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H065358 SCHÜTZEN/PANZER GRENADIER OBERSTLEUTNANT'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 light green being chosen for Jäger, (Light Infantry), and Gebirgsjäger, (Mountain Infantry), personnel. On the field blouse and service tunic the waffenfarbe was generally displayed on the shoulder straps/boards and the collar tabs. Of Note: Schützen, (Rifle), personnel were also allocated grass green waffenfarbe and in mid-1942 the grass green waffenfarbe was also adopted by Panzer Grenadiers, (Armored Infantry), personnel. Due to the overlapping use of various shades of green waffenfarbe by Jägers, Gebirgsjäger, Schützen, and Panzer Grenadiers, it is difficult to attribute the branch of service with absolute certainty. Also Of Note: Mountain Troop personnel were authorized wear of the distinctive Edelweiss tradition sleeve badge on May 2ND 1939, and Jäger personnel were authorized wear of the distinctive Jäger sleeve badge on October 2ND 1942. As this M43 tunic wasn’t issued until mid-1943 and doesn’t have either the Mountain Trooper’s Edelweiss or the Jäger personnel’s sleeve badges, or any evidence that either had ever been applied it would seem to indicate this example was issued to Schützen or Panzer Grenadier personnel. Although contrary to regulation it was not uncommon for personnel to alter or utilize unofficial garments according to their personal preferences and a myriad of unofficial modifications can be seen in period photographs. Of Note: The modifications were so prevalent that the authors W. Palinckx and J. F. Borsarello even dedicated a chapter, (Chapter 10), of their book, Camouflage Uniforms of the German Wehrmacht exclusively to altered non-regulation garments. This example is an M43 field blouse that has been modified with the main modification being the replacement of the original field-grey collar with a blue/green badge cloth collar. The modifications appear to have been period applied. Of Note: The early blue/green collars were quite popular as they provided a nice contrast to the field-grey of the field blouses and personnel wearing the blue/green collars were generally viewed with more prestige as being long serving, experienced personnel.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Slightly mottled, field-grey, wool/rayon blend construction field blouse features a vertical, six button front closure with dual metal hooks and eyes positioned at the forward neckline. The field blouse has four, non-pleated, front pockets with straight edged button down flaps. The breast pocket are the basic patch type while the hip pockets are the saddlebag type with expanding side panels. The right breast has an officer’s quality, hand embroidered, national eagle in bright, silver/aluminum and bullion wire threads with black accent threads mounted on a cut-out, blue/green badge cloth base. The eagle is missing a few of the silver/aluminum wire threads revealing the underlying, tan cardboard template. The eagle is neatly handstitched to the tunic. The left breast has three vertical and six 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 reverse of the field blouse has two vertical tapering darts and a short, central vertical tail skirt vent. The straight cut sleeve cuffs each had a vertical slash to the outside seams that have been machine stitched closed. The field blouse has slip on shoulder boards of matte, interwoven, silver/aluminum Russian braid with a single, gilt washed, stamped alloy rank pip to each mounted on light green wool waffenfarbe bases. The narrow, green wool, slip on tongues, the fabric loops and the securing buttons are all intact. The reverse of the lay down, blue/green badge cloth, collar has the typical zig-zag reinforcement stitching. The collar has nice quality, hand embroidered collar tabs in matte silver/aluminum wire threads with twisted light green rayon, branch of service stripes mounted on blue/green badge cloth bases. The collar tab litzen show light chafe wear. The collar tabs are neatly handstitched to the collar. The interior of the field blouse is partially lined in ribbed, greyish/tan cotton twill, 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 grey rayon, field dressing pocket with a single button closure. The lining has a small, leather reinforced, horizontal slash to the reverse of the exterior left hip pocket for the dagger/sword hangers. The interior of the tunic also has a vertical, field-grey, cotton strap with an nickel/silver plated, steel friction clip, machine stitched to the left armpit seam for suspending the dagger/sword hangers. The friction clip is well marked with the embossed initials, "DRGM", indicating, Deutsche Reichs Gebrauchsmuster, (German National Registered Design), and the manufacturer’s stylized initial/logo, "A", indicating manufacture by F. W. Assmann & Söhne of Lüdenscheid. The lining also has four, small, vertically rectangular, field-grey, wool patches positioned to the reverse of the exterior belt support hook eyelets. Two of the original, grey, pressed cardboard collar liner buttons are intact and the replaced collar has all three folding, sheet metal collar liner clips intact and comes with a starched, white, fabric collar liner. The collar liner is well marked black printed script that includes, "Primo Macco 4 Fach", and, "Armee 44". The lining is well marked with faint, purple size inkstamps while the field dressing pocket has a faint, purple, inkstamped 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 light age and usage toning and areas of light to moderate nap wear primarily to the elbows and cuffs. The front closure, exterior pocket and the shoulder board buttons are a combination of the pebbled, magnetic sheet metal and alloy types while the field dressing pocket button is the molded grey bakelite type and most appear to have been restitched. The field blouse is roughly size 38" chest.
GRADE ***3/4 PRICE $2,380.00
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