BACKGROUND: The development of the Third Reich era German army field blouse can be traced back to April 1933 with the introduction of the first pattern field blouses which were a departure from the cut and style of tunics utilized in World War I. From its introduction until 1936 the field blouse underwent a couple of small modifications designed to enhance its performance, appearance and longevity. Modifications to the 1933 pattern field blouse began in December 1934 when the original field-grey basic cloth collar was altered to a field-grey badge cloth for a better appearance. In September 1935 the collar was altered again from the field-grey badge cloth to dark blue/green badge cloth. The final pre-war modification to the field blouse occurred in December 1936 with the addition of a partial lining to the interior breast and upper back panels to increase its wear-out time. The M40 field blouse was basically a continuation of the modifications of the M36 field blouse. Modifications to the M36 field blouse included alteration of the bright silver/aluminum NCO tress and rank chevrons to a less visible subdued matte grey tress in April 1940, and changing the blue/green badge cloth collar to a field-grey basic cloth collar in May 1940. These alterations resulted in the M40 field blouse. Of Note: Although the bright silver/aluminum NCO tress and rank chevrons were to be replaced with the less visible subdued matte grey tress, it is not uncommon to find the brighter tress still in use on the M40 or even later produced field blouses. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the army’s Kleiderkasse, (Clothing Account), system. The Officers and senior NCO’s could choose to purchase their uniforms from the armed forces clothing depots or to privately purchase garments of higher quality. Although enlisted personnel were issued their uniforms from government supplies they were also permitted to purchase privately tailored uniforms although the price may have been restrictive. The different branches of service within the army were allocated a specific, identifying, waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), which was generally displayed on the shoulder straps/boards and the collar tabs.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Issued, slightly mottled, field-grey wool/rayon blend construction M40 field blouse features a vertical, five button front closure with a single, magnetic metal hook and eye positioned at the forward neckline. The eye is absent. The field blouse has four, pleated, front pockets with scalloped, button down flaps. The breast pockets are the basic patch type while the hip pockets are the saddlebag type with expanding side panels. The right breast has a later production, M39 pattern, machine woven national breast eagle with outstretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted, swastika in it’s talons, in pale grey rayon threads on a cut-out, woven field-grey rayon base. The eagle is crudely handstitched to the field blouse and is a replacement with the faint, stitch, outline of the original applied breast eagle still visible. The field blouse has four sets of three, vertically aligned, stitched eyelets with one set situated at either side of the front closure and two to either side of the back panel, at the waistline. The eyelets were designed for the belt support hooks. The belt support hooks are absent. The back panel has two, vertical, tapering darts and a central, vertical, tail skirt vent. The straight cut sleeve cuffs each have a vertical slash to the outside seam with a stitched eyelet designed for fit adjustment buttons to each. The cuff fit adjustment buttons are absent and the left cuff slash has been handstitched closed. The field blouse has the shoulder strap retaining fabric loops intact but the buttons and the slip on shoulder straps have been removed. The field blouse has a lay down, field-grey wool construction collar with a reed green cotton/rayon reverse with an HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), weave and the typical zig-zag reinforcement stitching. The collar has the second pattern, general issue, EM/NCO’s collar tabs as introduced on May 9^TH 1940 for wear by all branches of service. The machine woven, rayon collar tabs feature light grey/green ribbed litzen with mouse grey branch of service and center stripes and are machine stitched to blue/green badge cloth bases, which are in turn machine stitched to the collar. The collar tabs appear to be replacements with faint stitch outlines of the original applied collar tabs visible on the reverse of the collar. The interior of the field blouse is partially lined in ribbed, greyish/tan cotton. The lining has small, opened, slashes at each shoulder panel and at the mid-back panel to accommodate the internal, belt support hook retaining straps. The separate internal belt support hook retaining straps are absent. The lower, right, front, tail skirt lining has a field dressing pocket with a single button closure. The field dressing pocket button is absent. The interior of the field blouse also has a small, metal, hook inserted to each forward side panel at the waistline. The field dressing pocket and the lining to the right front closure panel are well marked with faint, mostly illegible, black inkstamps. The right front closure panel lining also has additional, black inkstamped numerals that appear to be museum control/inventory numbers. The field blouse has a few small rips and tears and shows moderate age and usage toning and moderate to heavy nap wear through-out. The front closure and exterior pocket buttons are the field-grey painted, pebbled alloy and retain minimal amounts of their field-grey paint. Most of the buttons appear to have their original stitching. The field blouse is roughly size 38" chest.

GRADE **3/4                             PRICE $1,280.00