Original German WWII Heer Army Named Panzergrenadier Oberst Officer M36 Service Uniform Tunic with Breeches - Dated 1942

Original Items: Only One Set Available. This is a fantastic pattern German WWII Heer Army Cavalry Oberstleutnant Officer's M-36 Service Tunic, complete with great set of wool breeches. The tunic shows moderate wear from service and in very good display condition. There is a partial rayon tailor label at the rear, however it is literally falling apart, so we cannot guarantee that there will be any of it left after being packed and shipped, as it is that delicate. There is however a clear maker label inside the slash pocket, which reads:-

M. Zöltsch Nachf.
WÜRZBURG
Herr .... Lorenz
Dat. Sept.   No. 1942

The label is printed with pen written particulars, though we are not entirely sure about the last name of the officer. It looks to be "Lorenz" but it could also be one of several other German surnames. We have not been able to locate any information on this person, but there is definitely some great potential for future research. It's very rare that we get tunics with the nametag still legible, making this a rare treat!

The tunic is made from lovely "whipcord" weave wool gabardine, in the standard Heer feldgrau (field gray) color, though this example is definitely closer to gray than we usually see. It features four pleated pockets with scalloped flaps and magnetic painted pebbled buttons. The front closure features six of the same buttons on the right breast flap meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left flap. All look to be marked on the rear, and the buttons are sewn directly to the fabric, which does make them a bit more prone to tearing off, however all these look to be originally attached, with wear to the painted tops. There are also two hook and loop collar securing fasteners, which are fully functional. The collar stiffener/protector is no longer present, but the three retaining buttons are still installed.

The interior is lined with with a very nice gray colored rayon cotton blend twill fabric, while the sleeves are lined striped rayon. There is are horizontal slash pockets on the inner left chest, where the name tag is, and it has the correct large eyelet opening into the left waist pocket for attachment of an officers dagger. We do not see any major repairs, just some light wear from service.

It is adorned with the usual rank and branch insignia used on German tunics. The attractive Army breast eagle is the correct early pattern officer's silver bullion hand embroidered type on a dark bottle green background, and is stitched to the outer layer of fabric only. The collar is wrapped in flaschengrün (dark bottle-green) wool, and has officer's field litzen collar patches on each side, which are woven from silver bullion thread with dark bottle green backgrounds matching the collar. It is in very good shape, showing wear and some light mothing, as it is usually one of the first places to show damage from use.

The colored stripes (mittelstreifen) on the litzen are Wiesengrün (Meadow Green) braided rayon, the Waffenfarbe (corps color) for the Heer Panzergrenadiertruppen (Panzer Grenadier Troops). These were motorized / mechanized infantry troops, and were legendary in the field. Originally called Schützen regiments, they had used the same Pink piping as the Panzer corps. Then in 1942 Infantry Regiments were renamed as Grenadier Regiments by Adolf H as a historical homage to Frederick the Great's Army, and the Schützen were renamed to Panzergrenadiers.

The “sew-in” style Stabsoffizier schulterklappen (Field-grade Officer shoulder boards) of this tunic are constructed with two rows of fine silver flatware "Russia Braid" double piping, which are plaited together to form a loop around the buttonhole. These are mounted to the correct meadow green bases, which protrude around the edges. They are in very good condition, and each has a two gold rank "pips" installed, indicating the rank of Oberst, equivalent to a U.S. Army Colonel. We can see two holes on the left breast pocket where an award used to be installed, and there is the ribbon from a KvK War Merit Cross 2nd class installed on the second buttonhole from the top, indicating that they had received the award. Overall condition is very nice, showing wear from use in service, but no signs of abuse. there are some small tears and other wear, and the previously mentioned deteriorating maker label.

The included breeches are in very good condition, made from whipcord weave wool fabric in a lovely lighter field gray color, often preferred by officers. They have a button fly closure with four hidden buttons topped by a metal hook and loop fastener. The suspender buttons on the inside of the waist band are all intact, as are the short extensions at the back. There is a button closed horizontal pocket on the right rear seat, as well as the usual diagonal slash vertical slash hip pockets, with a "pocket watch" pocket next to the fly on the right. The bottoms of the legs have Ri-Ri brand zip up closures to fit better inside boots. The tunics show wear, including some "stitch over" repairs for worn areas, but there are no major tears or other issues.

An outstanding German Panzergrenadier Officers Uniform set, ready to outfit with awards and display!

Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to sleeve: 24”
Shoulder to shoulder: 13.5"
Chest width: 18.5”
Waist: 19"
Hip: 21"
Front length: 31"

Pants:-
Waist: 14.5"
Inseam: 24.5"

Field Tunic (Feldbluse) Model 1936
Terms such as M40 and M43 were never designated by the Wehrmacht, but are names given to the different versions of the Model 1936 field tunic by modern collectors, to discern between variations, as the M36 was steadily simplified and tweaked due to production time problems and combat experience.

When the NSDAP came to power in early 1933 the Reichswehr, the armed forces of the Weimar Republic, were near the end of a two-year project to redesign the Army Feldbluse (field-blouse). Beginning in that year the new tunic was issued to the Reichsheer and then the rapidly growing Wehrmacht Heer, although minor design changes continued to be made until the appearance of the standardized Heeres Dienstanzug Modell 1936. The M36 tunic still retained the traditional Imperial and Reichswehr uniform color of grey-green "field gray" (feldgrau) wool, but incorporated four front patch pockets with scalloped flaps and pleats (on Reichswehr tunics the lower pockets were internal and angled). The front was closed with five buttons rather than the previous eight, and the collar and shoulder straps were of a dark bottle-green instead of the Reichswehr grey. Compared to the Weimar-era uniforms the skirt of the feldbluse was shorter and the tailoring was more form-fitting due to Germany's adoption of mechanized warfare: soldiers now spent much time in the confined space of a vehicle and a shorter jacket was less likely to pick up dirt from the seats. It also included an internal suspension system, whereby a soldier could hang an equipment belt on a series of hooks outside of the tunic. These hooks were connected to two straps inside the lining, which spread the weight of equipment without having to use external equipment suspenders. The M36 was produced and issued until the very end of the war, though successive patterns became predominant.

SS field uniforms were of similar appearance externally but to fit their larger patches had a wider, feldgrau collar, and the lower pockets were of an angled slash type similar to the black or grey SS service-dress. The second button of an SS Feldbluse was positioned somewhat lower, so that it could be worn open-collar with a necktie. Due to supply problems the SS were often issued army uniforms.