Germany, Heer. An Army (Heer) Panzer Major Officer’s Tunic, by Christian Schwarz & Sohn

(Major der Panzertruppen Waffenrock). This is a well-preserved Heer (Army) Panzer major’s tunic constructed of a field-grey wool exterior with a rayon-blended full interior lining. The collar, constructed of smooth black wool, is neatly lined from end-to-end with pink woven “Waffenfarbe” piping that continues down the length of the breast flaps, indicating that this uniform was worn by a member of the Panzertruppen (armoured troops). The inside right collar has two metal hooks meeting an equal number of metal loops on the left allowing for a the collar to sit flush with the neck area. The collar is flanked on the left by a tab composed of a pink wool base bearing machine-embroidered twisted silver aluminum bullion wire columns, indicating that this tunic was worn by an officer. Resting upon the shoulders are two boards constructed of a thick pink wool base bearing four rows of twisted silver aluminum bullion wire in an interwoven pattern, denoting the rank of major. The boards are secured to the tunic by stitching at the exterior of the shoulder, and by a single pebbled metallic button on the interior. At the ends of the sleeves, the cuffs have been rolled up to a depth of 155 mm and are securely held in place by stitching at the front and rear. The cuffs are similarly bordered across the upper circumference by pink Waffenfarbe piping. Each breast of the tunic has two pockets opened with a stylized flap bearing a single reinforced buttonhole meeting a pebbled metallic button. The upper and lower levels of the top left breast pocket has two sets of stitched loops to accommodate horizontal and vertical pinback decorations. The breasts of the tunic are closed by six pebbled metallic buttons on the right meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left. All buttons on the tunic are stamped “Extra Fein” on the reverse side. The interior of the tunic is lined with a grey, rayon-blended liner with a silky-smooth texture. The sleeves are lined with identical material in a multi-coloured pinstripe pattern. The interior breasts are also lined at the button area with thick, field-grey wool strips. There is a large interior pocket located at the upper left breast, opening with a reinforced horizontal slit. Inside the pocket there is a stitched label clearly bearing the manufacturer’s name of “Christian Schwarz & Sohn, München”, a manufacture date of “1.4.1943”, and a purchaser name of “Robert Lautner”. Underneath this pocket sits a smaller pocket with a reinforced horizontal slit opening that connects to the exterior lower left breast pocket. Above this interior pocket is an adjustable fabric strap secured between the interior liner and exterior of the tuning, the end of which bears a metal clip. The top rear of the interior liner is stamped “Eigentum der Bavaria Filmkunst GmbH”, indicating that this tunic was once the property of Bavaria Film, a large film production studio headquartered in Munich. The tunic measures approximately 490 mm across the shoulders, 670 mm in arm length, with an overall approximate length of 740 mm. A commensurate amount of wear from use is evident, including a detached right collar tab stored in the upper left breast pocket; a partially detached left collar tab; fatigue to the wool at the neck and wrist areas; several small holes at the front right shoulder and slight fatigue to the wool at the rear top left shoulder, and; repairs and patchwork on the interior of the collar and upper part of the liner. The tunic presents in an overall very fine condition.