DAK 1941 Tunic Restoration - Insignia Suggestion HELP

[Quest Master]

I am finally getting around to restoring a wonderful 1941 dated DAK 1st model tunic that I personally purchased from a 1st Infantry Division veteran that brought it back from North Africa during WWII (along with a Luft DAK tunic also in my possession).

My question is: which litzen would you use to restore the tunic...the ones on the left (dark grey) or the ones on the right (light grey)?

This tunic was produced by Leopold Hartig, Ancheffenburg and is dated F41. Interestingly, the collar is slightly a different color and weave of fabric from the rest of the tunic.

The veteran removed all of the insignia after the war to use this tunic as a hunting jacket (really). He kept the removed Heer eagle (shown) in the photo, which will be added during the restoration. The litzen and tress (purchased) will be re-applied to the tunic during restoration.

Which would you use?

With flash:

Without flash:

[Johnny R]

I would leave it the way it is to be honest. It is a POW garment really. The collar probably was replaced after the War so you are not really restoring it.

[Quest Master]

No....the collar was not replaced. It is as it was when it was brought back from North Africa. The stitching for the collar is factory sewn. It is just a slightly a different fabric/color. The outline for the tress/litzen is present from the vet (who I know) removed it after the war to make it a hunting jacket.

[besslein]

No....the collar was not replaced. It is as it was when it was brought back from North Africa. The stitching for the collar is factory sewn. It is just a slightly a different fabric/color. The outline for the tress/litzen is present from the vet (who I know) removed it after the war to make it a hunting jacket.

as your tunic look near mint,did the vet has get it from a depot?

[Quest Master]

as your tunic look near mint,did the vet has get it from a depot?

He didn't say...but probably not. He was an MP (at the time) in North Africa, and spent most of his time there (that he told me about...he moved on) guarding the ad-hoc American cemeteries in North Africa from being robbed from the French Moroccan's. He said that they would sneak in at night to dig up the graves to steal clothing and gear from the dead (unrelated to this specific tunic) so, guards were always posted. He was a very fun guy...he is since deceased. I've owned this and the Luft tunic for over 15 years. Just getting around to replacing the insignia that he removed. The Luft is next.

So...which litzen? Dark or light?

[Box_Rebellion]

That's an unissued tunic for sure -- nobody ever sweat in that one. Here's a pic of a real POW worn tropical tunic. If you want to restore the eagle and tabs, that's fine but don't add the tresse - that's just "humping it up" and will make it worth LESS.

[Box_Rebellion]

pic

[Quest Master]

That's an unissued tunic for sure -- nobody ever sweat in that one. Here's a pic of a real POW worn tropical tunic. If you want to restore the eagle and tabs, that's fine but don't add the tresse - that's just "humping it up" and will make it worth LESS.

Box,
Are you certain that the collar on your late model tunic is replaced? Or, is it similar to mine with a different type/color fabric that has bleached over the years. What does the underside of your collar look like and who made your jacket? I see that the edge of button area and cuffs have been re-enforced, but the collar looks to be of great quality...are you certain it has been replaced?

Yes, my 1941 tunic has had minimal wartime use (and very little after the war as a hunting jacket). But, it does have thread marks were it previously had litzen and tress, so I'm going to put them back on regardless of that minimal wartime use.

Would anyone like to make a suggestion on the litzen? Which ones to use? My other 1941 DAK tunic has the lighter shade.

[Box_Rebellion]

The DAK POW tunic isn't mine, it's on ebay. All the tan cloth you see is replaced. I can't say anything about your collar without pictures of the underside and how it's attached.

Can you show us pics of the full tunic WITHOUT any new insignia laying on it? This will enable us to tell you what you've got there.

[Johnny R]

I am not sure the collar is a factory applied feature. The lapel stitching looks odd. They added collars sometimes that were larger for the tresse and tabs to be accommodated.

[Quest Master]

Box,
Thanks for posting pictures of ItalianWarFront's jacket. That is an awesome tunic. I looked at it on ebay. I completely disagree, the collar has not been replaced, look at the photos of the rear of the collar posted in the auction...and note the factory stitching. That is a factory applied collar of different fabric (like mine) that has faded under extreme sun conditions. Yes, additional fabric has been added to the front flap and cuffs....which has faded equally with the collar. It MAY have been worn by a Prisoner of War...but that is not why the collar is a lighter color, it is because it is a different factory applied fabric that has faded.

Back to my tunic. Here are pictures of the factory applied collar that has a very slightly different shade and type of fabric. The stitching holes for the original tresse and litzen do not show up well in the photo (the restored tresse in the photos are tacked on with grey thread just to hold them in place prior to machine sewing for restoration). Yes the tresse and litzen shown are original production and not "new".




This tunic was brought home by Carlton R. (a good friend of mine), United States Army, who served as an MP attached to the 1st Infantry Division, 5th Army, 34th Infantry Division, 88th Infantry Division and 7th Corps (all at different times) in North Africa, Italy - Naples/Liri Valley/Monte Cassino/Anzio from November 1942 to November 1945. He went from Private to 2nd Lieutenant by the end of the war and was awarded the Purple Heart for his combat wounds.

Back to the original question: which litzen should I use...the dark grey or the light grey!

[NZMark]

Van,
Can you tell us if the thread used on the collar application matches the thread used to construct the tunic?
If I had to choose I'd use the darker of the litzen as this will be closer to the eagle in colour than the lighter set...
Regards,
Mark

[Quest Master]

Mark,
Thanks for your question. The thread and style of stitching on the collar is consistent with the the rest of the tunic.

[NZMark]

Thanks Van,
I take it the hanging loop is still in place under the collar (not clear in your photos?) Without a hand's on it looks 'factory' to me...
Lovely tunic. My only advice is to just make certain the person who is re-applying the insignia is skilled and up to the task of doing it correctly....
Regards,
Mark

[Quest Master]

Mark,
Absolutely, the hanging loop is under the collar, correctly stitched with the rest of the collar.

Do you have any photos of the darker litzen applied to original tunics?