Gebirgsjäger Artillerie M43 Tunic

**BrodieBartfast** · 07-27-2018, 11:42 AM

Hello folks.

After braving the heat at W&P yesterday, I came back with a lot more money and a lot less militaria than I was expecting to. I saw many things of interest, but it was simply too uncomfortable to stand in the sweltering marquees looking through it all. In the end I gave up browsing and headed for my main goal. I'm pleased to say that after many weeks of looking at photographs of it, I was finally able to bring it home!

An M42/43 tunic for a soldier in a Gebirgsjäger (Mountain Troops) Artillerie unit. A nice clean tunic with minimal moth damage, and just a few small tears and dirt that you'd expect from field use. On the upper right sleeve is the Gebirgsjäger edelweiss patch, still nice and bright with no fading. And on the lower left hand sleeve, not mentioned in the website listing, a bronze driver's badge with just a bit of light oxidization.

The owner of this tunic was awarded the E.K.II. at some point, and there are loops on the breast pocket for various other awards. I have added a black wound badge since taking these photographs, and may add an Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen in future.

I was planning on acquiring a set of Y-straps and a belt at the same time, but the dealer hadn't brought any webbing equipment along to the show. I will be purchasing them separately online once the dealer returns home.

Regards, B.B.

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 07-27-2018 11:42 AM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**HoundsTooth** · 07-27-2018, 11:52 AM

Nice - i'm looking forward to seeing the completed 1/2 mannequin.
Nick

**BrodieBartfast** · 07-27-2018, 11:55 AM

by HoundsTooth

Nice - i'm looking forward to seeing the completed 1/2 mannequin.
Nick

I'm hoping I'll have everything together in a couple of weeks. There's something very enjoyable and satisfying about putting together a setup like this.

B.B.

**Rossi** · 07-27-2018, 12:21 PM

Nice Pick Up!

**MAP** · 07-27-2018, 01:53 PM

Nice piece. So now you need an EK1, IAB and woundbadge

**BrodieBartfast** · 07-27-2018, 02:56 PM

Way ahead of you! I only have the one EK.I. and it's a mint cased example, so not really appropriate for mannequin display. With him being an artilleryman, I thought the General Assault Badge would be more appropriate. I have a strong feeling the awards are meant to be the other way around, though...

B.B.

**MAP** · 07-27-2018, 05:22 PM

Odd...I posted a reply this morning. Now it is gone. Not the first time this has happened to me.

Anyway. Yes. Stupid me. Not a IAB. A GAB would be better but actually a Heer Flak award would be best! Also the wound badge should be on the lower right (looking AT the tunic), the GAB/Flak would be lower left (closer to the buttons) and the EK would be on top

**BrodieBartfast** · 07-27-2018, 05:37 PM

Thank you. Fixed!

The award loops in the middle do look very lonely now. I have a lot more left over from W&P than I intended, which I'll be taking with me to Military Odyssey next month. I suppose I'll go looking for a nice combat-worn EK.I. to fill that gap.

B.B.

**MAP** · 07-27-2018, 05:42 PM

I typically put my old "poor purchases" on my tunics (i.e. the fakes that I purchased years ago) as I like to group / display my awards in shadow boxes. So that is an option (buying really inexpensive repros) you can think about.

**BrodieBartfast** · 07-27-2018, 05:49 PM

I suppose I could, but I take pride in everything I have on display being original. If I get an EK.I. to display on this tunic, it'll be a genuine one. I also, on the other hand, quite like to have a tunic more representative of your 'average' soldier, rather than a heavily decorated one. As the saying goes, 'less is more'.

B.B.