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 specific, identifying, waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), with bright red being chosen for Artillerie, (Artillery), 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, six button front closure with a single metal hook and eye positioned at the neckline. The second, top, front closure button hole has an Iron Cross 2^ND class ribbon inserted and neatly handstitched in place. 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 NCO/Officer’s quality, machine woven, national eagle, with outstretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted, swastika in it’s talons, in bright silver/aluminum flat-wire threads on a cut-out, woven, dark green rayon base which is machine stitched to a cut-out, blue/green badge cloth backing. The eagle is handstitched to the breast, hard to say if its original stitching or restored. The left breast pocket has two, horizontal, thread loops and comes with a 1939 pattern, black washed, die stamped, brass construction, hollow backed, black wound badge. The badge is in the form of an embossed, vertically oval, laurel leaf wreath encompassing an embossed profile of a M35 pattern helmet with a high relief, canted, swastika to the center, superimposed over crossed swords on a pebbled base field. The badge retains about 85% of its original black wash with small spots of chafe wear to the base brass. The reverse of the badge is a mirror image of the obverse and has a crimped, soldered hinge, a thin, round, vertical pin and a heavy soldered catch all intact. The badge has no visible manufacturer’s markings. The thread loops securing the wound badge appear to be post-war applied. 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 and the bent, natural alloy hooks are included, and have been handstitched to the interior lining. The stitching to the belt support hooks appears to be post-war applied. The back panel has two, short, 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 to each. The field blouse has the early, (circa November 1938-May 1940), second pattern, blue/green badge cloth construction, sew on shoulder straps with bright, silver/aluminum, diamond patterned, NCO’s tress to all the outside edges, a single silver washed, stamped alloy, rank pip and the September 1935 Wehrmacht pattern, silver washed, stamped alloy regimental numerals, "11", and bright red wool waffenfarbe piping to each. Of Note: The 11^TH Artillery Regiment was a component of the 11^TH Infantry Division. The shoulder strap retaining buttons are intact. The field blouse has a lay down, blue/green badge cloth construction collar with the typical zig-zag reinforcement stitching to the reverse. The forward edge of the collar is trimmed with unusual, matte silver/grey rayon, diamond patterned NCO’s tress and the collar features the General issue EM/NCO’s collar tabs as introduced on November 26^TH 1938 for wear by personnel serving in all branches of service. The machine woven, rayon collar tabs feature light, field-grey, ribbed litzen with interwoven blue/green branch of service and center stripes. The NCO’s tress is machine stitched to the collar. The collar tabs are also machine stitched directly to the collar with no backing material. 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 and handstitched, to each forward side panel at the waistline. 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 belt support hook retaining straps are absent. All five collar liner attachment buttons are intact. The lining to the right, front, closure panel is well marked with faint, black size inkstamps and what appears to be, "M40", indicating the field blouse passed through the army’s clothing depot in Munich in 1940. The upper back panel also has an additional, faint, black inkstamped numerals and what appears to be a national eagle inkstamp. The field blouse is in overall good condition with light chafe and nap wear through-out, a couple of pinhead sized moth nips and about a half dozen small, post-war handstitched repairs. The sleeve cuff stitching may also be post-war applied. The front closure, exterior pocket and shoulder strap buttons are a combination of the field-grey painted, pebbled alloy and sheet metal types and all retain assorted amounts of their field-grey paint. The cuff, field dressing pocket and collar liner buttons are a combination of the molded grey bakelite and natural tan, pressed cardboard types and about three quarters of the buttons appear to have their original stitching. The field blouse is roughly size 40" chest. If any collectors can ID the collar tress, please e-mail me.

GRADE ***1/4                             PRICE $2,692.00

New info added June 21st. (thank you Jamie)

The tress is very rare, 100% original Wehrmacht issue & original to the tunic. In my research I have only seen examples of this type of insignia on foreign volunteers, and a lot of examples too. Shoulder straps & collar tress for NCO's and also collar tabs all feature this type of tress. I really wanted to point this out to you and state that in my opinion this is a foreign volunteers tunic, because of this rare tress. Please have a look in Uniforms & traditions of the Germany army Vols 1-3. I know in one of the books foreign volunteer insignia is heavily featured, and that this style of tress is
pictured many times on insignia. I have not seen it on anything else other then foreign volunteers, and this only in ref books. This is the only time I have seen it actually on a tunic".

New info added July 1st. (thank you Hans)

Had another collector e-mail me from Germany who confirms its a scarce 100% period original tress, not a common pattern.