November 7-8, 2018 Edged Weapons, Armor, & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/7/2018
Theater made tropical Pionier Officer tunic in overall excellent condition. Tunic is to a Major in the 33rd Panzer Pionier Battalion, which in November of 1940 was assigned to the 15th Panzer Divison. The 15th Panzer was formed from the 33rd Infanterie Division, and was sent to North Africa in April of 1941, and fought in the North Africa campaign. It fought at Kasserine Pass in February of 1943, and ultimately surrendered in May of 1943. Tunic is manufactured from a light brown cotton twill fabric, and the entire tunic appears to have been period custom tailored. It is not a normal issue tunic. An ink stamp with what appears to a maker mark in a box, as well as the number "18", is present on the inside lower left. There is also an ink stamp with a "20" in a box on the right rear inside panel. Minor water staining is present on the front below the collar. Collar was hand tacked and then machine sewn. Collar tabs are hand applied with the same thread which attached the collar. Shoulder boards are in excellent condition, with era applied gold gilted brass cyphers for the 33rd battalion. Shoulder boards are attached via field gray wool loops. Light olive painted aluminum shoulder board buttons are secured via a smaller plastic button sewn inside. The five front buttons, as well as the four pocket buttons, are all in aluminum and matching, and in a light olive paint. A dark green wool backed bullion eagle is machine sewn with straight line stitching, and appears to have been era done. This is based on the presence of a clear imprint of the eagle on the inside. Two sets of two era-applied award loops are present on the left breast pocket, and another set above that pocket. Original "Afrikakorps" cuff title has not been era-applied. An interesting and unique tunic.