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H024858 INFANTRY UNTEROFFIZIER'S M43 FIELD BLOUSE. (Feldbluse M43)
BACKGROUND: The M43 field blouse was basically a continuation of the modifications of the M33 field blouse which had evolved into the M36, the M40 and the M42 field blouses. Modifications to the M42 field blouse included the elimination of the separate, internal, belt support hook suspenders with them being replaced by short, integral, straps in April 1943, and the replacement of the scalloped button flaps on the front pockets to straight flaps to simplify production in mid-1943. These alterations resulted in the M43 field blouse, which was to be the final variant of the original M33 field blouse. Of Note: The modifications were not always strictly adhered to. 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 certain 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), with white being chosen for Infanterie, (Infantry), personnel. On the field blouse and service tunic the waffenfarbe was generally displayed on the shoulder straps/boards and the collar tabs.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Slightly mottled, field-grey, wool/rayon blend construction field blouse with a lay down collar features a vertical, six button front closure with a single metal hook and eye positioned at the forward neckline. The second, top, front, closure, button eyelet has an Iron Cross 2ND class ribbon inserted and neatly handstitched in place. The field blouse has four, non-pleated, front patch pockets with straight edged button down flaps. The right breast has a machine woven, M39 pattern, national eagle with outstretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted, swastika in it’s talons in grey rayon threads on a cut-out, woven, blue/green rayon base. The eagle is machine stitched to the breast and looks to be restored with the stitching running right through the interior lining. 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. All four bent alloy belt support hooks are included. The reverse of the field blouse has two, vertical, tapering darts and a short, central, vertical tail skirt vent. The straight cut sleeve cuffs each have a small, vertical slash to the outside seam with dual fit adjustment buttons. The field blouse has the early, (Circa November 1938-May 1940), second pattern, blue/green badge cloth construction, slip on shoulder straps with bright, silver/aluminum, diamond patterned NCO’s tress to all but the slip on ends and white wool waffenfarbe piping. The bottoms of the strap and the slip on retaining tongues are in field-grey, wool and the bottoms of the retaining tongues have a ribbed, grey cotton, reinforcement panel machine stitched in place. The shoulder straps fabric retaining loops and pebbled, buttons are all intact. The reverse of the lay down collar is lined in grey rayon and has the typical zig-zag reinforcement stitching. The forward edge of the collar is trimmed in bright, silver/aluminum, diamond patterned NCO’s tress and the collar has the second pattern, general issue, EM/NCO’s collar tabs as introduced on May 9TH 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. The NCO’s tress and the collar tabs are machine stitched to the collar. The interior of the field blouse is partially lined in grey rayon, with the lining running down the front closure panel edges and to the upper breast and back panels. The right front tail skirt lining has a field dressing pocket with a single button closure and comes with a small field dressing. The lining also has four, vertical, grey, canvas web straps with seven stitched eyelets to each, positioned to the reverse of the exterior belt support hook eyelets. All five of the original collar liner buttons are intact. The lining is well marked with faint, tan, size inkstamps and an RB number. Of Note: The RB numbers, Reichsbetriebnummer, (National factory code numbers), were introduced in late 1942 and were intended to replace the manufacturers marks on garments and equipment to conceal the manufactures name and location from the allies, to prevent bombing raids on German industrial factories. The field blouse is in overall very good condition with minor age and usage toning and some light chafe wear to the cuffs and collar edges. The front closure, exterior pocket and the shoulder strap buttons are all the field-grey painted, pebbled, magnetic sheet metal types while the cuff buttons are the molded black bakelite type and the field dressing pocket and collar liner buttons are the ersatz, pressed, tan cardboard type and most of the buttons appear to have their original stitching. The field blouse is roughly size 40" chest.
GRADE **** PRICE $2,228.00
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