|
Tunics
At the opening of the 20th Century, the major European armies
were still clad in the traditionally bright coloured uniforms that had been developed
between the Middle Ages and the end of the 19th Century. By the end of the First
World War, however, British scarlet tunics had given way to khaki, as had Belgian black;
French red pants had given way to the more neutral horizon-blue, and the German Army had
firmly established its soldiers in Feldgrau (field grey) - actually a warm shade of green.
The German Army went through many uniform styles during the
First World War, and these served as the model for further development between the wars.
By 1939, two major types of dress uniform were prevalent, and the Feldbluse (Field
Blouse) was firmly established as field wear.
|
Dienstrock The Dienstrock was Introduced for wear in the Reichswehr during the
short lived Weimar era. Replaced by the Feldbluse in 1935, it was given (like many
uniform components) an unspecified wearing out period, though it was restricted to walking
out and dress wear rather than field wear.
This was a high quality garment made of fine gabardine wool in
blue-grey.
Front Closure: 8 button
front
Collar: Dark green (NCO
tress on top and front)
Pockets: Two breast
pockets with box pleats and scalloped flaps. Lower diagonal slit pockets with
external buttoned down scalloped flap. |
 |
|
Cuffs: French cuffsRear
Vent: Reverse tail skirt vent with two belt ramp style buttons to top.
Buttons: Pebbled aluminum.
Piping: Tunic front.
Interior: Fully lined in
rayon, with suit-lining in sleeves. Lining has a vertical slash pocket to left breast and
two vertical slash pockets at tail skirt vent. Lining also has a horizontal slash to
reverse of left hip pocket for dagger/sword hanger.
|
|
Waffenrock The Waffenrock (also called
the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Tunic) was introduced on 29 June 1935 for walking out and
parade dress. The tunic was in high quality blue-grey gabardine wool.
Front Closure: 8 button front
Collar: Dark green (NCO
tress on top and front)
Pockets: No external
pockets.
Cuffs: Swedish cuffs in
dark green, with false waffenfarbe cuff patches and buttons. |
 |
|
| Rear Vent: Tail skirt
vent with scalloped piping on either side, with three buttons as well as, two belt ramp
style buttons (to support the waistbelt).
Buttons: Pebbled aluminum.
Piping: Tunic front,
collar bottom, and cuff tops, as well as on either side of tail skirt slash.
Interior: Lining has one
horizontal slash left breast pocket and two vertical slash tail skirt pockets.
At right - a damaged print, but one showing
the classic details of the waffenrock. This young soldier appears to be from a
Machine gun unit, with white piping on his uniform and an "M" cypher on the
shoulder strap. The jacket appears poorly fitted, with the material bunched under
the arm and front of the jacket also bunched. |
 |
|
Cuff
patches from a waffenrock; similar to the collar tabs, the cuff patches were of uniform
cloth in the wearer's waffenfarbe, with shiny aluminum braid. The button was not
functional and did not secure the cuffs, which were in reality sewn shut. The cuff
patches and buttons emulated earlier style uniforms from previous centuries on which the
cuffs, lapels and tunic skirts could be worn either open or closed, revealing the
interior, or "facing" of the uniform. |
|
|
