Germany, Heer. A Gebirgsjäger Oberleutnant’s Service Tunic

(Dienstrock für Gebirgsjäger Offizier). This is an extremely well-preserved Heer Gebirgsjäger service tunic, constructed of field-grey gabardine wool. The tunic features a collar constructed of forest green wool, flanked on each side by rank tabs. The latter are similarly constructed of forest green wool and each bear dual silver aluminium wire insignia, bisected by forest green threaded bands. Each tab measures 40 mm (w) x 70 mm (l). It is also adorned with shoulder boards, each constructed of card stock-reinforced light green wool and bearing four bands of silver aluminum wire piping. The boards are in turn each pinned with a single zink rank pip and are affixed to the tunic with machine stitching at the outer edge and by a pebbled, silvered zink button on the interior. Each board measures 30 mm (w) x 110 mm (l), with approximately 10 mm of the board inserted into the structure of the tunic. Stitched onto the upper right arm is a Gebirgsjäger insignia consisting of an oval forest green wool patch bearing a central edelweiss, itself constructed of silver aluminum wire petals and gold bullion wire stamen, with a light green threaded stalk. It is set within a stylized silver aluminum wire border, with the insignia measuring 48 mm (w) x 65 mm (h) overall. Each breast flap bears two pockets, opening with horizontal flaps and reinforced buttonholes meeting pebbled, silvered zink buttons. Above the upper right breast pocket is an officer’s insignia in the form of a forest green wool patch bearing a hand-embroidered, silver aluminum wire Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika. The eagle insignia measures 105 mm (w) x 40 mm (h). The upper left breast pocket has two sets of vertically-arranged threaded loops, one set of horizontally-arranged threaded loops, and a single reinforced eyelet for the accommodation of decorations with vertical, horizontal, and screw pinbacks, respectively.

The tunic is closed with six pebbled, silvered zink buttons on the right flap meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left. A 1939 Iron Cross ribbon is stitched to the tunic and loops through the third buttonhole. The interior features a complete field-grey liner constructed of captured Italian herringbone cloth. Three black ink stamps are located near the left shoulder and armpit, but have since been rendered illegible. Each armpit bears an integrated cloth loop. The interior features are completed by dual metal hooks on the right of the collar meeting an equal number of loops on the left, facilitating a flush fit with the wearer’s neck during use. The tunic measures approximately 430 mm across the shoulders, with an arm length of 605 mm and an overall body length of 650 mm. The collar tabs show evidence of replacement, with some minor material fatigue to the exterior as well as some soiling of both the exterior and interior. The tunic is in an overall near extremely fine condition.