Original German WWII Customs Officer ZollMinisterialrat Reich Finance Administration Named M36 Tunic with WWI Medal Bar - Dated August 1941

Original Item: Only One Available. During the Pre-WWII years in Germany, virtually all aspects of the government fell under control of the NSDAP, and the Customs service was no exception. Here we have a very nice example of a German WWII Customs Officer M36 Tunic for the rank of ZollMinisterialrat. He was in the Reich Finance Administration as indicated by the RFV device on his shoulder boards. This group was essentially the Ministry of Finance, responsible for managing the country's finances during the war, including collecting taxes, managing war bonds, controlling currency, and allocating funds to the military and other critical areas of the regime.

The interior shows a tag which looks to read Präs. Vohr which would mean Finanzpräsident Vohr. The basic construction is very similar to the Heer Officer M36 tunic. In form these tunics are more or less identical to the Army Heer tunic except for the colors and material used. They may also have some additional ornamentation when compared to the standard Army issue. The tunic features two pleated breast pockets with scalloped flaps over two waist slash pockets, which also feature scalloped flaps.
 
The tunic has pebbled magnetic buttons, which look to be made from pebbled stamped steel with aluminum backings and eyelets. All look to be marked EXTRA FEIN on the rear, and the buttons are sewn directly to the fabric, which does make them a bit more prone to tearing off, however these all look to be original. There are also two hook and loop collar securing fasteners, which are fully functional.

The collar is wrapped in flaschengrün (dark bottle-green) wool, and has the correct Customs officer's collar tabs on each side of the collar opening, which are made with the correct lacquered buckram internal stiffeners, and wrapped with a fine green felt background. The silver flatwire embroidery is exceedingly well executed, and shows just a bit of oxidation on a few strands. They are for the rank of ZollMinisterialrat. The button attached style shoulderboards each have two rows of fine silver flatware "Russia Braid" double piping that is plaited together around the button hole, with the correct woven in black chevrons. These have the correct dark green base material on the bottom and the edges, and each features a gilt gothic RFV cypher between two silver rank "pips", which does denote the rank of Ministerialrat - Finanzprasident. This is corroborated by the nametag, reading Präs. Vohr which would mean Finanzpräsident Vohr.

The left cuff bears a lovely Land Customs / Border Police green cuff title, which features silver bullion embroidery. It has silver on the edges, and there is a Reichsadler Eagle in the center. There is definitely wear to the edges and the exterior. Attached at the 2nd buttonhole from the top is a ribbon for the Iron Cross 1939 2nd Class (Non-Combatant) with the black in the center and red on the edges.

Attached over the left breast pocket is a lovely 4-place German medal bar for World War I service, bearing the Iron Cross 1914 2nd class for Non-combatants, the Merit Cross for War Aid, the Order of the Red Eagle 4th Class, and what was likely the Wurttemberg Charlotte Cross, but the medal itself has fallen off and is absent, so we cannot know for sure what the medal was. The medal bar is attached via loops over the left breast pocket. There are an additional 10 award loops on and under the left breast pocket, making for a great display opportunity.

The tag on the interior left side pocket reads:

A.W. Hering
BREMEN
Herr Präs. Vohr
No. 94799 Dat. Aug 41

Overall condition is great, but there is some mothing in spots including near the bottom of the flaps under the closure buttons, on the pocket flaps, with some scattered moth nips elsewhere on the tunic. The collar tabs also show some wear, particularly to the dark-green backing which appears to have a bit of moth damage.

An outstanding German Customs Officer’s tunic, ready to outfit with more awards and display!

Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to sleeve: 27”
Shoulder to shoulder: 15"
Chest width: 18”
Waist: 17"
Hip: 21"
Front length: 32"