Afrika Korps Tunic

[maximus75]

ok thank you everybody for your complete explication and advices about this tunic.
I will try to have other picture of the jacket.

Thanks again

[NickG]

The actual tunic is a original 3rd pattern tropical (not Afrikakorps).
As for the insignia, the eagle is a reproduction which was originally pointed out to many of us by Ralph Heinz. I would want a close look at the shoulder straps, collar tress and litzen before saying anything about them. I will however say that the litzen do look very bright and would tend to agree with Matt that this tunic has probably been a stripped example that has been restored.

Mark

I agree with everything you said Mark EXCEPT the "not Afrikakorps" comment...
Recent period photographic evidence (shown here on WAF) proves that these final pattern tunics were indeed used in North Africa, towards the end of the campaign...
most likely by (flown in) fresh replacement troops (in Tunesia!) as well as seasoned Afrikakorps panzer crews even!
But indeed such final pattern tunics were not seen in Lybia, Egypt ...
More here:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...hlight=tunisia

[sander vw]

Sander, since you have had a hands on, your opinion the tunic is legit with just added on insignia? Just curious, also what was the asking price. Im definatly looking for one to restore. Also what is your opinion with all the insignia, we know the eagle is bad but what about the tress and tabs? Matt

Hi Matt, well it was 3 years ago...But I still remember that eagle. You may also be sure that other type of cloth on the back was sewn on it togetter with the eagle, that's one of the things 'Rosseel' is famous for. I can't remember the colourtabs and boards that well but I believe they are correct. He asked about 1200euro a few years back if I'm not mistaking.

@ Scott: Rosseel is an old collector and not up to date with fake eagles, he just replaced it without knowing it was a fake IMO. He gets most of his stuff out of Germany and Austria so it could be the eagle was missing as seen with lots of jackets that came from the there.

I'm not an expert on DAK tunics but I believe this one is original but too messed up...

[NZMark]

Hi Team.
This is a typically stripped (and damaged) original 3rd pattern with re-applied 'funky' insignia.
The shape of the tunic is shorter than usually seen as the proportions are for an individual who has a wide chest but smaller frame.
Tim is correct in pointing out the old sewing lines of the original eagle application in it's standard position.
3rd patterns did see service in North Africa - (that has now been well and truly established) - but without a 1942 date stamp and provinance, this tunic could have seen service in several countries with temperate climates from 1943 onwards.
Mark.

[Scott A. Hess]

Im by far NOT an expert of DAK and tropical, the tunic just looks odd to me, and there are not enough pics FOR ME, however, there are many opinions here from collectors who know this stuff like the back of their hands, if they feel the tunic itself is good, that's good enough for me. It could then be stripped of the bogus decorations, and restored properly, and would be something worth having. It would just be too played with for me, however, I defer to the judgement of those who have specialized in this area

[maximus75]

Ok thank you again for you advices.
I think i will not buy this tunic cause it will be too complicated for me for find a good eagle.
If something else are interesting by this tunic, contact me in mp and i will give you the contact of the seller

Regards

[Mark Gibson]

I agree with everything you said Mark EXCEPT the "not Afrikakorps" comment...
Recent period photographic evidence (shown here on WAF) proves that these final pattern tunics were indeed used in North Africa, towards the end of the campaign...
most likely by (flown in) fresh replacement troops (in Tunesia!) as well as seasoned Afrikakorps panzer crews even!
But indeed such final pattern tunics were not seen in Lybia, Egypt ...
More here:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...hlight=tunisia

That's allright Nick, I'm aware of the thread that you have attached and have the book that the tunic was pictured in. I still do not consider 3rd pattern tropical tunics to be Afrikakorps and never will. In fact I don't even consider 2nd pattern tunics to be such even having owned an example which was souvineered in Tunisia. Very few of these actually made it to North Africa and only well and truly after the name Afrikakorps officially ceased to exist as the overall organisation name for the units in this theatre.

Mark

[Tim O'Keefe]

Would like to jump in here as your on good side bar. And add that Von Arnim's men in Tunisia (which the thread Nick mentions are from) did not consider themselves as part of the DAK and were proud of the fact...Agree that the second and third patterns did show up in Afrika but not with the DAK, which by then was a Kampfgruppe with little resemblance to the original AK.

Tim