Germany, Heer. A Reserve Infantry Officer’s Dress Tunic

(Hauptmann der Heeresreserve Waffenrock). This is a very well-preserved Wehrmacht Heer (Army) Reserve officer’s dress tunic constructed of a smooth field-gray wool exterior with an intact rayon-blended interior liner. The collar, constructed of smooth hunter green wool, is neatly lined from end-to-end with the white “Waffenfarbe” (corps colour) piping of Wehrmacht infantry personnel. The collar is flanked on each side by tabs, constructed of a white wool base bearing the two machine-embroidered silver aluminum bullion wire columns of infantry officers, measuring 73 mm (w) x 44 mm (h). The shoulders are flanked by shoulder boards constructed of grey and white wool layers upon which four silver aluminum bullion wire thread braids are stitched and looped through a pebbled magnetic metal button securing the boards to the tunic. The tops of the boards each display the two brass rank pips of a Hauptmann (Captain), while a brass “18” pinned through the centre of each boards indicates the 18th Infantry Division. The cuffs of each sleeve are constructed of hunter green wool, turned up to a depth of 76 mm and securely stitched in place around the circumference. Each cuff bears two Hauptmann rank insignia patches of a white wool base with a silver aluminum bullion wire column and pebbled magnetic metal button, measuring 60 mm (h) x 31 mm (w). The top right breast displays a machine-embroidered silver aluminum bullion wire Wehrmacht-style German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, measuring 102 mm (w) x 43 mm (h). The left breast has three vertical thread loops, arranged horizontally, and four horizontal thread loops, arranged vertically, to accommodate decorations with horizontal and vertical pinbacks, respectively. The right breast flap has eight pebbled magnetic metal buttons meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left flap. All buttons are stamped “EXTRA FEIN” on the reverse. Suspended from the right shoulder board is a well preserved Wehrmacht aiguillette constructed of silver aluminum bullion wire divided into two sections, with one braided into two rows and completing at the ends with thread attachment loop around a brown bakelite button on the right breast of the tunic, while the other presents as a narrow woven rope looped through their braided counterparts, ending with stylized zinc tips. The bottom of the reverse has a vertical slit flanked by stylized, white-piped flaps, each held in place by three pebbled magnetic metal buttons. The interior liner is composed of a green rayon-blended material with a silky-smooth finish, met at the arms by an off-white liner of similar composition and quality. There is an interior belt apparatus stitched into the liner, composed of two ribbons of liner fabric, each 100 mm in length, meeting with polished magnetic metal clips that fit securely into place. There is a single interior pocket at the top left breast, opening with a reinforced vertical slit. Each armpit has a woven rayon-blended loop for suspension of a dagger. The right collar interior has two brass hooks set into the material meeting an equal number of brass loops on the right to ensure a flush fit with the wearer’s neck. The tunic is unmarked, and measures approximately 485 mm across the shoulders, with an arm length of 680 mm and an overall body length of 760 mm. While there is minor soiling of the exterior right breast and interior liner, as well as minor fatigue to the wool of the collar and cuffs, the tunic presents in an otherwise extremely fine condition.