BACKGROUND: The M35 dress tunic was 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 design of the M35 dress tunic was based on the Imperial German army’s service tunic but was a different color and generally of much higher quality. Originally all personnel were issued two M35 dress tunics but manufacture was to be discontinued in late 1939 or early 1940 and was to be reinstated at the successful conclusion of the war although it appears they continued to be manufacture through most of the war. Regulations of March 21ST 1940 stated that the M35 dress tunics that were no longer suitable for dress wear were to be modified and reissued to personnel of the replacement and reserve units for every day wear. 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 M35 dress tunic the waffenfarbe was generally displayed on the edge of the front closure panels, the cuff and collar facings, the shoulder straps/boards and the collar tabs. The German army also utilized a wide variety of shoulder board/strap cyphers that indicated numerous specific, assorted trades, careers, functions and/or units. Regulations decreed that the shoulder board/strap cyphers were embroidered in the branch of service color for EM’s and Junior NCO’s, in silvered metal for Senior NCO’s and in gilted metal for Officer’s ranks. Originally the shoulder board/strap cyphers for Senior NCO’s and Officer’s used during the Third Reich were a low, flat pattern that had been utilized by the Weimar era, Reichsheer, (National Army, Circa 1919-1933), until regulations of September 10TH 1935 introduced new Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces), pattern cyphers that featured a horizontal ribbed interior and raised outer edges. On July 22ND 1927 the Reichsheer introduced a dress aiguillette, which was replaced with a new pattern as per regulations of June 29TH 1935. The dress aiguillette was to be worn with the Parade dress uniform when Adolf Hitler was present, on parades commemorating his birthday, when Formal dress was ordered and at certain ceremonies in either Formal or Informal dress.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: High quality, private purchase, field-grey wool/tricot blend construction M35 dress tunic features a vertical, eight button front closure with dual metal hooks and eyes positioned at the forward neckline and a lay down, blue/green badge cloth collar. Collar tabs, shoulder boards and officer eagle are original period stitching. Buttons are original stitching. Some tiny moth nips on some of the facings/insignia. Russian front ribbon bar is included. The tunic is roughly a size 32/34 chest. Original officer’s aiguillette is also included.

Note, this exact tunic is photographed in the book "WAFFENROCK" by Timothy J. Curley and Neil G. Stewart, page 289.