Bundes LW GENERAL'S TUNIC

[DougO]

Posted by Bernd .
Just got this nice looking Bundes LW General's Dress tunic .

[DougO]

Can someone please tell me what time span this was worn ???

[DougO]

Collar tab .

[DougO]

Shoulder board .

[DougO]

Service branch ;--looks like rockets , anti-aircraft .

[DougO]

Many WW II awards , including Bomber Clasp and Machine Gunner .

[DougO]

Inside on the lefthand breast pocket the tailor label .
Sorry, no name tag !

[Gordon Craig]

DougO,

I would estimate this tunic as having been worn in the early 60s. KKB Koblens is the makers label. They made BW tunics for many years and this is the form of their label for this time period. (If memory servces me right as all my referenc material is packed and in shipping containers). The badge on the right breast is for Raketen- und Flugkörper personnel. It appears to be in gold embroidery which would be correct for a General officer. This particular style of officers uniform is not as common as the 4 pocket service one. A nice find with the 1957 ribbon bars.

Regards,

Gordon

[Klaus1989]

I think this early Gesellschaftsanzug (or some type of formal uniform) from late 1950s or 1960s. Early Bw did not have current dinner jacket type version.

regards
Klaus

[speedytop]

Hi,

the "Gesellschaftsanzug" started in 1963, first with this jacket (Zweitaschenrock), and it changed to the "Frack" in 1973.
But everybody could wear his "Zweitaschenrock" longer, if he had one.

No one must have a "Gesellschaftsanzug", he could, but he did not have to buy it!

Uwe

[Gordon Craig]

DougO,

I had more time to look through my limited on hand reference material this morning. In his book "Die Bundeswehr und ihre Uniformen" Jörg-M. Hormann talks about this tunic. He says that it was authorized for wear in August of 1963. This would mean that it was probably designed during the period when the uniforms intorduced in 1962 were undergoing design. It was produced in grey for the ground forces and blue for the air force and navy. The ground forces wore dark grey trousers with this tunic but there is no mention of the colour of the trousers worn with the air force and navy blue tunics. It was refered to as a Gesellschaftanzug and apperas to have been worn as a walking out dress and for festive occassions. When a new uniform specifically designed for festive occassions was introduced in 1973 this uniform was withdrawn from service. It also appears as though it was a private purchase item and not an issue one. Here are a couple of photos from Hormann's book.

Regards,

Gordon

The caption on the first one says it is a picture of possible choices for a Gesellschaftanzug worn by male magazine models being exhibited at the Vertidigungsministerium in May of 1962. Colonel Schmückle, the man on the left of the picture in civilian clothes, is said to have said "they look like porter's from the Hotel Adlon" in reference to the uniforms worn by the models.

[Gordon Craig]

The second photo from the book says it is from 1970 and indicates that the tunics are getting lighter in colour by this time.

[DougO]

Posted by Bernd :
Klaus and Uwe: Thanks for your comments
Gordon : I need to thank you for your research on this tunic .
It is great to know , that it was an early item and in almost mint condition at that !
By-the-way : What Rank is this ???
..AND what did the visor cap look like to go with this tunic , since I now need to find one that is fitting the tunic ???
Thanks , Bernd .

[Gordon Craig]

Bernd,

The rank would be that of Generalmajor. All general officers wore the same visor cap so any air force generals cap made in the early years of the BW would work with this tunic. Here is an early, private purchase, visor cap from my collection that belonged to a generalmajor. He was a WWII veteran so this kind of cap would fit well with your tunic. Unfortunately, hats like this are not easy to find.

Regards,

Gordon

[DougO]

Gordon :
WOW-WOW ! That is a great looking visor cap !
Thanks , Bernd .