Gebigs pioneer tunic.. help

[Jens Thune]

Hi.. I just got this austrian tunic of the e-stand, and I already love it
When I got it today, I saw that there was a clear outline of an oval patch right arm.. I figure that it was a gebirgspatch that was once there..
Can anyone give me some info on this unit? I haven't been able to find any info of gebirgs pionere within 81 pioneer battl.

Any info is appreciatet

Kind regards
Jens

[Jens Thune]

I will try to post better pictures tommorov

[Jens Thune]

Also it has a small button under the right shoulderboard, marked ATB on the front?? shooting lanyard??

[phild]

That is a real nice and very under-appreciated tunic. These conversions were official and in that sense just as "textbook" as a M36, M42..etc..

I had a minty Art Officer that I basically gave away 15 years ago that did not even have the external pocket pouches added...Just the dark green stand fall collar, pebbled buttons and 3rd Reich insignia...should really be a 3k tunic in terms of rarity and importance.

I've got a couple of photos in different books of W-SS officers wearing these as well. IMO they are true sleepers of 3rd Reich uniforms.

The 81st Pi Bn was part of the 45th Inf. Div.....an Austrian unit raised in large part from the previous Austrian 4th Div.

I will have to do more research to answer the sleeve shadow insignia question...it could be a couple of possibilities. May be pre Nazi Austrian or maybe the wearer transferred from a GBJ Pioneer BN...a couple of the most likley answers.

The button under the board is probably for a shooting cord as you said.

Congrats on a very nice and scarce tunic.


I should add that the top edge collar tress is a bit of a mystery for me as this tunic would not have been "set up" prior to 1938 and by then field/service tunics were being set up with lower edge tress...except for parade dress tunics.

[Jens Thune]

Hi Phild, thanks for your reply, most likely this was a walking out tunic, right?
I will try to post some pictures of the ghost later today..

I will be very interested in further info on this.

Kind regards
Jens

[phild]

most likely this was a walking out tunic, right?
Jens

Yes, I think so. A lot of the Austrian retained these Austrian tunics out of pride for the old Army and their heritage. Originally the conversion directives was intended to provide a stop gap uniform and to make use without wasting these perfectly serviceable Austrian clothing. No doubt some officers and NCOs put these back for best wear and so some few survive today..

I would like to see some photos of the inside and backside of the collar.

[Jens Thune]

Here are the extra pictures..

[Jens Thune]

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[Jens Thune]

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[Jens Thune]

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[Johnny R]

Tunic

Jens:

The tunic and the unit are correct. The sleeve patch would be a mystery for the 81st. As noted he may have transfered. interesting piece, these are great tunics and I agree under appreciated by many collectors. Very nice example and very rare rank.

[Jens Thune]

Post #7 is the ghost.. difficult to catch with flash... there are remains of thread, and a gebirgs patch fits perfectly over the ghost..

[phild]

The method of collar additon as shown in the underside photo and the lining is just what I expected based on the few other originals that I have been able to examine.

I think that you might be able to ID the wearer given his senior NCO rank. I feel more strongly now that he spent most of his time in a GBJ Pi Bn (based on the color difference around the patch area) and then was transferred to the 45th div.

An NCO of this rank would have been handled more like a senior officer in terms of assignments. Look at the history of the 45th div. and you will see that it was basically destroyed in the Soviet summer offensive of 1944 and then rebuilt in late 1944 as a Volks-Grenadier divison...this could explain his transfer...as could a 100 other scenarios.

[Jens Thune]

Also his decorations might be a clue? seems to me that he had an EK1 1914 with spange.. He might also have had a ccc, cause the loops are for a wide pin..

Here is a picture, I would like very much to hear your opinion on this subject..

Kind regards
Jens

[Jens Thune]

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