BACKGROUND: The German army had a tradition, dating from the 1700's, of maintaining a separate branch of Administrative Official’s attached to the army to oversee all administrative functions, thus freeing up active army Officer’s and allowing them to concentrate on actual military matters. The Official’s were responsible for a wide variety of administrative tasks from Court Martial, Librarian, Supply, Technical and Meteorological Services, to School, Barracks, and Hospital administration. All Official’s fell under the auspices of the "Generalstab des Heeres", (General Staff of the Army), which was the highest military administrative staff during the Third Reich. Most officials careers consisted of four varying grades, of high, elevated, medium and low grade with slightly differing identifying insignia for each grade. The grade of the career was determined by the education and/or experience of the individual. Originally the uniformed Official’s were allotted an identifying dark green branch of service color, (waffenfarbe), with a nebenfarbe, (secondary color), to indicate their actual career. Regulations of March 21ST 1940, replaced the assorted nebenfarbe colors with a secondary color of light grey for all Officials regardless of career or function.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, private purchase, field-grey, wool/rayon blend construction tunic features a vertical, six button front closure with dual metal hooks and eyes positioned at the forward neckline. High grade Administration officer collar tabs, shoulder boards and breast eagle are all original period stitching. Buttons again all look original to the tunic. Original internal dagger hanger strap is still present. The tunic is roughly a size 36" chest. Shows the expected light age and use. Very nice untouched original tunic.