BACKGROUND: The first Third Reich era shirt was introduced with the newly developed field blouse on April 1ST 1933. Originally the army issue shirt was a white collar-less pattern which was worn as an undergarment with a separate button on collar. In 1941 a more practical, second pattern shirt with an integral collar was produced in a reed green fabric and could be worn without the field blouse in warmer climates. On June 23RD 1943 a third and final pattern shirt in a grey/green fabric with an integral collar was introduced for wear. Originally these third pattern shirts were a pull-over design as with the earlier two patterns but later models were produced with a full button up front plaquet. Besides the standard shirts army personnel also utilized knit vests and sweaters. Originally there were two types of vests with a specific model for Mountain personnel and another model for all other branches of service. Regulations of March 15TH 1936 introduced the M36, pullover, V-neck sweater to replace the earlier utilized vests. The M36 sweaters were also issued in a crew neck style. The M36 sweaters were to be issued to all EM/NCO personnel for the winter season, (September 15TH to April 15TH), with other winter garments and were to be returned to the units clothing depot in April for storage, repair and cleaning to be reissued the following September. In mid-1942 a new crew neck, pullover, sweater was introduced to replace the M36 sweater and both were worn for the duration of the war. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniform items 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 uniform items 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 uniform items although the price may have been restrictive.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Knitted, mid-grey wool/rayon blend construction, pullover, V-neck sweater with a repeating, vertically ribbed, knitted weave. The sweater has dual-ply cuffs and a single-ply waistband. The collar, cuffs and waistband all have larger, more pronounced, vertical ribbing. MANY holes and repairs. The sweater is roughly size 36" chest although the stretchy fabric would accommodate larger sizes. Scarce issue sweater.