Description
SOUTHWEST AFRICA – GERMANY – TUNIC – ENLISTED MAN/NCO – POST WW I
This is an excellent tunic once worn by a German Enlisted Man/NCO who served in the Colony of German Southwest Africa. This was the lesser known colony as compared to German East Africa which was larger and more productive.
German Southwest Africa bordered the Pacific ocean while German east Africa bordered the Indian Ocean. German Southwest Africa faced many more challenges to the natives there who violently resisted German rule and harsh subjugation.
The tunic is a camel tan tone of wide wale corduroy. There are many vertical lines in it. There is a single row of gilt buttons with the Hohenzollern crown, indicative of Colonial uniforms. The tunic has a total of four pockets. Two breast pockets with buttons and two pockets at the hip. Each of the pockets is secured with a similar Hohenzollern button.
There are two sets of sewn in loops one on the left and on one the right side. The left 5 loops measure 5.5” in width. The 2 loops on the right measures 2” in width. It is unusual to have two sets of loops like this but this speaks to the number of war time and post war awards that this soldier achieved.
In the area of the left breast pocket we also see two sets of vertical loops. Most certainly one of the sets of loops is for a 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class. The other could be for a similar pinback award from another state or perhaps a wound badge. Stranger yet is another set of loops o the right side. Regardless the number of loops speaks to a soldier with an impressive military career.
We see a fine matched pair of Enlisted Man/NCO shoulder straps. Attached to the left we see an impressive aiguillette. We also see that the shoulder straps are sewn in one side and secured with a smaller Hohenzollern button similar to the others on the obverse.
On the reverse of the tunic we see a further two larger Hohenzollern buttons for decorative purposes.
The final detail to the exterior of the tunic can be seen on the left sleeve. There is a patch for the Southern Cross. This is in the form of a shield. We see a cross with three quarters of the shield in white and the upper left in red with five stars. This patch was added in the 1930’s once the Third Reich had come to power. This leaves the question was this tunic originally worn in German Southwest Africa and then updated as this man participated in veteran groups. Or was this tunic purchased after the war and updated to it’s final configuration.
There is no additional lining to the interior of the tunic.
This tunic is in amazing condition!
