Germany, Ss. A Reichsführer-Ss Personnel Staff Sturmführer Tunic, Named, By George Höcker, C.1936

(SS Sturmführer Waffenrock). This is an extremely well preserved tunic belonging to Paul Kümmel, a Sturmführer on the Personnel Staff of the Reichsführer-SS. Constructed of smooth black wool, it features a collar fully trimmed with twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire piping. The collar is flanked by rank tabs, both constructed of black wool, trimmed with twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire piping, and measuring 40 mm (w) x 55 mm (l). The right tab presents plain, while the left tab bears three silvered bronze rank pips, indicating a rank of Sturmführer.

The right shoulder bears a single board, constructed of cardboard reinforced black wool, with three rows of twisted and rolled silver aluminum piping set around a pebbled, silvered, magnetic metal button holding the board in place. It is affixed to the other side of the tunic by machine stitching, and measures 22 mm (w) x 110 mm (l). Stitched onto the upper right arm is a SS Honour Chevron for the Old Guard, constructed of a black rayon V-shaped patch bearing silver aluminum wire tresses bisected by two black bands, and measuring 75 mm (w) x 70 mm (h). The upper left arm bears an integrated NSDAP-style SS armband, consisting of a red wool band, trimmed by rayon ribbon, bearing a central white rayon disk with a multi-piece black rayon mobile swastika. The cuffs of each sleeve are rolled up to a depth of 150 mm and securely held in place by two pieces of machine stitching. Stitched onto the left cuff is a title, 26 mm in width, constructed of black rayon ribbon, trimmed with rows of machine-embroidered silver aluminum wire, and bearing an inscription of “RF SS” in Fraktur and Runic script. Each breast of the tunic bears two pockets, opening with stylized horizontal flaps bearing reinforced buttonholes, the latter meeting pebbled, silvered, magnetic metal buttons. The upper left breast pocket has two sets of vertically-arranged threaded loops accommodating decorations with vertical pinbacks.

The tunic closes with four pebbled, silvered, magnetic metal buttons on the right breast meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left. The reverse of the tunic features dual pebbled, silvered, magnetic metal belt hooks. All buttons and hooks on the tunic are marked on the reverse with Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM) logos and code 142 for maker J. Brinker, Lüdenscheid. The interior is fully lined with black rayon with a silky finish and high sheen. There is a single interior pocket located at the top left breast. The pocket bears a manufacturer’s tag clearly reading “George Höcker, Uniformen und Zivil, Berlin W30, Eisenacherstr. 2” and named to “Herr Kümmel”, dated “24 June 1936”. The interior features an integrated belt apparatus, with each length of rayon bearing a silvered magnetic metal buckle. The black liner transitions into a pinstripe rayon through the arms. The tunic measures approximately 445 mm across the shoulders, with an arm length of 600 mm and an overall body length of 690 mm. It presents free of evident faults and is in an extremely fine condition.