Germany, Kriegsmarine. A U-Boat Crew Leather Jacket, by Hettlage & Lampe

(Sonderbekleidung Lederjacke für seemännisches Personal). A well-preserved U-Boat crew leather jacket, constructed of multiple pieces of heavy grey leather with machine stitching reinforcements along the seams. It features a turned-down collar which transitions into double breast flaps. The reverse left collar bears two bakelite buttons retaining a period original matching leather strap, detaching to meet an analogous bakelite button on the right of the collar, allowing for optional fitted closure. Each breast flap features two pockets, with the uppermost pockets opening with reinforced vertical flaps, and the lower pockets with similarly reinforced horizontal flaps, all without button closure. Four reinforced buttonholes are set into the left flap, meeting an equal number of bakelite buttons on the right flap, with three identical buttons also retained on the left flap, for additional adjustable closure. The interior is fully encompassed by a complete dark grey wool liner, which continues throughout the arms. A single interior pocket is located at the upper left breast, opening with a leather-reinforced horizontal flap. The neck retains a maker’s label reading “HETTLAGE & LAMPE, KIEL”, while a severed suspension loop just above the label bears an illegible mark. The jacket measures approximately 460 mm across the shoulders, with an arm length of 610 mm, and an overall body length of 920 mm. In addition to the damage to the suspension loop, the leather shell demonstrates fatigue consistent with age and use throughout, and one button is missing from the left flap. This experienced Kriegsmarine U-Boat crew leather jacket is in an overall very fine condition.