U-564 tunic and o'seas cap set

Greetings -

I have just sent the U-564 tunic and cap set digital pics to Stevin. He should have them posted here under this thread in a short while. Once posted, I will give further information on this grouping. Thank you for your patience.

Bill

 

And i'll be on the lookout for the pics. Ill be back here on Monday afternoon. Yesterday had to play hookey as I had errands to do that kept me busy all-day.

 

As always, thank you Stevin for posting of the pictures. Yours, and Volkbert's help on this are invaluable. Much appreciated, the both of you.

This grouping was initially purchased by myself at a militaria show about five years ago or so. A man approached me at my display table, and asked me if I was interested in Kreigsmarine items. After mentioning to him that I was always interested in anything German, Imperial or Third Reich, he pulled out this tunic and cap, and in the end I bought it for $400 U.S. or so, which, even then was a great deal!

The tunic is a privately manufactured item from a Paris tailor, and is dated on the inside with the tailoring shop's name, Paris, France, and the year date of 1941. This is stamped on the inside lining in white ink, which doesn't photgraph well, and which is why it has been omitted from being photographed.

It also has an officer grade breast eagle, and officer grade buttons, and lining. This is because this tunic in fact has been down graded at some point from an officer version to an enlisted man's issue reefer jacket. The Iron Cross II Class ribbon is original to the jacket. Also, not being able to be seen, but in the exact placement of the awards, there are the remnants of the thread holes where someone at some time during the war had worn the cloth version of the EK I, or Iron Cross I Class, and the cloth version of the U Boat Badge. Both of these awards in cloth would have been an exception to the rule as cloth badges been worn were a minority. At some point, these were removed, and the standard award loops were added in at the same points of wear, and standard metal awards then placed on the tunic. The buttons are marked for use by the Kreigsmarine, and also dated 1941.

The blue collar tabs are stand enlisted ranks issue for an able bodied seaman, ( one with no specific duties aboard the sub such as torpedo man, engineer, etc. ) which means that this guy was fairly well decorated for being of lower rank.

The cap has an ORIGINAL U Boat cap badge as for being a member of the U-564. The black cat with the three X's under neath its throat was the logo for the U-564's crew. Three X's meaning its crew having 9 lives. Although not visible in the photo very well, there is a specific pattern as to how these logo's were stitched on to indicate authenticity of the logo. Most of these will be very crude in appearance as these were manufactured from just bits and pieces of remnant metal found aboard the sub.

WORD OF CAUTION!!! -

These cap badges are being heavily reproduced and sold as originals on the collecting market today. Be sure of your source when deciding to purchase one of these. They are very easy to do, inexpensive, and sell for high prices. Take the time to do the research on the item. It will save you money in the end.

The cap has also been ink marked on the inside with the place, Paris France, the manufacturer, and the 1941 year date, again in white ink, and because of its difficulty to photograph, it has been omitted as well.

The cap has also been stitched closed down its center crease with dark thread to give its owner a more "confident look" about themselves. Although non-regulation to do so, it was however done.

This grouping was traded off to its current owner ( and only reluctantly ) for another one of my favorite pieces that I still have - that being a Luftwaffe Generalmajor tropical tunic, another very rare and desirable item to have.

I will put up a few close up pics of this tunic in the future, as this too would be one that is most uncommon also.

If there are any questions concerning this set, please post your questions, and I will be most pleased to answer them.

Be good to each other.

Bill

[ 13. July 2003, 09:53 AM: Message edited by: Bill Smith ]

 

That is one heck of a gorgeous uboat set-up.!!

Agr--I can only wish I owned this set-up. All I have in KM is the U 181 Leutnantengineers schiffchen that Dieter gave to me. I'd like to have pics of it up here sometime.

That is a mother beautiful uboat set.

Bill--thank you for the well-written information as well. I have learned much from this today.

I've just realized that you said you got this set even years ago for ONLY $400----All I can say is W W. I wish I could have been the lucky person to get these from you.

[ 14. July 2003, 06:57 PM: Message edited by: C.Evans ]

 

Hi Bill,

Kriegsmarine is not usually my thing but that is a superb uniform set,thanks for showing them to us,

Paul

 

Hi Bill,

Nice set up, I have always wanted to go into U-Boat stuff, as they were the elite of Germany 1939-45 (along with para), although my funds at the moment wont alow me too,

There is something about the colour and cut of the Kriegsmarine tunics taht I really like, although I think the KM is quite negleted in the collecting world.

I really like the cap, I would imagine that a U-Boat cap with an original wartime sewn badge are rare to say the least.

Regards
Phil

 

thumbs up Stevin for posting Bills U-boot goodies..........very nice. Bill, I have a couple of questions concerning these items but need to get back home to access my Kriegsmarine data files...

more to come...

