German Army Field Tunic M36 (EM version)
CATEGORY: Version
SKU: 20.GOR.02.01.01.02.01.004.001
Estimated market value:
Estimated market value:
The tunic is fabricated from a coarse Army green wool, while the contrasting collar is in forest green wool, the underside of the collar in gray cotton. The shoulders are adorned with Infantry Enlisted Man's shoulder straps, the upper of each strap in forest green wool, trimmed in white piping and housing a dark gray zinc button with a pebbled upper in the reinforced button hole at the neck end, the underside in Army green wool, each board secured in place via straps that are gray cotton on one side and Army green wool on the other. Both sides of the collar at the opening have Infantry Enlisted Man's collar tabs in gray, moss green and white embroidery, on a forest green wool base. There is a single hook and eye at the opening of the collar, ensuring a snug fit at the neck line. There are four pockets on the front, one on each breast and larger ones at the waist on both sides, each designed with a decorative pleat and silvered aluminum buttons with pebbled uppers. The right breast above the pocket is enriched with an Army eagle insignia in gray and green embroidery. The left breast pocket has a row of two vertically-aligned horizontal loops on the pleat, flanked by a row of two vertically-aligned horizontal loops on the right side, in olive green threading, each for the placement of an award that have since been lost to time. The front has a vertical row of five silvered aluminum buttons with pebbled uppers, facing an equal number of reinforced button holes on the left side. Protruding from the second button hole from the top is the ribbon of the Iron Cross 2nd Class, the ends of the ribbon sewn in place on the underside of the opening. The sleeves have single-vented cuffs, each with a discreet gray plastic button securing the cuff closed, in addition to a decorative gray plastic button on the exterior of the right cuff, the left cuff missing its button. Sewn upon the right cuff is an Army Ordnance NCO (Waffenfeldwebel) trade badge, the insignia in yellow embroidery on a black wool base. The right shoulder is adorned with an Obergefreiter (Senior Lance-Corporal) rank insignia, incorporating two strips of fine silvered aluminum wire interlaced with white threading, in a chevron-formation, sewn upon an inverted triangular forest green wool base. The tunic is single-vented at the rear, with three stacked reinforced holes on either side at the waist, intended for belt support hooks. The inside is lined in brown cotton in selected locations, as per the design, with a single gray plastic button at the top, near the opening on both sides, plus a small button down pocket near the opening on the right side. The lining is stamped in black ink "Wernofeh" (WERkgemeinschaft der NOthilfe FEHrenbach = worker's cooperative) above a series of numbers "41, 46, 108, 68, 114, 61" and the code "E.38" near the opening on the right side. The tunic has a brown cotton strap in the collar for hanging the tunic on a hook and measures 440 mm across the shoulders and 590 mm in length overall. It exhibits repair in the green wool on the exterior, especially on the entire right front, the right armpit and on the rear, with scattered mothing, the interior lining showing wear and soiling from active use. As worn.
The Field Tunic was introduced on April 1, 1933 and became one of the most recognisable embodiments of German military fashion during the 1930s and 1940s. It is also commonly known as the Field Blouse or the Service Tunic. It is a single breasted jacket that was worn by all ranks in the German Heer, with differences in quality between the ranks and slight modifications over the years.
The tunic’s colour was designated “feldgrau”, field-grey, even though it has a distinct green shade. Gradual changes over the years eventually led to a darker, olive-brownish colour. Initially, the tunic was made of wool. However, with the outbreak of the war, material shortages meant a gradual deterioration of quality occured. As the war went on, the percentage of plant fibres mixed in kept increasing.
The individual changes accumulated to several distinct models, known as the M(odel) 33, M36, M43, and M44. However, these are terms given to the tunics by collectors long after the war, and have no official period character.
The initial tunic of 1933 has a front closure with five buttons. There are four box-pleated buttoned patch pockets with scalloped flaps, two on the chest and two on the hips. There is also a buttoned inside pocket on the right front. The fall-down collar was initially made from basic cloth, but this changed to badge cloth in December of 1934. The sleeves have no cuff turn backs. The tunic has belt hook eyelet holes in the front and back on both sides of the waist to attach removable metal belt hooks, which are used to secure the belt.
A few smaller changes were made between 1935 and 1936, with the most recognisable being the change of the collar colour to blue-green. Additionally, the same colour was now used for the cloth backing of all insignia used on the uniform. This was done due to an order dated to September of 1935. This model of the Tunic is known as M36.
Changes that began to affect the tunic during the war years and culminated in the M43 version already began in 1940. That year, the colour of the collar went back to the basic field-grey of the tunic. In May of 1941, the tunic was changed to include a six button front closure. In 1942, the pleats were removed from the pockets, and in 1943, straight pocket flaps were introduced. These changes were all made due to practical and economical reasons. Using fewer production steps saved time and material.
Alterations of older uniforms to have them in keeping with newer regulations were common. Private alterations of uniforms, sometimes against regulations, were also done, often just to make the uniform more fashionable. Because of this, few uniforms will actually conform to the ideal description of any tunic model.
In an effort to standardise and modernise the Field Tunic, a completely new and overhauled design was introduced on September 25, 1944. The new tunic is considerably shorter, in keeping with the fashion of the time, and lacks the jacket skirt. It only has two breast pockets, both of which have no pleats, and straight pocket flaps. The hip pockets disappeared, since there was no room for them anymore on the shortened tunic. However, the tunic has two inside buttoned breast pockets, closed with a button. The sleeves have two button holes and one button for two degrees of tightening. It also has metal belt hooks to secure the belt. The collar was usually worn open, contrary to the earlier tunics.
NCOs (non-commissioned officers) wore tunics identical to those worn by EMs (enlisted men). The only difference was in the tunic’s insignia. For more information on these, see the insignia subfolders. The only difference that was part of the tunic is the aluminum Tresse (braiding) along the edge of the collar.
Tunics worn by officers underwent fewer changes and, from the mid-30s on, basically remained the same. They are of better, tighter fit than those of NCOs and EMs. Officer tunics’ sleeves have deep turn-back cuffs. They also have a white buttoned-in collar. Generals wore the same tunic as officers, but with gilt buttons.
Apart from the regular officer tunic, there was also a piped officer’s field tunic (Offiziersdienstrock mit Vorstößen). It is a mix of the Field Tunic and the Dress Tunic, with branch colour piping down the front overlap of the coat, down the collar’s front edge and around its lower edge, and around the upper edge of the cuffs. However, it lacks the Dress Tunic’s cuffs and cuff Litzen (braids). This version was introduced on July 12, 1937.
Soldiers stationed in northern Africa, and later also in southern Europe, wore a Tropical tunic that was made of lightweight canvas or cotton drill. The design is the same as that of the regular tunic. It ranges in colour from light brown to olive-green to khaki to sand/tan-coloured. Two models exist, one with pleats on the pockets, one without. Generals and officers would normally only wear the pleated version. The Tresse of the NCOs is made of light brown cotton or artificial silk.
In central and northern Europe, soldiers wore a reed-green denim (“Drillich”) tunic during the summer. It is also known as the herringbone twill blouse. Once more, the design is the same as that of the regular tunic, but the material is light canvas or cotton. Similar to the Tropical tunic, the denim tunic comes in a model with pleated pockets, as well as one without pleats. Generals and officers would normally only wear the pleated version.
Comments
Sign in to comment and reply.
COMMUNITY
ACCOUNT
Scroll Top
