Non Regulation Waffenrock

[NickG]

Bringing this interesting toopic back to the top!

"Altered waffenrocks"

First image is a prewar unmodified example with fancy collar litzen!
2nd image a partially altered version for war-time "walking out" use.
Note simplefied "einheitz litzen" on the collar
It should have had the piping entirely removed and the cuffs removed,
at least the cuff litzen were removed making it somewhat regulation.
The slip-on shoulderstraps are also in accordance with war time regulations when Waffenrocks were abolished and many recycled.

Any more examples (ACTUAL UNIFORM EXAMPLES OR PERIOD IMAGES) to share of Pre-war Waffenrocks converted for war time use as dress uniforms?

[NickG]

I am restoring a stripped 1936 dated Waffenrock (I obtained from a fellow WAF member) to war time "service use" status with simplified cuffs and litzen.
(pionier farbe and unit stamps still showing, its an issue piece...)

Any idea on the unit and its service record?
3/ Pi.18
and
8/Ersatz und ausbildungs unit stamps also visible (replacement depot)
More images later (when its done )

[werner]

Hi Nick,

You should do a search on Pionner Bataillon 18.

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...at/PiBat18.htm


Ron

[NickG]

Thanks for unit history Ron!
Here's another nice war time Waffenrock conversion! Note General Assault badge!
(borrowed from Warrelics.eu and cropped for the sake of studying such conversions!)

Note per regulations: all edge piping removed as instructed (even the pants lack piping)
simple einheitz-litzen on the collar, modified cuffs lacking litzen, but with cuff buttons
and field gray slip-on straps added! Way less "bling" as per the war time regs !

No other examples out there to show? Actual tunics or period images?

[NickG]

A typical war time "full conversion" as I call it (many were only partially converted, see 2nd image post#16) but here lacking all piping and all bottle green facings removed, a full conversion with a field gray collar added along with field gray cuffs (with cuff buttons) and loops added for slip-on straps.

and an officers conversion, again all piping removed, replaced insignia and cuffs!

[NickG]

When the pre-war waffenrocks got abolished (to be reinstated after the war was won!!) and recycled for other uses, their ultimate fate was field wear ...as used here by (surrendering) Volkssturm men!

Left ;
a Waffenrock that was altered per the regulations with einheitz-litzen on the original but unpiped dark green collar (only partially converted) but with the dark green cuffs removed + provisions for slip-on straps,
and right ;
a stripped down unmodified Waffenrock with sew-in straps and fully piped still (+ close up of same man)

From bling..... to less bling...... to no bling!

[NickG]

Ending with a great example posted originally in 2009 by member "Thefbi" and repeated here for the interest of this thread! (credit goes to WAF member Thefbi from Germany)
In this case field gray sew-in straps replacing the bottle green sew-in straps so the straps match the replaced collar and plain cuffs added! Even the shiny silver buttons are replaced with subdued green ones! Great example!

[NickG]

For those interested in studying uniforms:
Waffenrocks now in Volkssturm service!
A Hitler Youth aged kid issued a very small size modified Waffenrock, converted with simple einheitz litzen and dark green cuffs removed per the regulations for "ausgehe" use, but now in a third transformation for front line field wear with added Hitler Youth shoulderstraps!

[NickG]

Volkssturm clothing issuance: Note backs!
Either old style piped "Best Dress" tunics or Waffenrocks, both obsolete so no doubt worn by reservists,
now called up for Vokssturm service and put in charge of kit issuance.
Note buttoned tails, left clearly piped. On the right an NCO with collar tresse mounted high on the collar
as seen on pre-war Waffenrocks!

[Gustavo66]

Really interesting uniform study Nick,
thanks for the informations

Gustavo

[NickG]

Here an example that member Ariol from France posted last November:
(another war time use Hybrid)

[NickG]

Here's mine (pionier farbe), mostly pre-war traits still such as M36 collar and (numbered) prewar shoulder straps,
but lacking green sleeve cuffs and with generic war time collar litzen as opposed to fancy pre war types.
(restored)

[NickG]

Tabs show Regiment 20 but inside lining unit stamp shows 18...
Oh well can't be too picky!

[maestro]

[Tony T-S]

This is a really interesting thread. I had no idea they pulled all these prewar uniforms out and turned them into combat uniforms. I had wondered what had happened to such items, apart from being stored in cupboards.