Original German WWII Heer 21st Infantry Standard Bearer’s NCO M35 Waffenrock Dress Tunic with Marksmanship Lanyard & Medal Bar Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic rare Heer Infantry Standartenträger (Standard Bearer) Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee (Junior NCO) M35 Waffenrock Dress Tunic. During the NSDAP period A H and the military leadership believed in the morale-improving effects of music, and military bands were in use from units as small as a battalion up to entire branches. These of course would need someone to bear the new Troop Colors flags introduced in 1936, which were identical except for the background color of the flag, which matched the Waffenfarbe (Corps Color) of the unit. The flags had a background Iron Cross emblem with a wreathed closed-wing wehrmachtadler (Armed Forces Eagle) in the center, and swas’s in the corner.

While after 1939 structure changes made less units permitted to maintain a band, they were still maintained by many units. It then became customary for the unit commander to appoint an NCO as the standard bearer, and they would often wear a chained gorget when on parade as a sign of their special position. They also had an insignia worn on the right sleeve, the Abzeichen der Fahnen-und Standartenträger (Badge for Flag and Standard Bearers). These were BeVo machine embroidered on a field gray background using aluminum flat wire thread, as well as black and a third color that matched the units corps color. The design has a central closed-wing Wehrmachtadler with standard flags on either side, over a spray of oak leaves. These badges are extremely rare, and we have only ever had one before, which was cut off from a uniform.

This fantastic Waffenrock has this badge on the right sleeve, correctly sewn to only the outer wool shell of the tunic, indicating it was added during tailoring. We have examined the stitching and it was definitely added during the WWI period. As this is an infantry tunic, it has the correct White color on the badge. The tunic also still has the original high end tailor’s label on the rear, which reads:

MOHR & SPEYER A.G.
Stettin – Berlin – Hamburg

The base material of the uniform is made of a fine feldgrau colored wool. The wool shows no signs of any physical damage by misuse but does display light wear, staining and a bit of mothing. The collar is wrapped in a dark-green wool, decorated a strip of 14mm flat silver-grey woven rayon braid (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 infantry and 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 flatware thread. The collar and its insignia, are without any noticeable damage or mothing.

The “sew-in” style NCO schulterklappen (shoulder straps) of this Waffenrock have a dark green base wool, with the correct NCO Tresse sewn around the edge except on the sleeve ends, and are piped in white. They each have the number 21 stitched in white, which we believe are for the 21th Infantry Regiment. There are no rank pips or added bars, indicating the Junior NCO rank of Unteroffizier (Under Officer), equivalent to a U.S. Army Sergeant.

The front breast eagle is a correct NCO Pattern executed in silver wire. The eagle is very neatly hand stitched to the chest in a fashion typical of wartime German tailor work. It is only sewn to the outer layer, so it is definitely original to the tunic. Condition is excellent, with no fraying or oxidation that we can see. Eight silvered 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. The lower French style cuffs of the sleeves have a dark-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.

Featured on the right shoulder is a beautiful 2nd Pattern Heer Army Marksmanship Lanyard without subsequent awards. 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 mothing to the backing. There is also a three award medal bar on the left breast, which indicates the wearer received the Wehrmacht 4 Year Long Service Award, the “Czech Conquest” 1 October 1938 Commemorative Sudetenland Medal, and the German ww2 Africa Campaign Medal. There are also two thread loops below the bar where another award such as a wound badge may have been installed.

This fantastic Infantry Standard Bearer’s NCO Waffenrock with everything completely correct! It comes with some great accessories and is ready to display!

Approx. Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 9″
Shoulder to sleeve: 26”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16”
Chest width: 19”
Waist width: 16″
Hip width: 21”
Front length: 29″

 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.