~E

[ 16. July 2003, 12:27 PM: Message edited by: C.Evans ]

 

A fine collection of U 564. No doubt the sailor who owned these awards received them from his patrols with the great U-boat ace, Reinhard Suhren.

As a side note, Suhren carried the emblem, the Black Cat of U 48, to his command, U 564. Suhren had served aboard U 48 as first watch officer. It can be argued that Suhren was responsible for more tonnage sunk than any other u-boat officer in WW2 since the I.WO was the man who conducted all surface torpedo attacks.

Great pieces of history you have there!! I am green with envy!

 

First off, before I comment any further on the U-564, and/or Reinhard Suhren, is it just me, or did we lose the link to the photographs?

Bill

 

Hi Bill, Gents,

There seems to be a malfunction of some kind somewhere. I checked and my server works. The pics are still there and the names haven't been changed.

I have my friend working on it right now. Hope to get them back on line ASAP.

Sorry about this guys,

Stevin

 

Thanx for the pics Bill and Stevin,

before the picture faded away...
I managed to see the tunic and it looked like having stood against time very well. I guess the price was not unreasonable (?). Very nice, very nice indeed.

In the net:





The bridge of U-564

http://www.rnsubmus.co.uk/photodp/German.htm

 

I have been out of town over the weekend, so ididn't get to see them. I cant' wait to see them when the links are fixed.

 

Fixed...

 

That's really cool, and I've never seen anything like it!!!! The closest I came was seing Hanns Goebbler's (sp?) overseas hat at a convention (along with the man himself). Nothing like that though! Since it's so customized, it seems to be a kind of "rarest of the rare" item, too. How the heck did that other guy get his hands on it?

 

Bill, That is really an AWESOME set-up! One question, (remember I"m a beginer ) what exactly does the red ribbon indicate?

 

Hello all.

Kai -

Thank you for posting the shots of the coning tower, and that of those U boat sailors enjoying a bit of the warming sun on deck. Very nice.

Doc -

As stated, I picked this up at a show in Portland, Oregon a few years back. It was a walk in. The guy wanted at or about $400. I couldn't pass it up. Then, after a few years of ownership, I was able to trade it to a very dear collector friend of mine who I still see. I even babysit it at times for him Having my interest in Luftwaffe, and his being in Kreigsmarine/U - boat, we made a trade. It worked out great for us. That's how the other guy ended up with it.

Phil -

Around here, the Kreigsmarine is some what of a "lost puppy", and the prices are still fairly reasonable. If you are even considering getting in to German tunics, consider the Kreigsmarine. You can still get some very good buys. Especially when it comes to the jumpers, either summer whites or winter blues. Usually the knots are sold separately, and this will be the one item that will be the toughest to locate. "Donald Duck" caps can get expensive. Try searching for one that has a generic "Kreigsmarine" talley about it. Don't expect to locate the "Bismarck", "Tirpitz", or some other capital ship on a cap. They might be out there, and most likely are, but, a LOT of fakes too. More so than originals.

DB -

The "red ribbon" is actually the center stripe for the Iron Cross II Class ribbon. It was only worn on the award on the first day of issue. After that, it was sewn through the second buttonhole of the tunic. There were basically three ribbons that were worn in this official capacity, and never more than two at one time, with the Iron Cross taking the precedence of being the top ribbon in the pecking order. The other two were the War Merit Cross II Class ( either With, or Without Swords ), and the Russian Front Medal. As you can see, this guy, for an able bodied seaman, was fairly well decorated.

And DB, that's great admitting you're a beginner. We all are in some capacity. That's how we all learn, by asking questions

Be good to each other.

Bill

[ 15. July 2003, 11:59 PM: Message edited by: Bill Smith ]

 

One more before calling it good for the night....

I got to thinking, since some of you have asked what it took, or how the current owner got this set up, I have emailed Stevin the digital photo's of what I received in return for the U boat set. He should have them posted here soon.

Be advised however, that the binoculars, and the pith helmet did NOT come with the tunic. This has been added on to enhance the set up, although the pith helmet itself is worthy of note.

I'll see if the pics are posted in the morning, and if so, I'll throw out a few phrases before heading off to work.

Bill

 

Thanks for posting the uniform pictures Bill, and thank you KP for posting the sub that goes with the uniform ! It would be nice if research could be done to see who the crewman was and if he is still around today.

I was also wondering where on the sub the crewmen stored such uniforms while at sea ? I can remember how nasty it got on the sub from the movie Das Boot and it seems like the uniforms would be filthly by the time the patrol was over.

Also were they made out of 100% wool or some other materal ?