Show Me Your Best Afrikakorps Tunic

[LOTHRINGEN]

here is my little contribution ....

[LOTHRINGEN]

19

[LOTHRINGEN]

23

[LOTHRINGEN]

mm

[Bond]

mm

Stunning mint tunic

A lot of great tunics on here

Jerry

[Tim O'Keefe]

Hello pep

Agree this is great thread. On your tunic, appears to be souped up. Looks like the AKCT has been added postwar, Second pattern tunic with a tan AKCT, hmmm. Which brings the other insignia time of application into doubt. But better photos would confirm this. Look forward to seeing more of this one....still nice representation.

with kind regards

[jacquesf]

I cannot remember whether I have posted on this thread, but this is a nice piece of Dak history. It is a South African , Regt Botha vet pick up at the Battle of Sidi Resegh. The South Africans took a huge thumping there. Jacques

[Tim O'Keefe]

I cannot remember whether I have posted on this thread, but this is a nice piece of Dak history. It is a South African , Regt Botha vet pick up at the Battle of Sidi Resegh. The South Africans took a huge thumping there. Jacques

Jacques

Outstanding ! Good to see something taken from the SA side of things at Sidi Rezegh. This battle is one of the most tactically interesting of the War and should be studied by anyone interested in armored warfare. The DAK took a huge thumping there as well...

[barry1954]

I cannot remember whether I have posted on this thread, but this is a nice piece of Dak history. It is a South African , Regt Botha vet pick up at the Battle of Sidi Resegh. The South Africans took a huge thumping there. Jacques

Beautifull helmet Jacques

[NZMark]

Agree,
Very nice helmet in un-messed with condition.
I must admit - I totally forgot about this thread
Although I picked up a few 1st patterns last year, this one's a favourite, along with a Pz tunic that came from a US source.
Regards (and nice to see this popped to the top again!)
Mark

[Paul l k]

Hi Jacques, that is a stunning example of a true unmessed with dak helmet ,, thanks for posting the images for us and would there be any chance of some images of the inside ...

And a big thanks to you too Mark for the shots of your latest 1st patterns, I can see by these images it has been quite a while since I was last in your sandbox ,, keep up the good work and A Very Happy New Year to you and your family , ,

Cheers
Paul

[Mark Gibson]

Hello gents,
Here is one of my latest which is very interesting.
This tunic has spent many years dolled up as a panzer officers tunic. The previous owner replaced the tabs that were on it when he found it with Panzer officer collar tabs, panzer shoulder straps and added skulls to the lapels. He decided to remove these when selling. The only piece of insignia that he didn't touch was the lovely early tropical bird.

What did he remove from the tunic?
A pair of Luftwaffe flak collar tabs with single gulls which had been applied through the collar. The shadows that you can see on the tunic are not from the panzer collar tabs but from the removed Luftwaffe flak tabs. They had obviously been on the tunic for a long time but whether they were wartime applied we will never know. I would love to think that they were but it is just as likely that a collector applied a pair post war and left the tunic displayed under strong lights.

It is however quite possible that this is one of the original Heer tunics used by Luftwaffe flak troops prior to issue of Luftwaffe uniforms. The tunic is lightly worn but still in beautiful condition. The original heer tropical tabs would have been applied at the factory but there is little evidence from when they were applied and removed.
The tunic, which is in a lovely yet slightly faded green colour has an acceptance date of 1940 and is a size 96 chest.

The shoulderstraps seen in the pics are from my collection and came out of Germany a few years ago. As for collar tabs, do I find a nice pair of lightly used flak tabs and restore as a flak tunic or just leave it? I really don't know. The original owner still has the original tabs which he has stated are quite mothed. If they sat on this tunic for many years it is typical that moths would go for the tabs. I have never seen a mothed tropical tunic and don't expect to.

I might just have to try to find an original artillery soutached M40 (now that is a tough task).

Mark

[Mark Gibson]

Clearly showing the holes from application of the single gull to each tab.
I also didn't mention that the shadows on the collars of this tunic are not from Heer officer collar tabs. They are too small.
The size of the shadows are approx 50x35mm as opposed to an average of 70x40mm for Heer officer tabs.

Mark

[Tim O'Keefe]

Hi Mark G

Great tunic, agree it was a LW tropical tunic originally from your explanation. Most likely from the Flak Bn's. Probably from the 20mm AA platoons but maybe from the 88mm Baty....too bad the previous owner messed with it, wish all collectors would just preserve the history of their items, instead of souping them up for their own interest & egos. As if the original history is not enough.

[Tim O'Keefe]

Agree,
Very nice helmet in un-messed with condition.
I must admit - I totally forgot about this thread
Although I picked up a few 1st patterns last year, this one's a favourite, along with a Pz tunic that came from a US source.
Regards (and nice to see this popped to the top again!)
Mark

Hey NZMark

The Officers tunic really talks to you...can see why you decided to add it to your spectaculor collection, (even though you prefer EM's) Can you add closer pics of the tabs and boards ?

cheers
Tim