Help ID this tunic please

[usmedalman]

I ran across this tunic and the large "A" stamped inside makes me think it is West German Bundeswehr, but I don't recognize the style. It looks somewhat like a WWII Luftwaffe Flack EM tunic but I am stumped. Any thoughts or ideas would be welcome.

[usmedalman]

Two more photos.

[Proud Kraut]

In any case NOT Bundeswehr.

[Klaus1989]

If it is German, very heavily modified. The only similar ones, and it is mostly in colour only, is some ZB dress tunics and early Berlin Polizei, but pockets (pointed) and cuffs different. Maybe it just lighting, but wool look almost like Swiss in last 2 photos. Have photo of belt hook holes from outside? Look like slits, which is early police feature.

[Collectinsteve]

No idea!

I agree that the interior and the wool is very similar to Swiss from years prior to about 1960. But it isn't Swiss military. Too many major differences for that possibility. I don't know if Swiss police might fit.

I'd say BRD Polizei, but I've never seen anything like it before so I don't think that's a good fit.

Hmmm... a guess is that this is a 1950s Swiss Army jacket with heavily modified pockets and sleeve cuffs, plus German style buttons.

The markings on the inside are strange. The "A" stamp is associated with Bundeswehr only as far as I know. Swiss items are also well marked with multiple stamps. Look closely and see if you can find anything besides the "A".

Steve

[Klaus1989]

Not only Bw, sometimes BGS also stamped occasionally "A" on some things, like wool tunics and Zeltbahnen, so police could have also done so. Looked at early Swiss M49 tunics, and they are not fully lined like this, although material look very similar. Several possibilites, all include changing pocket flaps and add piping. Problem for all except Nds Polizei - I forget how they look, is collar shape.

1. early police tunic of West-Berlin or Niedersachsen (only blue-grey BRD uniforms in early years)
2. 1960s/70s ZB or THW dress tunic (not to confuse with wool Kälteschutzanzug), but these are rather darker/greyer, I think.
3. Made from recycled West German and/or Swiss materials, possibly with Swiss tunic as base, which include liner from West German tunic or greatcoat - most likely imo

Regards
Klaus

[Asbjoern]

The fabric, the lining and the cut of the pockets remind me to my Danish civil defence jacket. But this has straight sleeves and - more important as more or less impossible to change - a sewn in stripe of fabric at the hight were the belt will be placed ...

Jens

[Collectinsteve]

Ah! I think I know what it might be. It could be a cut down Swiss Mantel. That would explain the lining and it also has this type of cuffs on the arms. I have one in my collection and I'll check.

I also have a double breasted 1947 tunic that is fully lined and has this style of cuffs. It is possible to modify it to be single breasted.

Steve

[usmedalman]

I have a BGS jacket marked with the "A" so this could have been that too. Danish or Swiss jackets would not have been surplussed and marked with an "A" would they?

[Collectinsteve]

No, they would not have as far as I know. However, this isn't a BGS or BW jacket, so the "A" isn't helping us so far It doesn't look like ZB either, and I've never seen "A" on a Polizei item (which this jacket doesn't match either).

Steve

[Klaus1989]

Except for the "A" stamp, is there reason to assume, that this is not just commercial reproduction (for reenactors) of a Flak Tuchrock? Have you posted in the Lw uniform section for opinion?