German Navy Peacoat

Bundesmarine Peacoat

This is the double-breasted peacoat issued to sailors of the Bundesmarine, the West German Navy. It was built for wind and cold on deck, and the short, heavy cut leaves your legs free to climb ladders and work. Today it suits collectors and reenactors, and anyone who wants a dark wool coat made to a navy specification for everyday winter wear.

Features

• Double-Breasted Front — The front panels overlap across the chest and close with two columns of buttons, which puts a double layer of fabric over your torso against the wind.
• Eight Anchor Buttons — Gold-tone buttons stamped with the naval anchor emblem run in two rows of four down the front.
• Wool-Blend Gabardine Shell — Wool, polyester and cotton are woven as gabardine, a tight twill weave that sheds wind and light weather.
• Wide Lapels And High Collar — Broad notched lapels can be worn open, or the collar can be turned up to cover the neck in bad weather.
• Two Slash Hand Pockets — Angled slit pockets at the hips let you reach in quickly to warm your hands.
• Two Inner Pockets — Pockets inside the coat keep a wallet, phone or papers out of the weather.
• Warm Lined Interior — A wool lining adds insulation under the shell for cold-weather wear.
• Waisted Cut — The coat narrows slightly at the waist, so it looks tailored rather than boxy.
• Dark Navy Blue — The traditional naval color reads close to black and goes with almost anything.

Issue Specification

These coats were produced for the Bundesmarine mainly through the 1970s and 1980s, and some examples date from the early 2000s. It is a heavy garment at roughly 3.7 lb (1.7 kg), cut to the navy's own pattern with the anchor-button front and wide-lapel collar of the classic sailor's peacoat. Some coats carry original sleeve rank insignia, like the gold chevrons on the example shown, which collectors value as a link to the coat's service.