Zoll tunic, a work in process

[NickG]

I realize that it does NOT look like a zoll uniform (yet)!!
Just wanted to show my latest purchase, a Zoll tunic (obtained from a fellow WAF member), which has been (sloppily) restored as a Heer admin tunic with medium career (paygrade) collar tabs and non matching high career (lowest rank here) admin. shoulderboards (should be 1 pip only to match the collar tabs, another give away that its been restored incorrectly, so a "Zoll" piece in disguise!)

Its true identity revealed itsself on the left sleeve, which clearly shows a Zoll sleeve title ghost!!! and another zoll clue: behind the admin collar tabs (now removed) were 2 prong holes for "Oberzollinspektor" (I think) collar tab pips.
Fortunately the breast eagle came off with no damage to that area and its now plain as its supposed to be.
I understand that for the Zoll branch such uniforms commonly have slip on shoulderboards, which is the set up you see here, but disguised as Heer Verwaltung, done incorrectly, as Heer would generally have "sew in" type boards on such rock type dress uniforms... another clue!

QUESTION: What's more desirable or rarer, a "zoll" officers uniform or a Heer Verwaltungs version? Its essentially the same (green piped) uniform... I'm wondering as this one was "restored" incorrectly to Verwaltung as depicted below! The cuff title ghost was the dead give away that its indeed a customs related piece, for me a pleasant surprise, as I find this branch way more exotic!
Nick

PS: I am now looking for a matching set of zoll officer's rank insignia (collar and shoulder) as well as a (reasonably priced) zoll cuff title, if anybody can help? Picture updates on the restoration of this customs tunic, bringing it back to its former glory, to follow!! (hopefully with fellow waf members help!!) Thanks

[SCHUPO]

Nick,

You seem to be on the right track to restore you Zollschutz tunic. The good news is that you can utilize used insignia such as a shorter cuff title and insignia so it should be cheaper. You are probably right that it was restored incorrectly.

You have two choices; to use dull subdued insignia or bright insignia. The cuffbands only come in bright flatwire so it would be correct with either type. Dull insignia is generally for field units while bright insignia is generally for administrative personnel. While I have seen mixed bright/dull insignia on period uniforms you should probably try to be consistent. Since your buttons are bright I would probably put bright insignia on the tunic. Good luck with your project, it looks like fun.

[NickG]

consistent

Good advise Schupo! Thanks! I'll definitely try to be consistent with matching up the insignia types, but if the price is right, I'll go with whatever I can get my hands on (subdued and/or shiny) to finish this one!
Zoll is a new branch for me and I find it to be a very interesting topic. The zollgrenzschutz.de website is great, in case others want to research this topic as well!
Thanks for the advise!
Nick
PS: the same day I received the tunic (and discovered it was Zoll in disguise) I also received in the mail from Germany a death card of a Zoll official, KIA ("gefallen") in Witebsk, Bellarus (Russian front) February 1944. These officials were posted everywhere, including all occupied territories and exposed to the dangers of war just like any other soldier!

[Bill H.]

Hi Nick,

From your description it definitely sounds like a Zoll piece that someone mistakenly restored to a piped walking out dress Admin. God knows why. Maybe they thought that is what it was or maybe that was all the insignia the guy had. If the lower pockets are slash versus patch type then it could maybe work as an Admin piped 4 pocket M34 tunic but with the shadow of the cuffband and no breast eagle shadow I'm 99% certain you are on the right track that its a Zoll tunic.

The one I have in that pattern has sewn in boards and I agree with Schupo that it would look best in the bright wire type insignia rather than subdued type for that pattern tunic.

I have a Zoll Lt. tunic with really nice bullion insignia but the cuffband had been removed. Its such an exquisite tunic I want to find a bullion cuff title for it and I've only seen one offered in the last ten years. Some restoration projects can take time.... Neat thing about this tunic is there is also a shadow for the SS pocket runes normally seen on Police tunics. Prior to this I'd not seen any examples of Zoll men who were also SS either photographically or artifactually.

