M36 Feldbluse - what should I do?

[K Bandow]

I was planning on making this back into the Gebirgsjaeger tunic it once was, but I was wondering if I should make it EM or officer? It has stitch marks from officer's collar tabs, and could easily have had slide-on officer's boards. I really wanted to make EM, but if it was officer, I might want to make it that to keep it like it was in the war. What should I do?

[K Bandow]

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[K Bandow]

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[K Bandow]

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[Jens Thune]

I would restore it as close to what it once were, so officer imo..

Nice tunic by the way

//Jens

[K Bandow]

Sounds good, Jens! Now, the thing is finding some good matching insignia for it. The insignia that was on it when I bought it was a mix of repro/artillery, so it was far from looking right!
Thanks for the input!
Karl

[K Bandow]

Here are a few more detail pics
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[K Bandow]

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[K Bandow]

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[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Karl, I would go for which ever insignia has left the most evidence of wear and use on the jacket. This is possibly the Officers. I suspect Officer's insignia might be easier to find?

Cheers, Ade.

[K Bandow]

I would imagine so, Ade. I wish there were military shows in Japan so I could find some good matching insignia. Well, I will give online a try.
Thanks for the input, guys!
Karl

[pzrwest]

This tunic could also have been a Jaeger tunic or a Gebirgsjaeger tunic since the sleeve badge is the same size and position on the sleeve. Is there any evidence of any rank insignia being on the left arm or tresse on the collar?

[K Bandow]

There was a gefreiter chevron on it when I got it, but it was post war added - no nap left under it. There is plenty of nap where the jaeger or gebirgsjaeger patch was. I just did a thorough inspection of the collar, and there is no evidence of any NCO tress at all.
I think that the jaeger patch was introduced later in the war, correct? I think it was initiated in 1942 or so, so that might strike that off the list.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Karl, the Jager sleeve insignia was introduced on 2nd Oct '42.

Still possible for use on a '36 pattern tunic but I agree a little bit less likely.

Cheers, Ade.

[Johnny R]

Restoration

I would restore it as close to what it once were, so officer imo..

Nice tunic by the way

//Jens

I always restore to what was there. Now you get to try to figure out branch. It most likley was a junior officer, Good luck, post it when you are done.