*German, WWII, U-Boat Commander’s Binoculars, 8x60 by Zeiss (blc), Surrendered Portsmouth, with Custom English Case*
An exceptionally rare and desirable pair of Kriegsmarine U-Boat commander’s binoculars, manufactured by Carl Zeiss, Jena and marked with the wartime code “blc”. These are the classic 8x60 commander’s model, serial numbered 49796, placing them within a documented 1943 production batch.
They retain their original green wartime paint finish, with integral flip-up objective covers, the distinctive Benutzer-marked Bakelite ocular plate (mould number 11944), and their original wartime strap and cords. The optics remain exceptionally bright and sharp, a testament to Zeiss’s unrivalled wartime optical quality. The binoculars are housed in a fine custom leather case stamped “Made in England”, commissioned by the Royal Navy officer who captured them from a surrendering U-Boat.
Historical Notes:
Only 156 German U-Boats survived to surrender from the 1,162 commissioned by the Kriegsmarine. Each was intended to carry a single pair of commander’s binoculars, usually the Zeiss 8×60, reserved for the captain or watch officer. Although more were produced for wider naval use, only a very small number entered Allied hands directly through U-Boat surrender, making examples with this provenance especially rare. The rest of the fleet – and with it the majority of their commander’s optics – met violent ends: 784 were sunk in action during the Battle of the Atlantic, while a further 222 were scuttled by their own crews in May 1945 to prevent capture.
In May 1945, over 150 German U-Boats surrendered to the Royal Navy at various ports. Major concentrations occurred at Loch Eriboll in Scotland, Lisahally in Northern Ireland, and on the south coast of England at Portsmouth and Portland. This pair was captured at Portsmouth, where several boats, including U-249, U-1023, and U-776, formally surrendered. It is highly probable that these binoculars came from one of these U-Boats, their commander handing them over as part of the surrender ritual. The officer who secured them evidently had them carefully preserved, commissioning a bespoke English case to protect and display them after the war. Their survival underscores both the rarity of commander’s binoculars with direct U-Boat provenance and their powerful association with the dramatic final days of the Battle of the Atlantic.
The Zeiss 8×60 “U-Bootglas” represented the pinnacle of Kriegsmarine optical design. With 8× magnification and oversized 60mm objective lenses, it produced an exceptionally wide and bright field of view, ideal for scanning the horizon from a submarine’s conning tower. Built with rugged, armoured housings, protective flip-up lens covers, and fitted with the distinctive Benutzer ocular plate, these binoculars stood as a potent symbol of command at sea.
These instruments were manufactured by Carl Zeiss of Jena, one of the world’s foremost optical firms. In wartime records they appear under the concealed maker’s code “blc,” the designation assigned to Zeiss by the German military to mask production sources. The company’s reputation for precision optics was unrivalled, and the 8×60 commander’s model was among its most advanced products, produced in smaller numbers than the standard 7×50 glasses. Surviving “blc” 8×60s are therefore regarded as the finest Kriegsmarine optical instruments.
*Condition*
The binoculars survive in superb condition. The green wartime finish is intact with minor service wear. The markings are clear and legible, including “8x60 / 49796 / blc” and “Benutzer.” The rare Benutzer Bakelite cover is still present, a feature very seldom retained on surviving examples. The optics are bright and clear with excellent image quality. The flip-up lens covers remain intact and functional, while the original strap and cords are still fitted. They are housed in a custom English leather case, stamped “Made in England,” which remains in excellent condition. This case provides further evidence of their capture and preservation in Britain immediately after the war.
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