** late war tropical tunic **

[standfast]

Hi guys,
Here is my tropical tunic as mentioned before and I already got from nzmark and he confirmed this is a fourth pattern (not third pattern as I though). Any comments are appreciated before I put it on estand.
Thanks
Mike

[standfast]

** late war tropical tunic **

Collar tabs

[standfast]

** late war tropical tunic **

Breast eagle

[standfast]

** late war tropical tunic **

Behind collar tabs

[standfast]

** late war tropical tunic **

Inside breast eagle

[standfast]

** late war tropical tunic **

Marking

[NZMark]

Hi Mike,
4th pattern is my terminology, but as good as any. 'Sudfront' is the more commonly used name for this close collared pattern tropical tunic, the last in the series.
Regards,
Mark.

[JuanS]

Very nice

It look like an excellent example. I like the way in which they used the same tread to finish the ciollar to secure the collar patches. In my opinion all the insignia is factory applied as I can not see evidence of previous stitching.

regards

Juan

[RobertE]

A fine looking tunic. I don't think there's much difference between a very late war four pocket tunic made from this material and an actual warm-climate / tropical type, other than the insignia.

Yours has that very nice tropical insignia, and looks originally sewn - very nice. Is it dated? s/f Robert

[NickG]

A fine looking tunic. I don't think there's much difference between a very late war four pocket tunic made from this material and an actual warm-climate / tropical type, other than the insignia.
s/f Robert

HUGE day and night difference!
All "true" tropical uniforms have a permanent open "V" neck collar, without this collar its not considered tropical.
As explained by other posters its considered a "Südfront" (Italy etc...) tunic with button up collar.
Actually the cotton material used is actually not even German...
Its Italian post armistice seized (SAND color) "olona" tropical cloth, as opposed to German tropical (OLIVE color) tropical cloth!
Large bolts of this Italian cloth were seized after Italy switched sides, so long after the DAK Africa campaign.
Even the buttons are not tropical brown in color, but standard "blaugrau" einheits knopfen (blue-greyish color)
Very nice but not considered a tropical piece, eventhough this one does have tropical litzen and a tropical bird!
VERY nice bonus! Often they don't have that insignia, just continental types!

[RobertE]

Nick, good point on the open neck feature, you're certainly correct. The material is identical to the late war four pocket tunics, however; mine has pieces and parts of this material all through it's construction.

[standfast]

** late war tropical tunic **

Thanks guy...although I haven't put this tunic on estand I already received many offer...scary...

[JPhilip]

Hello,
Mark : concerning your terminology of 4th tropical pattern, i would like to know if this terminology is based on the cut/cloth/sixth button combination or on the specific Olona cloth...?
thanks in advance...

Mike : very nice tunic, congrats...i like very much these Südfront (or 4th tropical pattern) tunics. I have the weakness to prefer a bit the tan HBT than the Olona cloth, but it is a desirable garment.
Concerning the many offers you received, maybe this is because a lot of members who want to sell an item, often post it first in the appropriate forum, before posting it on the estand, to get the other collector's attention...maybe the people who made an offer to you thought you were about to post the tunic on the estand...

[NZMark]

Hello Jean-Phillipe,
I see the 'Sudfront' tunic as the logical end/variation of the tropical tunic series, so hense my phraziology 4th pattern. My reasons - the cut is identical to the 3rd, (first introduced in 1942) although the materials differ from the German twill, the area of intended use is a warm climate, & the application of tropical insignia...
I think the ability to close the collar was a simple measure to extend the tunic's service life, and lend it a 'walking out' respectability if required...
On another note I have a set of 'kielhose' type tropical trousers with this exact same blue inner re-enforcing material (German made). If only they had a legible date stamp, too. Interesting.
Regards,
Mark.

[Tim O'Keefe]

Hi Mark

Agree the closed collar would extend the life of a "Sud Front" tunic.
The closed collar was for the cooler climate found in Southern Europe, while warmer than northern Europe, still not as hot as North Afrika where the open collar would be more practicle in use...as mentioned before these closed collar tunics along with the "standard" open collar tunics were used quite abit in the Ukraine as well as Greece & Italy, France etc. Just not the DAK. This is a really nice example of this style

Regards
Tim