Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition Heer Infantry Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee (Junior NCO) M35 Waffenrock Dress Tunic. The base material of the uniform is made of a fine feldgrau colored wool. The wool shows signs of light use, with just a few small moth holes, and no major wear or tears. The collar is wrapped in the correct flaschengrün (dark bottle-green) wool, decorated a strip of 14mm flat diamond pattern silver flatwire tresse (Unteroffoziers-Tressen), sewn around the collar border. The base material of the two dress litzen on each side of the collar opening is Weiß (white), which was the Waffenfarbe (corps color) during WWII for Infanterie (Infantry) and Motorisiert Infanterie (Motorized Infantry). The collar, front closure, and other areas of the tunic bear piping of the same color. The two litzen themselves are woven from a fine silver flatwire thread. The collar shows some light wear with a bit of the underlying weave visible, but no major damage or stitching loss.

The “sew-in” style NCO schulterklappen (shoulder straps) of this Waffenrock have a dark bottle green base wool, with the correct NCO Tresse sewn around the edge except where they join the sleeve, and are piped in white. Both retaining buttons are still present, and are marked with unit number 13, which would usually be for a company. As there are no pips or other devices, these straps indicate the NCO rank of Unteroffizier, equivalent to a U.S. Army Sergeant. The front breast eagle is a correct NCO Pattern machine executed in silver wire, very neatly hand stitched to the chest in a fashion typical of wartime German tailor work.

Seven pebbled aluminum buttons adorn the front of the tunic and all appear to be originally attached, and the collar still retains the two hook and loop fasteners. There originally was an eighth button at the bottom to match the eight button holes, but it unfortunately has pulled off. All of the remaining buttons are marked on the back, though we cannot make out the maker. The lower French style cuffs of the sleeves have a dark bottle green based wool, and are adorned with white piping and NCO Tress flat silver borders. The sleeve litzen are the correct silver on white for infantry.

The interior is lined with a very nice olive colored cotton twill, with a pocket on the left interior, as is standard. It has size markings on the left inside over the pocket, which look to read:

94   41
40                  
82   61

M 36

These markings indicate that this overcoat was issued at the Munich Depot, however someone unfortunately "touched up" the date, so we can only tell that it was issued in the late 30s. There also looks to be a regimental marking under the size markings, but we cannot quite make it out. The size markings most likely indicate the following:

Chest: 94cm = 37.0 in.
Neck: 41cm = 16.1 in.
Torso Length: 40cm = 15.8 in.
Total Length: 82cm = 32.3 in.
Sleeve Length: 61cm = 23.2 in.

Featured on the right shoulder is a lovely 2nd Pattern Heer Army Marksmanship Lanyard without subsequent award acorn devices. This later version has the Heer Eagle on a shield, with the wreath and swords of the later version. The condition is very good, showing only light wear, and a bit of fraying in the center of the blade. The left chest has a two award medal bar indicating that they received the Iron Cross 1939 Second Class EKII, and the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords KvKII. Below this is a Wound badge in black, for 1-2 wounds.

Overall condition is very good, with the main condition issue being overall light staining and age toning, which is particularly evident on the white piping and insignia. This is a lovely Infantry Unteroffizier NCO Waffenrock with all the correct insignia and some lovely awards, ready to display!

Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 9.5"
Shoulder to sleeve: 22.5”
Shoulder to shoulder: 15"
Chest width: 16.5”
Waist: 15"
Hip width: 19.5"
Front length: 28"

The M35 Waffenrock dress tunic was introduced for wear by all ranks on June 29TH 1935 as the walking out, parade and ceremonial dress with the piped, stone grey long pants. The design of the M35 dress tunic was based on the Imperial German army’s service tunic but was a different color and generally of much higher quality. Originally all personnel were issued two M35 dress tunics but manufacture was discontinued in late 1939 or early 1940 and was to be reinstated at the successful conclusion of the war. Regulations of March 21ST 1940 stated that the M35 dress tunics that were no longer suitable for dress wear were to be modified and reissued to personnel of the replacement and reserve units for every day wear. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the army’s Kleiderkasse, (Clothing Account), system. The Officers and certain senior NCO’s could choose to purchase their uniforms from the armed forces clothing depots or to privately purchase garments of higher quality. Although enlisted personnel were issued their uniforms from government supplies they were also permitted to purchase privately tailored uniforms although the price may have been restrictive.