Germany, Heer. An M43 Tropical Field Blouse for a Flak/Artillery Unteroffizier

(Heer Tropen Feldbluse M43 für einen Unteroffizier der Flak/Artillerie). A well-preserved Heer M43 tropical field blouse for an Unteroffizier of Flak/Artillery troops, constructed of olive-drab cotton cloth. It features a turned-down collar which is flanked on each side by tabs which are constructed of silver-grey rayon with three golden-brown tresses, both measuring 25 mm (w) x 70 mm (l). The shoulders are topped by straps which are constructed of olive-drab cotton, trimmed with red piping, bordered by golden-brown tresses, and retain reverse integral straps which are perforated with reinforced buttonholes. Each measuring 45 mm (w) x 100 mm (l), the straps are fixed in place with integral loops at the outer edge, and with pebbled and brown painted buttons on the inner edge. The cuff of each sleeve has a vertical slit, fastening closed with a hidden button, allowing the sleeves to be rolled up as required for field operations. Four non-pleated buttons are set into the breasts, each closing with a horizontal flap perforated with a reinforced buttonhole, in turn meeting a brown pebbled button. Stitched onto the upper right breast just above the corresponding pocket is an insignia consisting of a golden-brown rayon backer bearing a machine-embroidered silver-grey Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, measuring 100 mm (w) x 40 mm (h). Multiple sets of loops are set into the upper left pocket for the accommodation of awards with vertical pinbacks. The blouse closes with five brown pebbled buttons on the right breast meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left. Stitched through the top buttonhole is a 1939 Iron Cross II Class ribbon. A single interior bandage pocket is set into the lower right flap, which is also stamped with size marks, a manufacture date of “43”, and a Reichsbetriebsnummer (RBNr.) of “0/1019/0007” for a documented but unidentified manufacturer of Wehrmacht tropical uniforms. Additional, unexplained handwritten numerals are also visible on the upper left shoulder and on the right breast beneath the buttons. The blouse measures approximately 42 cm across the shoulders, with an arm length of 60 cm, and an overall length of 74 cm when folded on a flat surface. Minor issues consistent with age and field wear are evident, and include trivial and sporadic soiling and fatigue to the base material (including evidence of the removal of an Afrikakorps cuff title to the right sleeve, with consequent disruption to the base material). It is accompanied by a khaki-tan cotton undershirt with a full button enclosure. This blouse, likely worn by an Afrikakorps serviceman during the closing stages of the North African campaign, remains in a near extremely fine condition.