The subdued insignia examples I've seen were all on field type uniforms and this one is more formal, behind the lines type. Also, I've not seen a field uniform in a commissioned officer rank nor have I seen subdued Zoll officer
insignia so if anybody has some I'd love to see some image files!

Finally, you mention a death notice for a Zoll man KIA at Witebsk. I could tell more if I saw the death notice but its possible he was acting in a Zoll capacity but more likely he was drafted into the Army and served in a Grenadier Rgt. or something like that. I have several of these where the photo shows the guy in Zoll uniform but as an Obergefreiter in a Panzerjaeger Abteilung or something and says he was a zollbeamter from some town. If the family didn't have a current photo you'd see older ones. The coolest one I have that's like that is a enlisted infantry guy KIA in Russia pictured in a Diplomatic Corps
uniform with visor hat and dagger. Sure made me wonder who he'd pissed off!

Cheers, Bill Huber

[klr]

Hello Nick Here's a few shots of my Zoll officers tunic. Good luck with your project. Em insignia is easy to find but I haven't come across a lot of officers. Kirby

[klr]

2

[klr]

3

[klr]

4

[klr]

5 This visor came with the tunic.

[NickG]

Nice!

Great stuff Kirby! Check out that parade belt!!! + cap matching the uniform! Outstanding!
I actually just scored ALL the insignia that I need to fix mine, like the rank collar tab insignia (in my case in beautiful heavy silver Bullion set, not cheap but amazing craftmanship, pics to follow!!These came from Weitze Germany (bless the internet!) along with matching shoulderbaords but unfortunately the cyphers are missing... I need those! In gold...ANybody?
I also have the cuff title coming from a fellow WAF member, so pretty soon I should be able to show my properly finished tunic!

Bill, makes sense your explanation about zoll guys getting drafted and serving and falling for the fatherland in the armed forces.

Nick

[NickG]

Hi Nick,

I have a Zoll Lt. tunic with really nice bullion insignia but the cuffband had been removed. Its such an exquisite tunic I want to find a bullion cuff title for it and I've only seen one offered in the last ten years. Some restoration projects can take time.... Neat thing about this tunic is there is also a shadow for the SS pocket runes normally seen on Police tunics. Prior to this I'd not seen any examples of Zoll men who were also SS either photographically or artifactually.

The subdued insignia examples I've seen were all on field type uniforms and this one is more formal, behind the lines type. Also, I've not seen a field uniform in a commissioned officer rank nor have I seen subdued Zoll officer
insignia so if anybody has some I'd love to see some image files!

Cheers, Bill Huber

Bill
Weitze Germany has such a hand embroidered BULLION zolldienst cuff title available right now!!!
Its awefully expensive but try to find one! My Bullion (bright) rank insignia also came from this dealer and arrived TODAY from Weitze (ordered 2 days ago!). He's not cheap but (most) of his stuff is good and the service is excellant!
SO hurry and go check it out, if you are in need of such a ultra rare bullion ZOLL cuff title. If you have a problem finding it, I'll try to send you the link! Nick

[NickG]

Bullion cuff title

Here it is! Weitze wants 650 EUROS for it... Incredibly rare, but crazy money I think!

[NickG]

the back

back

[NickG]

uniform that started the thread

Here's the uniform that started the thread but now during its transformation back to Zollschutz-RFV, being properly restored. Sure looks different!!!! doesn't it? The gold wash on the pips have faded and the RFV cyphers are missing... I NEED THESE!!! Anybody? Thanks
Nick

[NickG]

collar tab detail

Detail shot of the collar tab in heavy bullion wire... Sorry about the flash its like taking a picture of a mirror with all that heavy bullion!!!!! (army equivalent rank 1st Lieutenant). Compare with Kirby's subdued (fieldgrade) style, same rank, examples of both variations!