BACKGROUND: The first HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), garments introduced for use by Luftwaffe EM/NCO personnel were the raw grey type followed by blue/grey drill and black work uniforms that were all designed to conserve wear and tear on the wool and wool blend uniforms. Although the drill and work uniforms were designed for different functions both garments were almost identical in cut and construction. The HBT garments were favored by the troops and eventually began to be worn in the field as a summer uniform. Generally the HBT garments utilized as the summer combat blouse followed the basic modifications of the standard issue wool garments. Regulations of September 27^TH 1943 abolished the blue/grey and black HBT uniforms replacing them with a reed green HBT uniform as utilized by army personnel. The alteration to the reed green HBT uniforms was a time and cost saving measure eliminating the need for different colored uniforms for Luftwaffe and Army personnel. When utilized as a drill or work tunic the garments were issued with no insignia and only EM/NCO’s sleeve rank and collar trim insignia were applied to donate the wearer’s rank, although the regulations were not always adhered to. The drill uniforms were utilized for the duration of the war with minor modifications. Although the colors of raw grey, blue/grey, black and reed green were the official colors other colors were also utilized on a limited basis.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Unbleached, natural tan, cotton/rayon blend construction drill/work blouse with an HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), weave features a vertical, five button, overlapping French flap, front closure with small fold back lapels, a single, metal, hook and eye positioned at the forward neckline and a lay down collar. The front closure has the buttons positioned on the right side and the hidden button eyelets on the left side. The blouse has no exterior pockets or a breast eagle, as per regulations. The forward tail skirt has a vertical, tapering, dart to each side of the front closure. The tunic has straight cut, dual-ply, hemmed cuffs with a small, vertical slash to the outside sleeve seams with dual, fit adjustment buttons and a corresponding button eyelet to each. The waistline side panels each have five, vertically aligned, stitched eyelets designed for the belt support hooks. The belt support hooks are absent. The tunic has small, opened ventilation slashes and three stitched ventilation eyelets to each armpit. The tunic has no shoulder insignia as per regulations. The lay down collar has sinusoidal, (wavy), reinforcement stitching to the reverse and the left side has a horizontally extended, fabric tab with a single, stitched button eyelet and corresponding button. The reverse of the right side of the collar has dual buttons designed for the extended tab beneath the left side of the collar for a secure closure in inclement weather. The collar has no collar tabs as per regulations. The unlined interior has a horizontal, patch pocket to the left breast panel. All five collar liner attachment buttons are intact. The interior, left, breast panel is well marked with faint black size inkstamps, the date, "1943", and additional, unknown numerals, "123". The blouse is in overall excellent, unissued condition with a few small picks and pulls as is typical with this material and minimal age toning. The buttons are a combination of the molded tan and olive drab glass types and all appear to have their original stitching. The blouse is roughly a size 42" chest.

GRADE ****1/4                             PRICE $328.00