BACKGROUND: The German army utilized a wide variety of long trousers and breeches including the M35 dress pants, the standard straight legged long pants, assorted breeches, drill and field pants, tapered "keilhose" pants and assorted specialized pants designed for specific branch of service personnel such as the Mountain troopers pants and the Panzer and Assault Gunner’s pants. The standard issue long pants were a basic uniform item for all unmounted personnel and was obligatory wear for all ranks for the field dress. The long pants were also worn by EM/NCO’s with the service, guard and reporting dress and by NCO’s with the undress uniform. The long pants with branch of service piping down the outside leg seams were also worn by unmounted EM/NCO’s with the parade dress and by all ranks with the walking out dress. Originally the long pants were produced in stone grey fabric until 1940 when regulations dictated that newly produced long pants be constructed in field-grey fabric. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the army’s Kliederkasse, (Clothing Account), system. The Officers and certain senior NCO’s could choose to purchase their uniforms from the armed forces clothing depots or to privately purchase garments of higher quality. Although enlisted personnel were issued their uniforms from government supplies they were also permitted to purchase privately tailored uniforms although the price may have been restrictive. These pants appears to be a private purchase example.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Post-1940, field-grey wool/rayon construction, straight legged, private purchase long pants feature a vertical, three button French fly with an additional hook & eyelet situated at the waistband. Buttons are all original stitching. The pants are roughly size 32" waist. Superb, untouched original condition.