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. 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 German army were allocated a specific, identifying, waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), with cornflower blue being chosen for Sanitäts, (Medical), personnel. On the old style white tunic the waffenfarbe was generally displayed on the shoulder boards.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, private purchase, 1937 pattern, light weight, white cotton construction tunic with a fine pique weave, features a vertical, eight button front closure with dual, brass 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 two small, vertical and one horizontal thread loops for securing a removable, national breast eagle. The tunic comes with a removable, silver washed, die stamped, alloy construction national breast eagle with out-stretched wings clutching a wreathed, canted, swastika in it’s talons. The eagles wingspan is roughly, 3 5/8" from tip to tip. The silver wash is retained about 60% with wear to the flat matte grey of the base alloy. The eagle shows nice detailing. The reverse of the eagle is a crude mirror image of the obverse and has a soldered, solid hinge, a thin, round, horizontal pin, a soldered catch and an additional soldered, vertical hook all intact. The left breast has six horizontal thread loops for wear of awards. 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 at the top edge at the waistline. The straight cut, non-adjustable sleeves have deep, folded back, French cuffs which are handstitched in the upright position at both the inner and outer sleeve seams. 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 a gilt washed, stamped alloy, Caduceus, (Serpent entwined on a staff), career cypher to each, mounted on a navy blue wool bases. The career cyphers retain about 95% of their gilt wash. The pass-through ends of the shoulder boards each have a navy blue wool covered, transverse, wooden, retaining dowel intact. The shoulder boards signify service with the medical branch with the rank of Assistenzarzt, (Leutnant). The lay down collar has no collar tabs as per regulations. The interior of the tunic is unlined and has no visible size or manufacturer’s markings. The tunic is in overall very 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 clean and bright. The tunic is roughly a size 36" chest.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $819.00