BACKGROUND: Brown was to become the official color of the NSDAP and SA by circumstance rather than design. A large stockpile of discounted, surplus WWI tropical brown shirts and fabric, intended for wear in East Africa, were located in Austria in 1924 and purchased by the NSDAP as a temporary measure to bring uniformity of dress to party members. Thus the brown shirt was officially introduced, and retained, as the basic uniform item for NSDAP and SA personnel in November 1926, and was eventually adopted by other political organizations such as the HJ, DAF, and the NSKK.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A light tan, cotton twill construction, waist-length service shirt featuring a lay-down collar and five button front closure. The shirt has two pleated patch breast pockets with scalloped button-down flaps. The quadruple darted sleeves have fold-back French cuffs with dual button closures for the removable buttons. All of the buttons have been removed as has the insignia. Original black collar piping does remain. Open seam to the right shoulder where a shoulder strap has been removed. Four vertical belt loops are to the exterior waistband. Chest is roughly a 38". Nice shirt.