A Tiny Treasure: Extremely Rare Beamter Tunic With Mutant Breast Eagle!

[Rick Research]

Here is a friend's incredibly rare tunic to an army Oberstabsapotheker (pharmacy major) on the staff of a Wehrkreis or higher command.

This guy was like a size 28 or 30 U.S. and apparently about 5'2"... but given that the ONLY award he got was a KVK2 (no loops, never had any) pretty much narrows him down to someone too young to have served in WW1-- unless he was rejected for being under the minimum height requirement . In any case, as of 1 May 1939 there were only TWENTY SEVEN officers of this rank in the German Army-- 20 "regulars" (most too young to have achieved this level by long tedious Weimar service as Beamten, so they were probably direct appointments from civil life), 5 Reservists, and 2 Landwehr officials.

The whole shebang from the front:

[Rick Research]

Innards...Dagger slit etc... though on this guy, that would have hung like an elven knife on a Hobbit!!!

Someone-- probably an American child nearing puberty tried to make the sleeves longer by simply untacking the cuff turn backs at the front and back-- a simple repair and no harm done.

[Rick Research]

Green on green board closeup. ONLY pharmacy officials used the lighter green "Nebenfarbe." There were only 27 in this rank just before the war in 1939 and unlikely to have been any need for many more during the war, but let's be generous and guess with promotions, deaths, and retirements-- maybe 4 dozen guys held this rank. Tops.

And not all of them would have been the Supreme Pill Pusher at a higher command requiring these collar tabs.

This is one of those cases where "less than exciting looking" is actually insanely rare.

[Rick Research]

And the green on green gold tab. I don't remember if they were bullion or celluleon. Tunic belongs to a friend and I've seen it, but awhile ago and he just sent me the scans to share. I think looking at this, from the color, they were probably bullion.

Color's off some from being so close, but you get an idea of the actual wear.

[Rick Research]

His one and only award...

I suppose he was EASILY OVERLOOKED...


down there at elbow level aong those Goose-stepping Hordes!!!

[Rick Research]

But, for me, THIS is the piece de resistance:

If I saw this loose in a Ryker mount, I'd spit, make the sign of the cross, and murmur disgustedly "Where Eagles Dare."

But I assure you, this is the eagle original to this tunic. Never mucked with.

Just the weirdest gawddam FREAK breast eagle I have EVER seen!!!

There is no tailor label ("Children's Department, Schnauser u. Söhne" ) and no sign of one.

Eagles like this on Manion's always say "Italian made" and I have always thought, "Yeah... in 1973 for 'Kelly's Heroes' or something."

But this PECULIAR thingum went on when the Deutscher Dwarf had his attire form-fit.

[Rick Research]

Now SOMEWHERE in here there were pix of the same tabs loose...

[Dave Suter]

Based on that breast eagle I'm guessing this guy was writing scripts to himself much of the time...

[Mike H]

Another tunic ...

Here are some photos of a parade dress version of the service dress Rick had featured above. Also some pictures of some admin tabs and boards will come down below. These photos are from a collector friend here in town.

Enjoy.

Mike

[Mike H]

Another view

Another shot of the parade uniform.

Mike

[Mike H]

Tabs and boards

Selection of tabs and boards for your review.

Mike

[Mike H]

And more ...

And another ...

Mike

[TJ Suter]

Mike - I love your friends waffenrock. Be sure and let him know that if it should ever need a new home that it can come and live with me!!

[Rick Research]

Got a name label in that tunic, Mike? Got alllll their names and dates.....

[Mike H]

Namd in tunic

Rick,

Here are two messages that my friend and another collector exchanged over on the other forum.

Maybe you can come up with something ...

Mike

------

Glenn,
The tunic has a tailor's label from HERMAN SCHEIDUNG of GOTHA. The trousers have a F.W.KLIENE label with the name WILHELEM inked in. I may be wrong on the spelling of the inked in name as the trouser label is worn down and hard to read.
posted 23 April 03 09:41


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Garth,

the nearest I can find to that is the then (1939) Stabsapotheker Dr. Willecke of the Heeres-Sanitäts-Park. Born 26 August 1910 with seniority as a Stabsapotheker from the 1st of July 1938.

Regards
Glenn