Germany, Heer. A Private Purchase Decorated Oberleutnant Artillery Waffenrock

This is an extremely well preserved and fine quality manufacture Wehrmacht Heer (Army) Artillery Waffenrock tunic. It is constructed of medium grain field-grey herringbone pattern wool, with dark green collars. It is piped in red, denoting artillery, along its collar, tunic flap, and cuffs, and is adorned with Oberleutnant rank shoulder boards. The boards are that of the sew-on type, constructed of four rows of tightly intertwined silver aluminum bullion wire in a “U” formation, with a button hole, red piping, a single silvered aluminum rank pip, as well as a gilded “14” unit number, all fastened to the uniform via a single silvered pebbled aluminum button. The collar is adorned with standard officer’s collar tabs, constructed of equally fine quality silver aluminum bullion wire with red piping. The cuffs feature similar, but smaller tabs, two per cuff, along with a silvered pebbled aluminum button on fastened to each tab. There is a dual hook and eye at the opening of the collar, ensuring a snug fit at the neck line. This Waffenrock does not have frontal pockets, but a standard issue officer’s bullion eagle still adorns the right chest, directly above where a pocket usually sits, constructed of twisted, rolled, and flat silver bullion wire, interlaced with threading to give definition to the wings and wrath, on a hunter green wool base. Along the opening of this tunic are eight vertically oriented silver aluminum bullion buttons, marked “C. Th. Dicke” on the reverse, facing an equal number of reinforced button holes on the other side. Protruding from the second button hole from the top is an Iron Cross 1939 Second Class ribbon, sewn in place on the underside of the opening. The right chest is decorated with an Iron Cross 1939 First Class; a cross pattée of multi-piece construction with a blackened iron core (magnetic) within a ribbed border; the obverse with a raised central mobile swastika with the re-institution date “1939” in raised numbering on the lower arm; the reverse plain, with a slender banjo style vertical pinback, a barrel hinge, and a unique two-prong catch; marked “26” for “B.H. Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt” on the reverse; measuring 44.35 mm (w) x 44.19 mm (h); weighing 17.7 grams. The Iron Cross was forcefully pushed through the fabric, and was not attached using typical award loops found on other second war German uniforms. Suspended from the right shoulder is a well preserved Wehrmacht aiguillette; constructed of silver bullion wire wrapped around a white cotton core, divided into two sections - one section of a cord braided into multiple rows of loops - the second section with a slightly longer looped cord with a braided aluminum wire adjustment know, with both joined at a single button-hole patch constructed of silver bullion wire, with two silvered zink tips attached to the aiguilette. The interior of this Waffenrock is lined in in olive green fabric, with a belt hook and clasp protruding from the interior of the tunic, with lined sleeves in a white striped pattern. On left side of the interior is a small horizontal slit pocket, with a maker’s tag sewn into the fabric directly below, reading “Ernst Fricke, Eisleben, Bahnhofstr. 37”. It measures 45 cm across the shoulders, with 67 cm long sleeves, and with a total length of 80 cm. Light mothing evident from storage, but in overall near mint condition. (C:221)