BACKGROUND: Originally a white tunic was introduced for wear in the Reichswehr during the short lived Weimar era and was to be replaced with a new pattern white summer tunic as introduced on July 9^TH 1937. These white summer tunics were an optional, private purchase, uniform item for Officer’s ranks and were only permitted to be worn between April 1^ST and September 30^TH annually. The old style white tunic was intended for wear in barracks, during garrison training and sporting events while the new, (1937), style white tunic was intended for wear as a walking out uniform, informal dress uniform, or for viewing or participating in certain sporting events. The most easily recognizable difference between the old style and the new style white tunics was that the old style had a small stand up collar while the new style had a lay down collar. Since the old style’s stand up collar would not accommodate collar tabs the tradition was carried over to the new tunic and collar tabs weren’t worn. 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 white tunics the waffenfarbe was generally displayed on the shoulder straps/boards.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, private purchase, 1937 pattern, mid-weight, ribbed white cotton construction tunic features a vertical, eight button front closure with dual, metal hooks and eyes positioned at the forward neckline and a lay down collar. The tunic has four, pleated, patch, front pockets with scalloped button down flaps. The right breast has three, small, vertical and one horizontal thread loops for securing a removable, national breast eagle. The breast eagle is absent. The front of the tunic has two, small, vertical, tapering darts. The reverse of the tunic has a vertical, tail skirt vent with dual, belt support buttons positioned at the top edge at the waistline. The straight cut, non-adjustable sleeves have deep, folded back, French cuffs. The tunic has small opened slashes at each shoulder seam to accommodate the pass-through style shoulder boards. The removable, pass-through style, shoulder boards feature bright, silver/aluminum Russian braid with two, gilt washed, stamped alloy rank pips and the gilt washed, stamped alloy, September 10^TH 1935 pattern, regimental numeral, "5" to each, mounted on bright red wool waffenfarbe bases. The pass-through ends of the shoulder boards each have a bright red wool covered, transverse, wooden, retaining dowel intact. The shoulder board buttons are also intact. Each shoulder has a small, handstitched, patch repair where the shoulder board buttons are intact. The lay down collar has no collar tabs as per regulations. The unlined interior of the tunic has a vertical, white cotton strap with a nickel/silver plated, sheet metal, friction clip machine stitched to the bottom edge of the left armpit opening for securing the sword/dagger hanger. The interior has a small, diagonal, slash to the reverse of the exterior left hip pocket also to accommodate the sword/dagger hanger. The friction clip is well marked with the impressed, stylized, manufacture’s logo/initial, "A", indicating manufacture by F. W. Assmann & Sohn of Lüdenscheid and the additional initials, "D.R.G.M.", indicating, Deutsche Reichs Gebrauchsmuster, (German National Registered Design). The tunic has no visible size or manufacturer’s markings. The tunic is in overall good condition with a couple of small picks and pulls and minor age and usage toning. The buttons are a combination of the bright, silver washed, pebbled, alloy and magnetic sheet metal types and are the removable type secured by "S" rings and screw posts. The buttons are all still quite clean and bright. The tunic is roughly a size 38" chest.

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $805.00