BACKGROUND: Development of self-propelled assault artillery to support the infantry in a close fire support role began in the late 1930's and continued through-out the war. With the development of these new weapons it was decided that crew personnel would require a uniform designed specifically for wear in the close constrains of their vehicles. The black panzer wrap uniform had proven practical in the confines of tanks, but it was determined that the color was too conspicuous for use while performing the close support role as the assault gunners were quite often required to leave their vehicles for observation within close range and view of the enemy. This consideration led to the introduction of the field-grey Sturmartillerie, (Assault Artillery), uniform on May 29^TH 1940, with the same design and cut of the black panzer wrap uniform. Originally test examples of the Sturmartillerie uniform were manufactured with a blue/green collar which was altered to a field-grey collar by the time of its official introduction. The field-grey assault artillery wrap tunic remained the same through-out the war. 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 bright red being chosen for all Artillerie, (Artillery), personnel including Sturmartillerie, (Assault Artillery), personnel. On the field blouse, service tunic and assault wrap 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, waist length, double breasted style tunic with small fold back lapels and a large lay down collar. The left front closure panel of the tunic has four hidden button eyelets and an additional three, visible button eyelets on the fold back lapel. The right front closure panel has all four large and three smaller corresponding buttons intact. The edge of the right front closure panel has an additional, two, small, buttons positioned underneath the overlapping left closure panel with two, corresponding, internal, fabric loops for a secure closure with a neat appearance. The tunic also has a single metal hook and eye positioned at the forward neckline for a secure closure. The top lapel button eyelet has an Iron Cross 2^ND class ribbon inserted and neatly handstitched in place. The right breast has an EM/NCO’s M39 pattern, machine woven breast eagle with out-stretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted swastika in it’s talons, in mouse grey rayon threads on a cut-out, woven, field-grey rayon base. The eagle is neatly machine stitched to the tunic in the typical zig-zag fashion. The lower left breast panel has four, horizontal thread loops for wear of awards. The tunic has no exterior pockets. Both the obverse and the reverse of the tunic have two, vertical, tapering darts and the reverse also has a central, vertical, seam. The waistline side seams of the tunic each have four, vertically aligned, horizontal, rows of heavy stitching and a central, vertical slash to secure the belt support hooks. The bent, natural alloy, wire belt support hooks are included. The straight cut, dual-ply, sleeve cuffs each have a vertical outside seam slash with dual, fit adjustment buttons to each. The tunic has slip on shoulder boards in matte, silver/aluminum Russian braid with two, gilt washed, stamped alloy rank pips to each, mounted on bright red wool waffenfarbe bases. The shoulder boards narrow red wool retaining tongues, fabric retaining loops and pebbled, retaining buttons are all intact. The shoulder boards both have a couple of small puncture holes where it appears a unit numerical cypher had been applied at one time. The tunic has a large lay down collar with the typical zig-zag reinforcement stitching to the reverse. The collar features the later war pattern, (Circa September 1944-May 1945), machine woven, rayon construction collar tabs with ribbed, matte, silvery/grey rayon litzen with interwoven, regulation "V" patterned, bright red rayon, branch of service stripes. The collar tabs are woven directly onto a blue/green rayon base which shows through as the center stripe. The collar tabs are machine stitched to the collar. The interior breast panels are lined in light weight, grey rayon. The lining has a horizontal slash, patch pocket to the right breast panel and a vertical slash patch pocket to the left breast panel. The interior of the tunic also has two, vertical, grey rayon straps with six stitched eyelets to each, situated at the waistline side seams to secure the belt support hooks. The interior also has a horizontal, tunnel looped, grey cotton, fit adjustment drawstring, to each of the waistline side panels. The right breast panel is well marked with faint, illegible, black size inkstamps. The tunic is in overall very good condition with light to moderate nap wear to the cuff and collar edges, minor age and usage toning and a handstitched repair to the upper left sleeve. The shoulder board retaining buttons are the pebbled, alloy type while the balance of the buttons are the molded black and grey bakelite type and all appear to have their original stitching. The tunic is roughly size 40" chest.

GRADE ***3/4                                                         PRICE $4,998.00