Tiroler Standschutzen (Static guard) tunic

[NickG]

I was lucky enough to get this tunic of the Austrian Alps Volkssturm called "Tiroler Standschutzen" which means "Tyrolian Static Guard "
(originally a ww1 unit, now a ww2 static defence unit).

The tunic is coming from Italy and unfortunately its been stripped of its insignia, but its easily restorable. Ghosts of Volkssturm collar tabs and Standschutze sleeve diamond (with dark green wool remnants even) are still clearly visible! The tunic also never had any provisions for shoulderstraps, which is correct for Standschutzen.

It is a close copy of in a 1st model tropical pattern German tunic with open V neck, BUT of a simplefied Italian manufacture... and made of Italian (post armistice September 1943 obtained) semi shiny "Olona" cotton (very soft to the touch when new, unwashed) which is the exact same material as used for the manufacturing of Italian tropical "camiciotto" tunics and Italian "Sahariana" bush jacket tunics...

The Standschutzen were raised on August 23, 1944 and 16 (some claim 17) independent battalions were situated in garrison towns in the Tyrolian Alps on both sides of the border, so including Italian areas of Sud Tirol.
This tunic might have been used on the Italian side of the "Alpenvorland" and made locally in Italy, but in accordance with German patterns of course.

[NickG]

Period image

Here's a (cropped) period image of such Tyrolian Volkssturm troops, but wearing more conventional woolen tunics.
Like other Volkssturm units they never wore shoulderstraps but adopted rank collar tabs, similar to regular Volkssturm patterns, but in Polizei green instead of black. I have seen images of Standschutzen tunics with regular collar litzen as well, which came factory sewn with the tunics... So that's definitely also a possibility! (see illustration in post 6, a Wehrmacht breast eagle even!)

[NickG]

illustration

Here's an illustration out of Munoz' book

[NickG]

reference

Here's another reference image. Interesting that the officer's tunic here does have shoulderboards...Based on the rank most likely an Army (senior) career officer who got assigned to a Standschutzen Battalion and maintained his Army shoulderboards! (my theory at least)

[NickG]

Now my question!

NOW MY QUESTION
The Standschutzen obviously adopted a Volksturm type collar tab ranking system with pips (left tab) but the right tab was a unit (bat./company) numbered tab...
The following tab was offered to me as a Standschutzen tab...
BUT its clearly a RIGHT SIDE pip rank tab...Is that a possibility?
All the above examples don't show this...
Thanks
Nick
PS:
Oh yeah another thing....
I am also in need of a Standschutze sleeve diamond (affordable one) in case anybody who reads this has an extra one (double?) laying around for my tunic!THANKS

[NickG]

Osprey illustration

Here's an Osprey illustration... The right side (unit) tab is not visible...
but the rank tab is...
So are 2 sets of pip tabs a possibility?

[Craig W.C. Brown]

I have been looking into the 1944/45 Standschützen (Ss) for some time as part of my interest in the Volkssturm (Vs). At this point I have 7 Ss tunics for as many different locations.
There is variation in the base color of tabs. So far: moss-green (match to the sleeve patch backgound color); slightly lighter moss-green; bright or dark green equivalent to some of the variations for Jäger/Gebirgsjäger green; some tabs are bordered with silver wire; some not. Schlicht reports right tabs in black with green numbers; I have not found such yet. The unit designations for those tabs with such are in light green thread.
I have a converted Austrian tunic w blank right tab (wirebordered ) and a converted Austrian Windjacke with both tabs in dark Gegrgsjäger green with a single pip on each; the battalion number is not present on the tab but is apparently indicated by an aluminum (?) III afixed below the placename on the sleeve patch.
In general it seems to be correct that straps were not worn but that said I have one tunic with NCO Tresse and shoulder J/Gj straps in addition to the Ss tabs and another which came through with regular Police straps.
I have enroute an Italian-made Ss M44 tunic with Police Litzen and no straps.
Photos show Ss wearing mixtures of "regular" (if there is such a thing) Ss tunics and Pol items such as caps, helmets, and Pol litzen on Ss tunics.
Some (6,000 or so according to some sources) of Ss personnel were transferred into SS-Pol units which in some cases carried the same name as Ss units (ex.: Ss Bn Bozen; SS-Pol. Reg. Bozen) which sometimes leads to confusion and may account for some of the photos where Pol items are shown; many seem to have been taken at the Ss training camp at Gossensaß.
It may be that your right tab is from a set where there was no bn nr shown in the first place, cf. my a/m Windjacke.
As an aside: it is often stated that the Ss wore an Edelweiß on their caps; this makes a certain amount of sense in terms of Austrian tradition but so far I have seen no original photos where such is the case.

[NickG]

Thanks for your input Craig. Based on your past participation on WAF in regards to Ss (Standschutzen) I had a feeling you would chime in right away.
I actually had PM'd you prior to starting this thread.
Good to hear that indeed 2 sets of rank tabs is a possibility after all, just like regular Volkssturm would wear!(as opposed to 1 rank and 1 unit tab which is typical for Ss)
I would love to see some of your Ss material posted here!
Thanks for your opinions!
Nick

[Alex Ciavaglia]

Hi friends,
here an original Standschützen tunic and m43 Einheitsfeldmütze made both with italian cloth. Apparenthly the tunic has never got the insigna. As you can see it is very close at the standard m43 but not the same. Infact it seems the mix beetwen the standard m43 and the m44. Note the cuffs, the ramped holes only in two positions instead four, the simplified lining, the strap under the collar; these are features of the m44 brought on a m43.
The fieldcap has the very same buttons of the tunic (made of wood) with the maker of Innsbruck (Austria, near Italian border).
Hope you like them,
Alex

PS: the stamps on the tunic are an artifact o some idiot who want to sell it like a late m43!

[Alex Ciavaglia]

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[Alex Ciavaglia]

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[Alex Ciavaglia]

Field cap