Original German WWII Heer M43 NCO Combat Tunic Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. A Heer M43 NCO Tunic in excellent condition. The base of the tunic is constructed of a feldgrau wool. Four pockets adorn the front, with each pocket flap being the simple straight cut and fastened with painted pebbled zinc dish buttons. The tunics upper left breast pocket carries three sets of award loops which appear to have been on he tunic for a length of time. The standard Bevo EM collar litzen are machine sewn in place, and appear to be original to the tunic. The collar features a strip of silvered tress, indicating the wearer of this tunic was an NCO. The collar tress is neatly hand sewn in place. The slip-on style shoulder boards are in nice condition and feature the same style of silvered tress found on the collar. The edges of the boards are trimmed with a white piping, indicating the soldier was in the Infantry. Number 88 is attached to each shoulder board.

The embroidered Heer breast eagle is in good condition. The pocket and main closure pebbled dish buttons are green painted zinc and are in good condition with a few scattered marks from use. An Iron Cross Second Class Ribbon and a Eastern Front Medal ribbon have been neatly hand sewn through the second button hole and show light wear consistent with the tunic.

The interior of the tunic is lined cotton which is in overall good used condition showing only a few areas of sweat staining. The interior has four aluminum belt hooks. The interior of the tunic is ink stamped above the the medical pouch pocket with the tunics sizing, depot code, and year (43). A small medical kit is still enclosed in the medical pouch pocket. This is a very nice representative of the classic German Heer M43 NCO Tunic which shows signs of true combat use.

Approximate Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 9”
Shoulder to sleeve: 23”
Shoulder to shoulder: 20”
Chest width: 22”
Waist width: 21”
Hip width: 24”
Front length: 28″

The Deutsche Heer, the Army of the German Military during the Third Reich, was established in 1935. Over the next 10 years, German Army troops wore a huge variety of uniforms. Enlisted men generally wore uniforms issued from military depots. Most enlisted soldiers wore wool trousers and a tunic with four external pockets, known as a Feldbluse (field blouse). Before the war, soldiers also were issued a walking-out tunic, with flashy insignia, called the Waffenrock. Officers wore the same general uniform styles, but as officers had to supply their own uniforms, they usually wore tailor made versions. There were also myriad varieties of specialized uniforms worn by certain units or in specific situations, from the stylish black wool “wraps” worn by crews of armored fighting vehicles, to the drab HBT work uniforms. There were tropical and summer uniforms, and camouflage smocks for combat troops. For troops operating in winter climates, there were long wool overcoats, fur clothing articles, and padded jacket and trousers sets. In 1944, a new uniform was introduced, featuring a short jacket with only two external pockets. Most but not all German Army uniform jackets bore the Heer emblem of an eagle holding a swas.