Germany, Wehrmacht. A Generalmajor’s Service Tunic, by Roger Kauert

(Wehrmacht Feldbluse für einen Generalmajor). A well-preserved Generalmajor’s service tunic, constructed of a field-grey cotton/rayon blended cloth base with a gentle whipcord weave. It features a turned-down collar, fully lined with a layer of dark green wool, and which is flanked on each side by tabs. The former are constructed of red wool with buckram cores and topped by gold bullion wire Litzen, and measure 40 mm (w) x 90 mm (l). The shoulders are topped by boards constructed of red wool bases with card stock cores, which bear lengths of silver aluminum wire piping interwoven with gold bullion wire piping. Each measuring 45 mm (w) x 120 mm (l), the boards are secured in position with stitching at the outer edge and with pebbled and gilded metal buttons on the inner edge. Stitched onto the upper left arm is a Jäger insignia, constructed of a dark green wool base with multi-coloured machine embroidery, measuring 50 mm (w) x 60 mm (h). The cuff of each sleeve is rolled up to a depth of 14 cm and is fixed in place with two pieces of stitching. Four pleated pockets are set into the breast flaps, all closing with scalloped flaps perforated with reinforced buttonholes meeting gilded and pebbled metal buttons. Stitched onto the upper right breast just above the corresponding pocket is an insignia consisting of a dark green wool base bearing a hand-embroidered gold bullion wire Wehrmacht eagle, measuring 95 mm (w) x 40 mm (h) overall. Loops are distributed over and around both of the top pockets for the accommodation of decorations and a ribbon bar. The flaps close with five gilded and pebbled metal buttons on the right side meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left. Stitched through the second buttonhole is a ribbon for the 1939 Iron Cross II Class. The interior is fully encompassed by a multi-piece field-grey rayon liner which transitions into a pinstripe design through the arms. A single interior pocket is set into the upper left breast, while two integral straps emanate from the waist retain three functional metal snap buttons to provide an internal belt. The collar retains a tailor’s label reading “ROGER KAUERT, BERLIN-HAMBURG-DREDEN-ISERLOHN”. The tunic measures approximately 43 cm across the shoulders, with an arm length of 58 cm, and an overall body length of 70 cm when folded on a flat surface. Issues consistent with age and refurbishment are evident, and include evidence of restoration of the collar tabs and shoulder boards (with resulting disruption to the underlying material), replacement of some the buttons, a crude modification to lengthen one end of the interior belt, and some fatigue to the base material of both the exterior and interior. This period-refurbished example remains in a very fine condition.