Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic 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. We have never had one of these before, and they appear to be quite hard to come by.

As officers were required to provide their own uniforms, there is a great degree of variety with the details amongst surviving examples. It is made of a fine feldgrau (field gray) wool gabardine material, with a gray rayon faux silk collar. 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 buttons on the front closure are all bronze finished, and bear an embossed Prussian crown. As far as we can see, all are marked 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 red, which at the time usually meant that the wearer was in the infantry as a member of the III, IV, XI XIII, XV, or XIX Armeekorps, and each has a metal number 13 on the top, which should be for the 13th (1st Westphalian) Infantry "Herwarth von Bittenfeld" Regiment. 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.

Interior has an olive gray twill polished cotton/wool lining, with interior pockets on the inside chest on both sides. 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 Feldgrau 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.

Imperial German Feldgrau 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!

Approximate Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 9.5"
Shoulder to sleeve: 26”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16”
Chest width: 19"
Waist width: 20"
Hip width: 23"
Front length: 35.5"