Germany, Heer. A Rare Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland Feldwebel’s M36 Field Tunic, by Hugo Boss

(Heer Waffenrock M36 für Feldwebel der Infanterie-Regiment Großdeutschland). A rare and well-preserved M36 field tunic belonging to a decorated Feldwebel who served with the elite Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland. Constructed of field-grey wool, it features a turned-down smooth dark green wool collar trimmed along the outer edge with a silver aluminum wire tresse. It is flanked on each side by tabs constructed of dark green wool with buckram cores and topped by machine-embroidered silver-grey insignia bisected by white threaded bars. Both tabs measure 30 mm (w) x 66 mm (l) overall. The shoulders are flanked by straps constructed of dark green wool with field-grey underlays, trimmed with white piping, bordered by silver aluminum wire tresses, and pinned with silvered Großdeutschland cyphers adjacent to a single pip. Each measuring 40 mm (w) x 110 mm (l), the straps are secured to the tunic with machine stitching at the outer edge and with pebbled zink buttons on the inner edge. Stitched onto the right sleeve is a cuff title consisting of a black wool base trimmed with silver aluminum wire tresses along both edges, and bearing a silver aluminum wire inscription of “GROßDEUTSCHLAND” in Sütterlin script. The title measures 40 mm in width. Set into the breast flaps are four pleated pockets, all opening with scalloped horizontal flaps perforated with reinforced buttonholes meeting pebbled zink buttons. Stitched onto the tunic just above the upper right pocket is an insignia consisting of a dark green rayon backer bearing a machine-embroidered silver aluminum wire Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, measuring 115 mm (w) x 48 mm (h). The upper left pocket features a set of vertically-arranged threaded loops for the accommodation of a decoration with vertical pinbacks, with two additional awards pinned directly through the tunic, including: 1. An Infantry Assault Badge, Silver Grade, constructed of silvered zink, the obverse consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, topped by a Heer-style German national eagle clutching a mobile swastika, diagonally across the badge is a Karabiner 98k rifle with the bayonet attached and the carrying sling hanging from the rifle, the reverse with a ball hinge and vertical pinback meeting a flattened catch, maker marked with the logo of Josef Feix and Söhne, Gablonz, measuring 48.02 mm (w) x 61.90 mm (h), weighing 26.0 grams, with loss of finish evident throughout, in very fine condition. 2. A Black Grade Wound Badge, constructed of blackened magnetic metal, the obverse consisting of an oval laurel leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, around a central raised Stahlhelm overlaid by a mobile swastika, on top of crossed swords on a pebbled field, the reverse with a crimped hinge and vertical pinback meeting a round wire catch, unmarked, measuring 36.34 mm (w) x 43.92 mm (h), weighing 6.9 grams, with loss of black finish evident throughout, in very fine condition. 3. A DRL Sports Badge, Bronze Grade, constructed of bronze, the obverse consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by a ribbon overlaid by a mobile swastika, around central stylized initials “DRL”, the reverse with a vertical pinback meeting a flattened catch, maker marked “PETZ & LORENZ, REICHENBACH”, measuring 38.65 mm (w) x 49.68 mm (h), weighing 17.8 grams, in near extremely fine condition. The tunic features additional decorations, including a ribbon bar for a 1939 Iron Cross II Class pinned in place just above the upper left pocket, as well as an Eastern Front Medal ribbon stitched onto the tunic through the penultimate buttonhole. It closes with five pebbled zink buttons on the right flap meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left flap. The interior is partially encompassed by an olive-drab cotton twill liner. It is notably stamped on the right breast with a black ink mark of “BOSS”, indicating manufacture by the famous clothier Hugo Boss, set just above partially-visible size dimensions. The tunic measures approximately 45 cm across the shoulders, with an arm length of 60 cm, and an overall body length of 65 cm. Minor, age-appropriate material fatigue is evident to high-contact points, but the tunic demonstrates no notable damage or condition issues. This rare, high-quality example of a Hugo Boss-produced tunic for a serviceman of an elite unit is in an overall extremely fine condition.