Original German WWII DAF National Labor Front M35 Sports Shirt - Approximate Size 36

Original Item: Only One Available. During training for the Various branches of the armed forces, German Soldiers in WW2 were often issued the M35 sport shirt, which was used during sporting competitions, recreation and basic training. These would have an embroidered insignia that was attached to the front of the shirt, specific to the branch they were a member of.

Embroidery was not easily accomplished on shirts, and it was much more economical to produce the insignia separately, and sew them on later as a completed patch. These were embroidered onto rolls of fabric, and then cut out before being attached.

In addition to the military, many of the paramilitary organizations also participated in the sporting events to maintain physical fitness and morale, as it was very possible that they would eventually be called up to the military. 

This is an original DAF (Deutsche Arbeitsfront or German Labor Front) embroidered insignia sewn on an original M35 sport shirt, which definitely looks to have been applied during the WWII Period. The shirt shows overall age toning and light staining, which matches on the shirt and insignia. We do not see any holes, tears, or other major damage, and the shirt is still stretchy. We measured it just below the arm openings, and it seems to be about a size 36. 

Overall in lovely age toned condition, and will make a great addition to any German WWII collection.

Physical fitness and competition were two concepts that were highly valued in the ideology of the Third Reich. All kinds of sports clubs and organizations flourished in the years before WWII, with larger Reich level organizations supervising athletics, promoting events and issuing awards for sport achievement. The various NSDAP era civil, political, military and paramilitary organizations also promoted or even mandated exercise and sports for their members. To facilitate this, these organizations instituted sport uniforms, which typically included sport shoes, and for warm weather, shorts and a knit tank top with a woven emblem specific to that organization. In cold weather, the sport uniform generally included dark colored knit trousers and a sweatshirt, usually also with the sports-specific organizational emblem. The woven organizational emblem patch used on the sports patch was often a rather large patch, making these appealing souvenirs for Allied troops as they swept into Germany. Some types of the sports patches are very common today, though intact sports clothing is rarer, and some sports emblems for smaller organizations, made in limited numbers, are very rare.

With the dissolution of all Free Trade Unions in Germany in May 1933 the Deutsche Arbeitsfront, (German Labor Front), was established to replace the unions and to educate the workers in industry and commerce for smooth and efficient operation of all labor in the Third Reich. In October 1934 the DAF was given official status as a sub-section of the NSDAP and in March 1936 it was recognized as an independent NSDAP affiliated association and granted control of its own monetary budget. With this money it was able to procure it's own signs and other insignia.