BACKGROUND: SS uniforms evolved from the early "traditional" brown shirt uniform, to the black and earth grey service uniforms on July 7TH 1932 to the first field-grey uniforms in 1935. In May 1936 a modified field-grey uniform was officially introduced and was worn through-out the war with minor alterations that basically followed the same modifications of the army style uniforms. The M43 field blouse was basically a continuation of the modifications of the M33 field blouse which had evolved into the M36, the M40 and the M42 field blouses. Modifications to the M42 field blouse included the elimination of the separate internal belt support hook suspenders with them being replaced by short integral straps in April 1943, and the replacement of the scalloped button flaps on the front pockets to straight flaps to simplify production in mid-1943. These alterations resulted in the M43 field blouse, which was to be the final variant of the original M33 field blouse.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Field-grey, wool/rayon blend construction field blouse features a vertical, five button front closure with a single metal hook and eye at the neckline. The field blouse has four, non-pleated, patch, front pockets with straight edged button down flaps. The field blouse has four sets of two, vertically aligned, stitched eyelets with one set situated at either side of the front closure and two to either side of the back panel, at the waistline. The eyelets were designed for the belt support hooks. The belt support hooks are absent. The reverse of the field blouse has two vertical tapering darts and a central vertical tail skirt vent. The straight cut sleeve cuffs each have a vertical slash to the outside seam for the typical fit adjustment buttons. The upper left sleeve has a second pattern, machine embroidered SS sleeve eagle in silvery/grey threads on a cut-out black wolol base which is machine stitched to the sleeve in the typical zig-zag fashion. If you look closley, above the eagle, you can see where the original volunteer sheeve shield was at one time. The shoulder straps fabric retaining loops and buttons are all intact. The lay down collar has a reed green cotton/rayon blend backing with an HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), weave. The collar features a blank, black wool rank collar tab to the left side and a machine embroidered SS runes in silver/grey threads to the right side. The collar tabs are machine stitched to the collar. The interior of the field blouse is partially lined in rayon, with the lining running down the front closure panel edges and to the upper breast and back panels. The right front tail skirt lining has the original field dressing pocket. The lining also has four, vertical, fabric straps with four stitched eyelets to each, positioned to the reverse of the exterior belt support hook eyelets. The field blouse shows areas of moderate to heavy nap wear and age and usage toning through-out, a couple of crude handstitched repairs and numerous small moth holes. There are two 2cm holes on the underside of the right arm. The buttons are all the field-grey painted, pebbled, alloy type and all retain assorted remnants of their original paint but most appear to have their original stitching. Original size markings are still present. The field blouse is roughly size 34" chest. It belonged to a member of Estonian SS-Btl "Narva" (Estnisches SS-Freiwilligen Panzergrenadier Bataillon "Narwa"). Original untouched, field worn tunics are super hard to find!