History

The leather jackets worn by Waffen-SS panzer crews were repurposed Kriegsmarine (Navy) U-Boat jackets.

Following the surrender of Italy in 1943, the Germans confiscated a large number of abandoned uniforms from the stores of their former ally. Among these items were numerous German U-Boat leather jackets, which the German’s had originally sold to Mussolini’s navy. Many of these leather jackets were given to the tank crews of the 12th SS-Panzer-Division ‘Hitlerjugend’ and provided protection against burns. Members of the "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" were also known to wear these jackets.

The coats are waist length, single-breasted, and feature five metal or plastic buttons. The jackets may feature a standard or cropped collar.