Bakelite M36 Tunic Buttons

[Paul B]

I wonder if anyone can advise me about a tunic I've just acquired. It's a M36 Infantry Obergefreiter's tunic, made by LAGO in Vienna, with depot stamps for Berlin, dated 1940 ("B40").
It's a typical early war tunic -green collar, liner with provision for suspender belt-hooks, etc- and the five front buttons, two shoulder-strap buttons and four pocket closure buttons are constructed from moulded bakelite, although they do have the correct grey pebbled finish. They appear to be the original buttons to this tunic -there is no sign of older buttons being affixed, or of these being resewn. None are maker-marked or dated in any way.
I've never seen this before. Is it correct for this type of tunic? Does anyone know anything about these type of buttons? This has totally stumped me -I'm more than happy with the rest of the tunic- so any help would be much appreciated.
Many thanks in advance, all the best, Paul.

[CSP]

What points are you looking at to conclude that the buttons appear originally sewn to the tunic? If so, this is the first I have heard of such a type of button.

[J Melvin]

Paul, I have never seen bakelite tunic buttons. However, smooth bakelite buttons (shaped like the tunic buttons) can be found on caps.

[teka]

Hi Paul,
I also have a M.36-40 tunic with plastic buttons. It's an NCO jacket with replaced collar (often done) and dated 1940 or 41 if I remember well.
My jacket is clearly an example for the free time (I don't how it is in english!), with hole for the dagger, "fur" on the shoulders (like on women jackets), etc...
The buttons look like normal alu ones but are maid of field gray plastic (bakelite?).
Hope it helps
Cheers
Teka

[DaveJ]

I too have one with a few of those. Wonder if they are war time production?

[DaveJ]

Do yours look like this? Only half a dozen are this material, the restr are the standard buttons.

[DaveJ]

Photos are not the best, here is the front, It looks exactly like the metal buttons from the front

[teka]

Hi Dave,
mine look 100% like yours, and I'm 99,5% sure that they are original stitched to my tunic (by the way original ww2).
Cheers
Teka

[Paul B]

Bakelite Tunic Buttons

Thanks to everyone who has responded to this thread so far.
Scott, obviously I'm not certain that these buttons are original to the tunic. I based my opinion on the fact that I couldn't see any trace at all of there being other buttons sewn to the tunic prior to these (old stitching holes, wear to the liner, remains of old stitching/thread, etc). It is of course possible that these buttons have been sewn in on in exactly the same spot in such a way as to completely obliterate evidence of previous buttons. Like you, I've never seen tunic buttons like them before, or come across them in reference books. The fact that an advanced collector like yourself hasn't previously seen this concerns me a little. If you want to give me any pointers on what to look for in terms of replaced/resewn buttons, then I'm more than eager to learn.
Dave and Teka, it looks like the tunics you own have exactly the same buttons as mine -they certainly look like the ones on the posted photos. Once I've photographed my tunic I'll post photos. In the interim, it's still on the www.germanmilitaria.com website -the infantry obergefreiter's tunic in the uniforms section- if anyone would like to look and comment further. (As an aside, this is explicitly NOT a thread calling into question anything on that site -I've had many excellent pieces from Peter, who always provides great customer service. The description is open and honest about the buttons, and I knew what I was buying before I handed over the cash. If there is a mistake then it is MY fault.)
Once again, thanks for everyone's comments -please keep them coming.
All the best, Paul

[DaveJ]

Mine are replaced, some look old and some others more recent. I have never seen any of these buttons on any other garment. They made bakelite buckles at the end of the war, did they start making buttons? Or are these actually modern plastic reproductions. If it was the later, I would think that someone has seen them on reenactor tunics, real buttons are not cheap.

Dave

[Gerard/Relic Hunter]

I just got an M36 unissued tunic, dated 1940 and it has these plastic fieldgray buttons, which I think are original to it. I will post it when time permits.

Gerard

[besslein]

Paul, I have never seen bakelite tunic buttons. However, smooth bakelite buttons (shaped like the tunic buttons) can be found on caps.

not only you

[PanzerJager1944]

Last year I saw a straight out of the woodwork SS m36 combat tunic that was donated to the museum of NC history with plastic buttons exactly like the ones posted in the photos by Dave. The tunic came straight out of the vets stuff he brought back from, has never been messed with. It was given to the museum by his family and is currently in the process of being added to the collection, but is not currently accessible to the public. I had access this piece as I am good friends with one of the conservators. I will be down in NC again November and will try and get pictures of the buttons and the tunic.

Let me also say as well as collecting I am also involved in WW2 reenacting. I can say I have never seen these buttons on any reproduction tunics or garments. I have seen many different repro pebble buttons and own several examples of reproduction buttons for reference and they have all been made of some sort of metal, never plastic. The repro buttons I have seen would not fool anyone as they are usually all poor quality and not close to the originals

Personally I feel these buttons are a 100% war time and good. I wouldn’t remove them from a uniform I owned. In fact if anyone has any loose ones they don’t want I would love to get some for reference, please PM me.

Regards,

[Gerard/Relic Hunter]

I am not questioning the buttons at all, they are definetely original and original to the tunic I have. Obviously they were produced in low numbers and have been overlooked by the collecting community. It's great after 60 + years to learn new things in German collecting. It makes the hobbie interesting.

God Bless,

Gerard

[Soldat de Fer]

Hello
These buttons are 100% original . They are rare to see and you can also find them on the early winter parkas , green reversible to white .
They were made as an experiment to save on production time and material , but for some reason were never mass produced. JFS was the main producer of these . I have a mint winter tunic , with both metal , on the green side and resin on the white side.
I have noticed 2 kinds , one made only of hard rubber and one made of hard resin or bakelite with a metal part to sew the buttons ( white buttons).
Some were also found in white and some of these buttons have been found in digs in Russia.
Regards
P-Y