World War II German Submariner Uniform

• Main Author: Kriegsmarine (German Navy)
• Language: unknown
• Subjects: Military uniforms; Military history; Clothing and dress; German Navy; Submarines; Submarine warfare; Uniforms; World War; 1939-1945; Buttons; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/d3ed3fd0-0d92-0135-23f6-0050569601ca-d

A World War II German submariner leather uniform. Black leather jacket and pants with gold anchor buttons. Pants have leather suspenders buttoned to the pants at four points. The inside of the jacket is lined with black wool and the pants are lined with heavy insulated fabric. The leather uniform is designed to keep the wearer warm during cold weather while aboard ship or on land. Cold-weather duty in the North Atlantic necessitated warm, protective clothing. The machine-filled submarine called for uniforms resistant to oil and dirt. This style uniform was designed in 1935 and was one of several styles available to the German Navy. The short collar and waist length coat indicate that this uniform was designed to be issued to engine personnel as well as to those sailors of technical ranks such as torpedo or electric motor personnel. The particular design of this jacket allowed for significant mobility for the daily tasks performed by its wearer. Other uniform colors available were gray or green, (most common) and brown (least common). World War II How We Learn About Communities 13 Science, Technology and Society 10-12 Science 16 History