many photos of HJ tankers wearing them in Normandy, with full insignia. I understand that their original issue was for KM submariners.

I saw a full leather panzer jacket once with no insignia cut exactly like a Heer panzer wrap. there were some date stamps inside, but I don't remember specifics.

[Marc verstraete]

Picture posted for Johan

[Gary Wood]

Marc, the picture you posted above is a completely different type of jacket from the one you started the thread with, below are a couple more showing Tailor made leather PZ jackets, i cannot remember who sent me the pictures but if you want them removing please let me know.

I have not seen any pictures of ss troops wearing this type of leather jacket (does anyone have any ?),the trousers that normally come with this jacket have a very high waist, this set up reminds me of motorcyle clothing .

cheers,
Gary

[Gary Wood]

HEER picture #2

[Marc verstraete]

Hello all, the purpose of this post was to ask the opinion of the members of this forum about this type of jacket. If it was widely used by the SS or only on rare occasions. It was NOT my goal to pretend these tunics are SS panzer or any other SS uniform. I think we agree at this point that this tunic is most probably a U boot, S boot, KM or at least a NSKK tunic that has been used on occasion by SS panzer crew in Normandy. I know the pictures exist where one see members of the SS with this tunic. I don’t have all the books on uniforms I used to have when I collected these but if my memory is correct the pictures where in the books from Heimdall or after the battle on the battle of Normandy.

I post hereby a partial list of the cataloque of items who where for sale by the battle of the Bulge museum in La Gleize a few years ago. This sale resulted in the clearing out of spare donation material to collect funding for the purchase and maintenance of heavy material and the king tiger. The tunic described IS the one we are talking about. I 100 % trust the curator of this museum (government authorised) and his statement that the item was indeed found on the spot. As for his explanation on what the tunic is, I leave this to the interpretation of the members.

Marc

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PS: I will take pictures of the mod 43 leather caps in the museum during my next visit.

[Gordon Williamson]

Just back from a trip to Germany and while there I visited the Marinemuseum at Wilhelmshaven. They had a mannequin dressed up in the full black leather uniform with this type jacket. The caption stated that this style jacket was commonly worn by crew members of the "Seehund" mini subs. (The picture I posted earlier was a member of a large Type XXI sub.)
At the U-Boot Archiv, I looked through the photo albums on the mini-subs and true enough, loads of photos of crew members wearing this exact jacket.

[Michael Kuligowski]

It's good to see this thread !!!!
I have the same style "panzer wrap" leather jacket - it was on this forum about 1.5 year ago...
anyway... the story behind my jacket is that it was captured from german POW at Falaise - then it was used by a sherman driver in 1st Polisch Armored Div. - I have this jacket from the vet daughter - She told me that story...

my jacket is marked with production date 10.44 - that means - it's not possible that it was captured at Falaise (8.44)
the only insignia sewn on - was a EK2 ribbon - traces are visible (ribbon on picture is not oryginall to jacket)
I believe that this jackets were used by panzer crews .. along with KM members - style is way different than kriegsmarine (mine dosn't have M or any other KM markings) leather jackets - but why would KM used such a short jacket ??? - it's not much cover against wind and humidity... ??

just my $0.01

[Michael Kuligowski]

IMHO calling this jackets as a SS type - is over interpretation.. and just a way to sell it better on dealers sites..
PS Marc - I see that Your jacket is missing front buttons - same like mine

[imperium]

hi the illustrated jacket from the excellent L.G.museum conforms to the kreigsmarine pattern not nskk. the accepted nskk style has exposed front buttons, though that is'nt to say that in the equipment melting pot of ww2 that nskk despatch riders didn't use the "uboat" type. both types are derived from motorcycle cloathing of the 30's see angolias nskk/nsfk.

[Gary Wood]

Just out of interest, early ss motorcycle team, notice also the reverse sports badges,
cheers,
Gary

[Gordon Williamson]

Here's the jacket being worn by crew members of Seehund mini-subs. Courtsey U-Boot Archiv.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Panzer jackets are cut hip high as it makes sitting and moving in a cramped space easier, same must go for the confines of a U or S-Boot, cold, out on the north sea, and a large jacket makes moving around difficult.

We have seen Luftwaffe wearing SS Cammo, Luftwaffe wearing army tropical, Navy wearing Army Cammo... Official or not, I am sure when supplies were not to be got, certain guys improvised.

I know a Totenkopf guy who wore RAD pants and shirt for a while after the fall of Metz where he had lost all his kit, and an infantryman who was issued an Army panzer wrapper upon being released fron hospital in january 1945 as there were no regular army jackets in the store.

simple improvisation, same as the Luftwaffe private leather jackets at the beginning of the war.

All the best
Chris

[Bill Grist]

Leather

I have to vote Kreigsmarine. I have an unissued set, Jacket, Trousers, belt, that was liberated in Brest, France by a pvt. in the U.S. 8th. infantry division and he definately told me that it was taken from a storage building,also in this general area there were damaged submarines everywhere. I also got a CE41 98k and his painted 8th. division GI helmet and liner and some Kreigsmarine cloth rating patches..wfg

[TSkagen]

Just to add some fuel to this long ended discussion

Picture 1