BACKGROUND: After Hitler’s assumption of power in January 1933 he set about restructuring the German education system. Although there were numerous changes in the educational system, the most important was the creation of a three tiered system designed to train the youth elite to become the future leaders of the Greater German Reich. The three tiered system consisted of the NPEA, National Politische Erziehunganstalt (National Political Education Institutes) and the Ordensburgen (Order Castles) schools, both established in 1933, and the AHS, Adolf Hitler Schulen (Adolf Hitler Schools), established in 1937. The AHSs were administered by the Hitler Youth, while the NPEA and the Ordensburgen were under the control of the NSDAP. The AHS and NPEA accepted students in the 10 to 12 year old age group, with graduation being reached at age 18. The Ordensburgen accepted the elite of the elite, following their primary education and RAD labor Service, or service in another NSDAP organization. The Ordensburgen were situated in four medieval style schools throughout Germany at Crössinsee, Vogelsang, Sonthofen, and Marienburg. Each school accepted 1000 students, had a cadre staff of 500, and a specific curriculum. Students were to attend between one year to eighteen months at each school before graduating, but the program never reached its full term.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Exceptionally rare Ordensburg Stammfuhrer’s service tunic. The fabric of the tunic is the darker shade of brown that was adopted during the war (as shown in the 1943 Organisationbuch), along with a slightly lighter shade of yellow piping than the regular Reichsleitung level. The tunic is a light weight walking-out variety for a Sturmführer and has the interesting feature of an upper button so the collar can be worn closed. Single-breasted tunic with a pleated patch pocket to each breast, both with scalloped flaps secured by a single button, and two slash hip pockets, both with slanted-edged flaps and single buttons. Its five button front closure leads up to fold-back lapels and a lay-down collar. The political buttons are maker marked to F W Assman and retain 99% of their original gilt finish, and all of the look to be original stitching. Collar tabs are carmine velvet construction with four gilt washed, stamped alloy, political style rank pips and a gilt washed, stamped alloy, political style national eagle with out-stretched wings. The collar tabs are trimmed in light yellow rayon piping. Collar is piped in light yellow. The tunics left sleeve still retains its original political leaders armband, piped in yellow to top and bottom. Armband is in overall good condition with a little bit of bleed through from the red wool onto the white center disc. Armband is of the high quality, multi-piece wool construction with black taped swastika. The Stammfuhrer’s shoulder boards are constructed with the upper portion in interwoven political brown rayon, with dual political pips on each. The base color to the boards is in yellow wool. Both of its cuffs are the folded-back "French" variety, 16cm tall. A 18cm tall tail skirt vent rises from the base of the reverse. The interior of the tunic is fully lined in a high quality ribbed rayon material. The sleeves of the tunic are lined in white rayon with grey pin stripes. Tunic shows the normal aging that you expect to see, but overall excellent condition. Roughly a size 40 chest. Exceptional and rare.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $2,925.00