Original German WWII Army Sergeant HBT Drilljacke – 1941 Original Items

Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a near mint condition 1941 dated German WWIi Army Herring Bone Twill constructed Drilljacke (Drill Work Jacket).

During the reorganization of the army in April 1933, a new grey drill uniform or “Drillichanzug” – a direct descendent of the Reichheer’s ‘Moleskinanzu”- was released. The new outfit was composed of off-white, at times greyish linen tunic (Drillichjacke) and trousers ‘Drillichose) with just the rank insignias on it. It was used by all recruits in quarters and was used exclusively as the working and campaign uniform by the troops. The tunic was furnished with five buttons, had a closed collar and two lower, no flap, bag pockets without buttons. It was hung by means of the inside waist strap.

Because of the conditions on the many fronts and the fact that conflicts quickly flared up across much of the Greater Germany landmass, the color of this fatigue uniform didn’t really match the new camouflage concepts. Just after February 1940, orders were issued to produce these uniforms in olive green.

During the summer months, the drill uniform began to be used showing the same insignia and emblems as that used with the combat jacket in open contravention of regulations. It was a completely practical uniform that moved the Army Ministry to demand a new, specific, summer tunic in early 1942 for combat and duty job fashioned after the ‘Feldbluse’.

Apparently, the advent of the new 1944 uniform affected the ‘Drillich’ although there is no record that an eventual summer version of this late uniform was ever developed.
 
By an order of February 12th, 1940 the Drilljacke had to be manufactured in green. This new version was very popular at the front during the summer as a cooler alternative to the combat jacket and also as an overall.

This near mint condition Drilljacke features five pebbled front buttons which are removable. The buttons are manufacturer marked with a letter A. The tunic bears ink maker markings, inspection markings, size markings and F41 which we believe stands for 1941 production date. It features a BeVo style embroidered breast eagle and Sergeant collar piping. Size is large and fits a man 5’10 and 180 lbs. We approximate the size to a US 40.