N016895 SA BROWN SHIRT. (Diensthemd)

BACKGROUND: Brown was to become the official color of the N.S.D.A.P. and S.A. 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 Nazis as a temporary measure to bring uniformity of dress to their party members. In November of 1926 the brown shirt was officially introduced, and retained, as the basic uniform item for the N.S.D.A.P. and S.A., and was eventually adopted by other political organizations such as the H.J., D.A.F., and the N.S.K.K.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The Brownshirt is made from a heavy ribbed cloth. The condition is very nice, with only very slight wear to the 'high spots' on creases, edges, seams etc. of the cloth which is typical for a worn garment. The collar tabs are orange yellow badge cloth and hand tacked on. The right one has black chain stitched 2/26 and the rank tab has a single pip (perfect gilding) and single Tresse with a ribbed texture and a black center stripe. Tabs indicate indicates that this was for an Oberscharführer assigned to the 2nd Sturm, 26th Standarte of Gruppe Mitte. The white and black twisted cord on the collar has been hand tacked on, and shows age and light soiling. The single shoulder strap is hand tacked onto on the right shoulder and made from identical black and white twisted cord on orange yellow badge cloth underlay; there is an intact paper RZM tag on the reverse. The left sleeve has a cotton NSDAP armband hand tacked on, with an intact paper RZM tag on the reverse. The swastika is made of machine sewn on sections of black ribbed tape. The breast pockets are pleated with slightly scalloped flaps. The left side has a pair of badges with loops that are a different thread from the insignia thread. The nicely marked SA Sports badge and the very scarce unmarked enamel Freikorps Grenzschutz Ost Freiwilligenverband v. Kretschmann badge both appear to be original to the Brownshirt, as the cloth is slightly darker underneath, and both badges have outlines in the cloth where they touch, with some verdigris from the Sports Badge catch. is also hand tacked on. There are five stitched in pebbled belt hooks and the interior is unlined. Under pleats etc. the cloth is a different shade of brown as you would expect from sunlight during wear or age. The front buttons are hollow 21mm smooth, gilt metal. Typically there is a horn button top and bottom. On this example though, the top button is a 14mm stamped zinc button (as found on trousers of the period), and the thread is the same as all the hand stitched round holes for the metal button shanks. As well, the bottom front button is a gilt 17mm identical to the one on the shoulder strap, and the button hole is also hand stitched from the same thread, so it was made like this. Chest size is roughly 40. Also included is a unmarked brown Political neck tie. Excellent example!

GRADE ****1/4                             PRICE $

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