Original Item: Only One Available. The SS (Schutzstaffel - 'Protection Squadron') was originally formed in 1925, ostensibly to act as a small, loyal bodyguard unit to protect the Führer, Adolf AH. Under the direction of the Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, the SS grew to be the most ruthless and feared organization of the 20th century. They were the vanguard of the NSDAP and eventually controlled nearly every function of German life and much of Occupied Europe. When WWII began in earnest, the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) (SS Dispositional Troops) became the Waffen-SS ("Armed SS"), an official military branch of the SS organization. Its formations included men from NSDAP ruled Germany, along with volunteers and conscripts from both occupied and unoccupied lands.

This is a wonderful rare WWII German Afrika Korps Waffen SS 1st Pattern Tropical uniform tunic, also referred to as the M41 Tropical Tunic. These were also often referred to as the "Sahariana", as it was inspired by the uniforms that the Italian Troops were wearing in North Africa (Sahariana is an Italian Word). The tunic is made from what feels like a denim or soft canvas twill material. It is definitely intended to be a more durable version of the Feldbluse than the wool versions in use during the beginning of the war, and was specifically designed for the hot climate of North Africa, such as in Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt. It is the correct Dunkelgelb (dark yellow) tan color used by other branches in the Tropical campaigns. As with most Waffen SS material however, it definitely differs from the uniforms used by the branches of the regular Wehrmacht Armed forces.

On this example the most obvious difference is an extra layer of fabric, almost like a cowl, attached over the shoulder area, with neatly scalloped edges. This was most likely intended to protect from the heat of the hot sun, while still allowing air circulation underneath. This was not adopted by other branches however, so we have no idea if it was effective at all. It also has "tunnels" instead of fabric loops on the cowl for the installation of shoulder straps.

The front of the tunic features 4 pleated pockets with scalloped flaps, each retained by a button, though the chest pocket "flap" is actually part of the extra shoulder protection on the top of the tunic. The 2nd Pattern (M43) Tropical Tunic would have unpleated pockets. The front closure features 4 pebbled buttons, and unlike most tunics there are no loops to secure the lay down collar: it was meant to be left open. The buttons on the front of the tunic are all painted with the correct Tropical dunkegelb color, and are retained by round circlips from the rear. They all are only weakly magnetic, probably made from zinc or aluminum with steel backs / loops. All look to be maker marked on the back. The shoulder strap buttons are sewn directly to the fabric.

The interior is not lined, just has some reinforcement under the sleeves where the ventilation eyelets are located. There is also an interior belt to adjust the fit of the rear of the tunic. As this is a Waffen SS Tunic, there are bandage pouches on the insides of both sides next to the main closure. In this case, the right side pouch has a 1943 dated original bandage still inside! There are original maker and size markings ink stamped on the right interior on the flap over the button circlips, which are a bit faint but still fully legible:-

M. Mayerhofer, München
44          43
96
70          65
M 41

The "M 41" indicates processing through the clothing depot in München (Munich) during 1941.

This tunic at some point had almost all of the rank and branch insignia removed, including the Tropen SS Ärmelhoheitsabzeichen (Tropical SS Sleeve Eagle), the Schulterklappen (Shoulder Boards or Epaulettes), and also several awards attached to pairs of thread loops on the left pocket. There is however still a row of NCO Tresse around the collar, and we can clearly see on the left sleeve where the sleeve eagle was originally installed.

Overall condition is very good, with the colors well retained. There is some pulling of the seams in areas, as well as some small holes, stains, and other evidence of service, particularly the stains around the edge of the collar. We could see this tunic being used at the end of the Afrika campaign, and then seeing service in Italy.

A lovely example of a very hard to find German WWII Waffen SS Tropical tunic without insignia, ready to add to your collection!

Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 9.5"
Shoulder to sleeve: 24”
Shoulder to shoulder: 14.5"
Chest width: 18.5”
Waist: 18"
Hip: 21"
Front length: 28"

The Afrika Korps or German Africa Corps (German: Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK was the German expeditionary force in Africa during the North African Campaign of World War II. First sent as a holding force to shore up the Italian defense of their African colonies, the formation fought on in Africa, under various appellations, from March 1941 until its surrender in May 1943. The term "Afrika Korps" is pseudo-German (so-called "cod-German"), deriving from an incomplete German title. The German term referred solely to the initial formation, the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK), which formed part of the Axis command of the German and Italian forces in North Africa. The name stuck, with both news media and Allied soldiers, as the name for all subsequent German units in North Africa. The unit is known for having been commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.

The Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), was originally formed in May 1923 as the Stosstrupp Adolf AH, (Shock Troops Adolf AH), and was redesignated Schutzstaffel, (Protection Squad), in April 1925 with the official acceptance of the name verified on the second anniversary of the failed Munich "Beer-Hall" Putsch on November 9TH 1925. On January 6TH 1929 Heinrich Himmler was appointed as Reichsführer-SS, (National Leader {of the} SS), and on July 20TH 1934 shortly after the, June 30TH 1934, purge of the SA, Sturm Abteilung, (Storm Troopers) on the "Night of the Long Knives", the SS was rewarded by AH by being granted the status of an independent organization under direct control of the NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party).

The SS developed the distinctive SS style cap skull and cross bones on October 6TH 1934 and introduced the SS pattern national cap eagle in February 1936. After their introductions the skull and eagle were to be worn on all forms of SS headgear. In 1944 the SS developed a single piece of cap insignia which incorporated both the skull and eagle on a one piece trapezoid base for wear on the M43 field cap. Originally these trapezoidal pieces of insignia were produced in a machine woven version until a final, embroidered version was introduced in late 1944. The first versions of the trapezoidal cap insignia featured dual rows of teeth in the skull while later versions only had a single row of teeth. Panzer personnel’s cap trapezoids were produced with a black base to match the color of the cap it was to be worn on.