Double Breasted Political Tunics

[BOB COLEMAN]

With the inception of the 1939 pattern NSDAP unniform, a new pattern of insignia was introduced. The collar tabs indicated the rank or pay grade of the wearer and the armband indicated the position he held. As part of the new uniform, a new dress uniform was introduced for higher ranking Party officials. It consisted of a double breasted tunic worn with plain black trousers. The uniform was authorized for ranks of Abschnittleiter and up at the Reichsleitung, Gauleitung and Kreisleitung levels At the Ortsgruppen level, it was authroized for wear only by the Ortsgruppenleiter whose highest rank was Obergemeinschaftleiter or Hauptgemeinschaftleiter
The first tunic shown is that of a Reichsbereichsleiter holding the position of Leiter eines Amtes. Note the hand embroidered collar tabs. Only the hand embroidered tabs were authorized for wear on this uniform.

[BOB COLEMAN]

The tunic of a Gau Hauptbereichsleiter holding the position of Leiter eines Hauptamtes.

[BOB COLEMAN]

The private purchase tunic of a Gauleiter. An interesting aside on these uniforms is that I have never found a RZM tag in either the tunic or trousers of any examples of this uniform.

[BOB COLEMAN]

This tunic belonged to a Kreisbereichsleiter holding the position of Kreisleiter.

[BOB COLEMAN]

An example of the white double breasted tunic belonging to an Ortsgruppenleiter holding the pay grade of Hauptgemeineschafteiter. It is likely that few Ortsgruppenleiter had the financial resources to purchase the brown double breasted tunic let alone a white example. This tunic is private purchase and named to Felix Aldeneder, Ortsgruppenleiter of Altenhof, Muntz District, Mecklenburg Vor Pommern.

If any member has one of these tunics, please add it to this thread.

[stonemint]

Bob, the absolute pinnacle of any PL collection. People do not realize just how rare these double-breasted tunics are--it is hard to even find period pictures of them in wear.

[Horst]

Heres my one and only double breasted which I am happy to have along with the tunic are the original black trousers - tunic is for Kreis Level, Ober-Berichsleiter(Senior Zone Leader) and the Brassard reflects "Kriesleiter" -

Horst