BACKGROUND: The Officer's service tunic followed the basic design of the EM/NCO's field blouse with the most readily visible difference, besides the insignia, being the turned up French cuffs. 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 Kleiderkasse, (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. The different branches of service within the German army were allocated a particular identifying waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), which was displayed as the base on the shoulder boards with cornflower blue being chosen for Medical personnel.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, private purchase, field-grey, wool/rayon blend construction tunic features a vertical, five button front closure with dual metal hooks and eyes positioned at the forward neckline. The tunic has four, pleated, patch front pockets with scalloped button down flaps. The interior of the tunic is fully lined in grey rayon. The buttons are all the pebbled, magnetic sheet metal type and all appear to have been re-stitched. The tunic is roughly size 32" chest.