Work In progress

Officers M36 style Feldbluse

Pictured above is a 1936 style feldbluse for an oberleutnant pioneer. The german soldiers were fashion oriented and a vast variation of modified feldbluse exist. The officers were not given their uniforms from a depot as the enlisted, but received a monthly allowance to pay for their uniforms. They had their uniforms tailored. The heeres verordnungsblatt shows the changes in the regulations. A very wide variety exists. The above pictured is shortened, altered pockets  and lacks the french cuffs often seen after 1936. The belt hooks at the front is removed when shortening the jacket, they are still present at the back.

Picture left above shows the fully lined interior of feldbluse. Middle picture shows the pointy green collar with two hooks for closure on the front wich is a typical feature for the officers feldbluse. Picture right shows the size marking and the pocket underneath. Note the lack of a button to the pocket, a button added in 1937 according to literature.  It lacks the extra stitching above the scalloped upper pockets used until 1935. This tunic has padding to the shoulders.

There is a large variety of how these feldbluse for officers were made and many are "restored" or rebuilt by collectors long after the war. As most tunics, the eagle has been re attached to the Tunic postwar. Allied regulations said insignia bearing swasticas was to be removed. Almost all tunics, visors and mutze have reattached insigna if they were kept in prisoner camps. Often removed and placed in the pockets. Remains of old stitching, discoloration etc shows the re application of insignia. Many garments have been restored by professional tailors using wartime materials.

The enlisted feldbluse year 1936 was a popular uniform. It was made of quality materials and later modifications to save materials and production hours, were often modified by soldiers to resemble year 1936 by adding green collars, pleated pocket lookalikes etc. As with the field gear the feldbluse was simplified and quality in materials worsened due to lack of resources and the need to up manufacture. The green collar disappeared from production around 1940.

With a striking similarity to the British battledress, the model 44 Tunic came in October 1944. It was ordered to be olivegreen in colour and the Wehrmacht left the feldgrau line of tunics, a tradition based long before ww1. Believed to be a result of both development and resource shortages this shortened tunic was to enter service in all branches and were issued together with the M44 “Sturmgepack” rucksack.

The order came in october 1944 when the conflict was close to its end. Therefore few pictures of the Tunic in battle exists. This is also probably the reason why several of the m44 tunics are in very good condition. It is similar to the M43 tunics, but lacks both the closing ppins at the collar and the lower pockets. It was issued together with the new M44 trousers.

Luftwaffe mechanics suit

To keep the airplane in the air, it needed munitions, radio, oil, gas and repairs. The mechanics were issued a originally black coverall looking suit giving them the nickname "Die schwarze maenner". Made in black to conceal dirt an oil. Before the outbreak of the war the colour changed to bluish tone. Made from a HBT looking cotton it was thick, heavy and lined. It features tie ins bot at the waist and at the feets. This example is lined inside the arms with a rayon looking fabric (same as many feldbluse after 1943). Most insignia found on these when comparing to wartime pohotos, are likely addons postwar. Lw mechanis were often also issued a black overseas cap.

Picture right showing the Tie in at the waist, the HBT cotton fabric and the lining inside.

Later in the war these suits were aslo given to personell at flak guns.

This example was handed over from the person who took it from the germans. It comes from the Sola airport in Norway. German equipment as these suits, flying boots etc was highly sought after by the civilian population after the war for civilian use.