Germany, Heer. A Medical Hauptmann’s Field Tunic, Named Example, by Schneiderei Wittmann

(Heer Waffenrock für Hauptmann der Sanitätstruppe). A scarce and well-preserved Heer Medical Hauptmann’s field tunic, constructed of field-grey whipcord wool. It features a turned-down collar lined on the obverse with smooth dark green wool, and flanked on each side by tabs. The latter are constructed of dark green wool with buckram cores, are topped by dual machine-embroidered silver aluminum wire insignia bisected by braided blue threaded tresses, and measure 45 mm (w) x 70 mm (l). The shoulders are flanked by boards constructed of blue wool with card stock cores, topped by four bands of silver aluminum wire piping, and pinned with dual gilded pips surrounding Medical cyphers. Each measuring 30 mm (w) x 110 mm (l), the boards are secured to the tunic with machine stitching at the outer edge and by pebbled magnetic metal buttons on the inner edge. The cuff of each sleeve is rolled up to a depth of 145 mm and secured in place with a single piece of machine stitching. Four pleated pockets are set into the breast flaps, all closing with scalloped flaps perforated with reinforced buttonholes which in turn meet pebbled magnetic metal buttons. Stitched onto the tunic just above the upper right breast pocket is an insignia consisting of a dark green wool base bearing a hand-embroidered silver aluminum wire Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, measuring 105 mm (w) x 40 mm (h). Two vertically-arranged threaded loops are stitched into the upper left pocket for the accommodation of a decoration with a vertical pinback, while three horizontally-arranged loops are stitched into the tunic just above the same pocket to attach a medal or ribbon bar. It closes with six pebbled magnetic metal buttons on the right flap meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left flap. The interior is fully encompassed by a grey rayon liner which transitions into a pinstripe design through the arms. A single pocket is set into the upper left breast, with the interior revealing a maker’s label bearing a mark of “SCHNEIDEREI WITTMANN”, situated just above a handwritten owner’s surname of “WITZGALL” and a date of “MÄRZ 42”. An additional Wittmann label is stitched onto the liner at the collar. The tunic measures approximately 45 cm across the shoulders, with an arm length of 60 cm, and an overall body length of 69 cm. Issues consistent with age and light wartime usage are evident, and include some material fatigue to the wool base (with possible moth nips around the cuffs of both sleeves) and wire insignia, some loss of finish to the buttons, and moderate material fatigue and soiling of the interior liner. The tunic is an unmodified wartime example in near extremely fine condition.