BACKGROUND: The old style dress tunic was introduced for wear in during the short lived Weimar Reichswehr, (National Defence {Force}), (Circa 1919-1933), era and was to be replaced with the new M35 dress tunic, (Waffenrock) as introduced for wear by all ranks on June 29TH 1935 as the walking out, parade and ceremonial dress with the piped stone grey long pants. The old style dress tunic was quite popular with the older Officers which resulted in the wearing out period being extended to March 31ST 1941 for all Officers. 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. On the old style dress tunic the waffenfarbe was generally displayed on the shoulder straps/boards and the collar tabs and as piping on the front closure.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Tunic. Very nice quality, field-grey wool construction tunic with a subtle whipcord weave. The tunic features an six button front closure with dual metal hooks and eyes at the neck. The edge of the left front closure panel is fully trimmed in pink wool waffenfarbe while the edge of the right front closure panel has the pink wool waffenfarbe running from the waistline to the bottom of the tail skirt. The tunic features two pleated patch breast pockets and two diagonally angled slash hip pockets, all with scalloped button down flaps. Breast eagle has been removed as have the shoulder straps. Awards loops for one badge. The straight cut, non-adjustable, sleeves have deep, fold back French cuffs which are stitched in the upright position at both the inner and outer sleeve seams. The reverse of the tunic has a central, vertical, tail skirt vent with two belt ramp buttons situated at its top edge. The tunic has a lay down, blue/green badge cloth collar with the typical zig-zag reinforcement stitching to the reverse. The forward edge of the collar is trimmed in bright, Reichswehr era, woven silver yarn, waffle patterned NCO’s tress and features machine woven collar tab litzen in woven silver yarn with interwoven pink branch of service and center stripes. Tabs are tress are original machine stitched to the collar. The interior of the tunic is fully lined in a grey cotton/rayon blend fabric with off white sleeves. The lining has two vertical slash "glove" pockets to the reverse of the tail skirt vent and a cut-out diagonally angled slash to the reverse of the left hip pocket for the sword/dagger hangers. The tunic has no visible manufactures or size markings. Roughly a size 32 chest. Shows the expected age and use with a couple of small sewing repairs. Buttons all look to be original stitching.