BACKGROUND: The Third Reich era, (Circa 1933-1945), Officer’s service tunic followed the basic design of the EM/NCO’s field blouse with the most readily visible difference, besides the insignia, being the turned up French cuffs. The Officer’s service tunic was originally manufactured with a field-grey, badge cloth collar which was altered to blue/green badge cloth as per regulations of 1935. The Officer’s service tunic was to be replaced with the newly developed, Officer’s field blouse on it’s introduction in April/May 1933 although the service tunic proved so popular that the wear-out period was extended to March 31ST 1942. Even after the service tunic’s wear-out period was established it remained in usage, on a limited basis, through-out the war with minor variations. The Officer’s field blouse was very similar to the service tunic and as a result Officer’s could still be easily identified from EM/NCO personnel. In late 1940, with the impending German entrance into the North African campaign, tropical uniforms and equipment were quickly developed and issued in time for DAK, Deutsches Afrika Korps, (German Africa Corps), personnel’s arrival in Tripoli in February 1941. Eventually these tropical uniforms would be issued to personnel serving in southern areas of continental Europe. The design of the tropical issued uniforms essentially adhered to the pattern of the field-grey continental uniforms, although in a different color and material, and also followed the same basic war time modifications. 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 German army originally adopted a slightly modified version of the NSDAP’s, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), national eagle by order on February 17TH 1934, with instructions to have it applied to all steel helmets, visor caps, and tunics by May 1ST 1934. Generally Officer’s ranks utilized hand or machine embroidered breast eagles while EM/NCO’s ranks utilized machine embroidered or machine woven breast eagles.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Light weight, privately tailored ribbed, field-grey cotton duct construction tunic features a vertical six button front closure with a double metal hook and eye at the neckline. The tunic has four pleated, patch, front pockets, all with scalloped button down flaps. Embroidered officers eagle is hand sewn to the right chest. The tunic has a M36 style dark green cloth collar. Hand embroidered officers tabs are machine sewn to the collar. Slip on boards. Origin Kuban shield to the left sleeve also hand sewn to the tunic. Awards loops for two badges to the left chest pocket plus a ribbon bar. Buttons look to be original stitching. Lower pockets where period lowered at some point. The tunic is roughly size 32/34" chest. Nice worn and used example that saw period service.