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H055956 CAVALRY OBERREITER'S M36 FIELD BLOUSE. (Feldbluse M36)
BACKGROUND: The development of the M36 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. 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 particular identifying waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), with golden yellow being chosen for Kavallerie, (Cavalry), personnel. On the field blouse and service tunic the waffenfarbe was generally displayed on the shoulder straps/boards and the collar tabs.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Issued, field-grey wool/rayon blend construction M36 field blouse with a blue/green badge cloth collar, features a vertical, five button front closure with a single metal hook and eye positioned at the neckline. 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 an early, M39 pattern, machine woven national eagle in pale grey threads on a cut-out woven dark blue/green rayon base. The eagle is handstitched to the breast. The left breast pocket has seven horizontal thread loops for wear of awards. 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 short, central, vertical tail skirt vent. The straight cut sleeve cuffs each have a vertical slash to the outside seam with dual fit adjustment buttons to each. One button from the right sleeve cuff is absent. The upper left sleeve has an early, second pattern, (circa 1936-1940), Oberreiter, (Oberschütze), rank insignia consisting of a roughly, 2" diameter, dark blue/green badge cloth base with a central, machine embroidered rank pip in silver/grey threads. The rank pip is handstitched to the sleeve. The field blouse has the early, (circa November 1938-May 1940), second pattern, EM’s blue/green badge cloth construction, slip on shoulder straps with golden yellow wool waffenfarbe piping. The bottoms of the shoulder straps and the slip on retaining tongues are in field-grey wool and the tongues have ribbed, greyish/tan cotton twill reinforcement panels machined stitched to the reverse. One of the shoulder strap tongues appears to be replaced and both straps show some light scarring where it appears chain stitched unit designations have been removed. The shoulder strap retaining buttons and fabric loops are also still intact. Of Note: Enlisted Cavalry personnel’s shoulder straps signify the ranks of Reiter, Oberreiter, Gefreiter, Obergefreiter and Stabsgefreiter inclusively with the actual rank being indicated by the sleeve insignia. The field blouse has a lay down, blue/green badge cloth construction collar with the typical zig-zag reinforcement stitching to the reverse. The collar features the early, September 1935 pattern, machine woven rayon construction EM/NCO’s collar tabs with ribbed, field-grey litzen and an interwoven blue/green center stripe and golden yellow branch of service stripes. The collar tabs are mounted on blue/green badge cloth bases which are machine stitched to the collar. The interior of the field blouse is partially lined in ribbed greyish/tan cotton twill. The lining has a field dressing pocket to the right forward tail skirt with a single button closure and a small metal hook inserted to each forward side panel at the waistline. All five of the original collar liner attachment buttons are intact. The lining to the right front closure panel is well marked with a faint, black size inkstamps and a blurred, mostly illegible manufacturers inkstamp. The field blouse is in overall good condition with light to moderate nap wear and age and usage toning through-out and a couple of small handstitched repairs to the external hip pockets. The front closure, exterior pocket and shoulder strap buttons are all the field-grey painted, pebbled alloy type and have mostly reverted to the flat matte grey of the base alloy. The cuff, field dressing pocket and the collar liner buttons are the molded grey bakelite type and about half of the buttons appear to have their original stitching. The field blouse is roughly size 40" chest. Insignia looks to be restored to the tunic, but still a nice salty been there example.
GRADE ***1/2 PRICE $1,755.00
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