Germany, Heer. The Service Tunic Of Generalleutnant Friedrich Dihm, By Ludwig Reichard

(Heer Generalleutnant Waffenrock). An extremely well-preserved Heer service tunic belonging to Generalleutnant Friedrich Dihm, constructed of smooth field-grey wool twill. The tunic features a forest-green collar, flanked on each side by tabs constructed of buckram-reinforced red wool. Both tabs bear machine-embroidered gold bullion wire insignia and measure 45 mm (w) x 85 mm (l). Each shoulder is adorned with a board constructed of cardboard-reinforced red wool. The boards each bear dual rows of gold bullion wire piping interwoven with a single band of silver aluminum wire piping, and are pinned with a silvered bronze rank pip. The boards, measuring 45 mm (w) x 110 mm (l), are secured to the tunic by machine stitching at the outer edge and by a gilded, pebbled metal button on the inner edge. The cuff of each sleeve is rolled up to a depth of 145 mm and is secured in place by two pieces of machine stitching. Each breast flap bears two pockets, all opening with stylized horizontal flaps with reinforced buttonholes meeting gilded, pebbled metal buttons. Above the upper left breast pocket is an insignia in the form of a forest green wool patch bearing a hand-embroidered gold bullion wire Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika. The eagle insignia measures 105 mm (w) x 44 mm (h). The upper right breast pocket bears three rows of vertically-arranged threaded loops for the accommodation of awards with vertical pinbacks, while an arrangement of horizontal threaded loops above the pocket facilitates a medal or ribbon bar. The tunic closes with six gilded, pebbled metal buttons on the right flap meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left flap. The exterior features are completed by a single blackened metal belt hook at the reverse. On the interior, a smooth black rayon liner transitions into a pinstripe design through the arms. A single interior pocket is located at the upper left breast, opening with a reinforced horizontal slit. Inside the pocket is a manufacturer’s label of “LUDWIG REICHARD”, with a handwritten recipient’s name of “GENERALMAJOR F. DIHM”, an issue number of “176”, and a date of “23. OKTOBER 1941”. An additional leather-reinforced horizontal slit at the lower left breast flap accommodates a dagger hanger. The remnant of a 1914 Iron Cross ribbon is visible on the left flap between two upper buttonholes. Integrated rayon loops are set into both armpits, and the interior features are completed by dual blackened metal hooks on the right of the collar meeting an equal number of loops of identical construction on the left collar. The tunic measures approximately 470 mm across the shoulders, with an arm length of 570 mm and an overall body length of 680 mm. Sporadic patches of mothing and material fatigue are evident to the exterior, but the tunic is in an overall near extremely fine condition.

Footnote: Friedrich Dihm was born on January 6, 1880 in Munich. He joined the 9th Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment in 1899, in the rank of Fahnenjunker (officer candidate). Dihm was promoted to Leutnant (lieutenant) in 1901. From 1905 to 1906, he served as battalion adjutant, and from 1906 to 1914 as regiment adjutant. He was promoted to Oberleutnant (senior lieutenant) in 1910 and to Hauptmann (captain) in 1913.

During the First War, Dihm initially served as a battery leader. Between September 1915 and 1916, he was an ordnance officer with the Staff of the 3rd Bavarian Army Corps. Until November of 1917, Dihm served as 2nd General Staff Officer of the 1st Bavarian Infantry Division, and for the remainder of the war in the same role for the Special Purpose General Command.

After the war, Dihm was taken over into the Reichswehr, being promoted to Major in 1922 and to Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel) in 1928. He retired from active military service in 1931, shortly after being promoted to Oberst (colonel). However, he was reactivated in 1933. From the mid 1930s to the outbreak of the Second War, Dihm served as the commander of Field Equipment Administration V, then VII. In October of 1939, he was made commander of the Senior Field Equipment Staff Oberost. After a short spell with the Staff of Artillery Commander (Artillerie-Kommandeur) 104 between April and July of 1940, he was made Field Equipment Inspector 3. Towards the end of 1940, Dihm served with the Field Equipment Staff West France after having been promoted to Generalmajor (major general). From December of 1940 to March of 1942, Dihm was the Army Supply Leader of the Army Supreme Command. For the next two years, until March of 1944, he led Artillery Commander (Artillerie-Kommandeur) 115. In October of 1942, Dihm had received his final promotion to Generalleutnant (lieutenant general). From March to August of 1944, he served as a General with Special Duties under General Field Marshall Rommel in Army Group B.

After being placed in the Führer Reserve for the rest of the year, Dihm retired at the end of 1944. After the end of the war, he was taken into captivity and remained a POW of the US forces until the summer of 1947. After returning home, Dihm settled in Starnberg where he died in 1956.