Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic private-purchase example of a scarce Imperial German WWI Prussian Officer’s M-1915 "Litewka" Field Tunic. The "Litewka" is a double breasted style of uniform tunic, the name of which apparently has origins of being "Lithuanian" style, and these are usually only seen as dress tunics. However, this is a rare FIELD bluse or tunic, intended for wear in battle and not during fancy dress parties. This example comes with an original photograph found in the pocket, depicting an officer wearing this exact model and style of tunic, with an Iron Cross 2nd Class ribbon stitched in the exact same spot as on this tunic. The only difference is that the shoulder boards in the photo have the numerals 50 attached, but inspection of the uniform’s shoulder boards show that they both originally had numbers attached which were later removed, so given these facts, we believe that the image shows the soldier wearing this exact Litewka.

As officers were required to provide their own uniforms, there is a great degree of variety with the details amongst surviving examples. This example is of a lighter gray wool with the same red piping. It features two waist pockets, which have flaps that can be placed inside the pockets if desired. Piped in red along the front edge, collar, and turnback cuffs, which at this point during German / Prussian history was for an Infantry soldier. The tunic is secured by two rows of six copper buttons, all marked on the back with HOCHFEINE QUALITÄT / *A&S*.

The Tunic is fitted with button-attached Infantry Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant) shoulder boards, with two double rows of silver flatware "Russia braid" around the edge, which have black chevrons woven into them. The underlay is white, which indicated infantry from 1915-1919, but could also indicate that the wearer as a member of the I, II, IX, X, XII Armeekorps, and I Bavarian Korps. At the time (1915) German forces were changing the meaning of the colors on shoulder boards from Korps membership to the type of unit, which makes accurate identification quite difficult as units were shifted around during mobilization.

The interior has a light tan/gray polished cotton/wool lining, with an interior pocket on the inside chest on the left side. There is no maker mark or other markings we can see, typical of a bespoke example. The uniform is in good condition, considering its age, and just how rare WWI Imperial German uniforms are. There is very little mothing we can see, and also very little in the way of major damage or repairs. It shows no evidence of post war user in the Reichswehr, and is definitely a great example. The photograph was found in the interior pocket.

Imperial German uniforms are incredibly hard to find on the market today, both officer and enlisted. Aside from the attrition of clothing worn in the trenches, much was burned as a result of the Spanish Influenza Pandemic and lice infestations. What survived was either worn out by veterans who repurposed their old uniforms as everyday clothing following the bleak years during the massive depression that raged throughout Germany, or, was simply repurposed or converted for use with the Reichswehr.

An excellent addition to a First World War collection!