PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The field green tunic features a six button front closure with a lay down collar, piped in yellow, with a double hook and eye closure. The hook are unfortunately missing. The tunic has two, pleated patch, breast pockets with scalloped button down flaps and two saddle bag pockets with expanding sides and straight edged button down flaps. The sleeves have simulated French cuffs with two decorative buttons and a scallop to the forward edge of the outside seam. The large front closure buttons and the smaller pocket and cuff buttons are all brass capped, steel, shank buttons, that are embossed with three lions, passant guardant, which is the symbol of Estonia. The right saddle bag pocket is missing it’s button and the left cuff is missing the cap from one. The reverse of the tunic has dual tapered seams and a central vertical tail skirt vent. The remnants of cut off shoulder straps can be seen at the shoulder seam, indicating the possibility that the wearer of the tunic served for a time in the Red Army. The interior of the tunic is fully lined in a burgundy synthetic silk with the sleeves lined in a red lined, off-white, cotton. The lining has a horizontal slash pocket to the left breast. There is a 5 7/8" wide, white cotton, removable arm band on the left arm that has a large red "O" stitched to it with a gold wire, down pointing chevron, on a red background to its center. This armband indicates service with the Germans as a junior NCO of the Omakaitse of Qesel Isaland (also known as Saaremaa Island). There are rips to the lined collar, some small holes and a split seam to the upper part of the liner, and larger holes along the bottom edge of the liner, usage staining to the sleeve liners, a couple of small holes moderate usage soiling to the exterior, light to moderate soiling to the armband and two missing buttons but the rest of the tunic is in good condition. This is an interesting piece as the owner appears to have been in the "Kaitseliit" (Defense League), then part of the Red Army before finally becoming part of "Omakaitse" home guard under the Germans.

GRADE**1/2                             PRICE $430.00