WWII GERMAN SS FORMAL EVENING DRESS UNIFORM COAT & PANTS OF BRIGADEFUHRER LEO GOTZMANN.

WWII GERMAN SS FORMAL EVENING DRESS UNIFORM COAT & PANTS OF BRIGADEFUHRER LEO GOTZMANN.

02-15988-1

Uniform coat is of very fine, black wool gabardine with 3 bright aluminum buttons down each side bearing the SS runes surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves. There are 2 similar buttons connected by a chain that hold the front of the uniform together. There are 9 loops at the left breast to support a medal bar with 5 loops below to support 2-3 badges. The right breast has 3 loops above & 3 loops below likely to support the SS Death’s Head & motto badge with another badge below. There is a silver bullion, woven shoulder board with black backing & a similar SS motif button on each shoulder. The collar is piped in silver bullion as are the collar tabs. The black velvet collar tabs have 2 lg. oak leaves with a single pip below denoting the pre-1942 rank of Brigadefuhrer. The tops of both cuffs are piped in silver bullion. The left arm has a red wool SS armband with sewn Party symbol on a round field & a sewn black border. The edges of the armband are piped in the same silver bullion as the cuffs & collar. The lining of the coat is black rayon & the lining of the sleeve is a thin striped decorated cotton. The inside of the interior left breast pocket has a tag that reads, “LOUIS J. SEDLAK WIEN I. KARNTNERING 14 MR.[DR. L.GOTZMANN](typed) NR.[5562](typed) DATE[MARZ 41](typed)”. The uniform pants are the same fine black wool gabardine piped in white at the seam with a 1 1/4″ silver bullion & black stripe down either side of the piping. The interior waistband is lined with the same thin striped decorated cotton as the sleeves. The pockets are formed from black rayon. The fly is closed with 3 buttons & a metal clip.

Brigadefuhrer Dr. Leo Gotzmann was born in 1893 & was the son of an Austrian NCO. He studied law at the University of Vienna & subsequently became a soldier in the Austro-Hungarian Army ultimately serving during WWI. He joined the Austrian Police in 1920 serving in the Security Guard Militia from 1924-1933. In 1933 he was transferred back to police headquarters because of his increasing National Socialist activities. He was arrested subsequent to the July Putsch & tried for high treason. He received a life sentence but was freed after the Anschluss in 1938. He returned to service in the Vienna police & rose to the rank of Supreme Councilor to the Police President of Vienna. He became a member of the Reichstag where he remained throughout the war. He was named Police President of Vienna in January of 1941 & was the SS leader of the Reichs Main Security Office. Gotzmann was arrested after the assassination attempt on Hitler but was released & reassumed his duties. He died in American custody of natural causes.

PROVENANCE: Lifetime Collection of Dennis Ottaway.