Original Item: One-of-a-kind. The M35 dress tunic was introduced for wear by all ranks on June 29TH 1935 as the walking out, parade and ceremonial dress with the piped, stone grey long pants. The design of the M35 dress tunic was based on the Imperial German army’s service tunic but was a different color and generally of much higher quality. Originally all personnel were issued two M35 dress tunics but manufacture was discontinued in late 1939 or early 1940 and was to be reinstated at the successful conclusion of the war. Regulations of March 21ST 1940 stated that the M35 dress tunics that were no longer suitable for dress wear were to be modified and reissued to personnel of the replacement and reserve units for every day wear. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the army’s Kleiderkasse, (Clothing Account), system. The Officers and certain senior NCO’s could choose to purchase their uniforms from the armed forces clothing depots or to privately purchase garments of higher quality. Although enlisted personnel were issued their uniforms from government supplies they were also permitted to purchase privately tailored uniforms although the price may have been restrictive.

This is a wonderful very good condition Heer Gebirgsjäger Mountain Trooper Leutnant's (2nd Lieutenant's) M35 Waffenrock dress tunic, complete with all the correct insignia. The base material of the uniform exterior is made of a fine feldgrau colored wool, and the interior is fully lined in olive green rayon with white striped sleeves. There is no maker marking or other tags inside, so it is most likely bespoke, customized and made for the specific soldier who wore it. The wool shows no signs of any physical damage by misuse, and there is just a bit of wear and pulling on the interior.

The collar is wrapped in dark green "badge cloth" wool and is decorated with insignia and colored piping. The base material of the two Offiziere (Officer) litzen on each side of the collar opening and the piping is hellgrün (light green), the Corps Color (Waffenfarbe) for Gebirgsjäger (mountain troops), Skijäger (ski troops), and Jäger (light infantry troops). The two litzen themselves are woven from a fine silver flatware thread, and are the correct style for an M35 Waffenrock. The collar, and its insignia, are without any major damage or mothing, though the interior of the color is somewhat worn.

The “sew-in” style shoulder boards of this Waffenrock are constructed with two rows of fine silver flatware "Russia Braid" double piping and have the correct light green base material. There are no rank pips installed, indicating the rank of Leutnant, a company grade officer equivalent to a U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant. Both have the gold tone number 100 on them, most likely for the 100. Gebirgs-Regiment (100th Mountain Infantry Regiment), a Gebirgsjäger unit that was originally part of the 1. Gebirgs-Division (1st Mountain Division). This unit would later become part of the 5. Gebirgs-Division (5th Mountain Division) in 1940.

The front breast eagle is a correct officer's Pattern executed in silver wire. The eagle is without damage and is originally sewn to the tunics breast by very neat hand stitching. Seven silvered buttons adorn the front of the tunic as the main closure, and all appear to be originally attached. There are two hook and loop fasteners for the collar. The lower French style cuffs of the sleeves have the correct green wool base, and are adorned with the correct light green piping and litzen.

The Waffenrock has a very nice officer's dress aiguillette cord setup on the right hand side, held under the shoulder board and attached to the buttons. It is the correct WWII 1935 pattern, which had additional end fittings not seen in the previous versions used by the Reichswehr. There is also a Gebirgsjäger Alpen-Edelweiß (Mountain Noble White) machine embroidered sleeve badge on the right sleeve, with the correct green leaves for the Heer (SS badges had white leaves).

The left breast of the uniform has a small medal bar attached using thread loops, which has the ribbons for the Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse 1939 (Iron Cross 2nd Class 1939 - EK II) and the Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 (Eastern Front Medal). Below this are three awards, however only the Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber (Wound Badge in Silver - 2nd Grade) is original. The back is marked with Präsidialkanzlei des Führers Lieferant (Presidential Chancellery Supplier) number 65, for Klein & Quenzer A.G. of Idar-Oberstein. The Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse 1939 (Iron Cross 1st Class 1939 - EK II) and Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen (General Assault Badge) are high end replicas. All of these are attached using the original thread loops on the tunic.

This lovely 100th Gebirgsjäger Regiment Officer's M35 Waffenrock tunic comes ready to display!

Approx. Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to sleeve: 25”
Shoulder to shoulder: 15”
Chest width: 18”
Waist width: 16.5"
Hip width: 18.5”
Front length: 27"

Gebirgsjäger material is among the most popular of all German WWII items. They were the light infantry part of the alpine or mountain troops (Gebirgstruppe) of Germany and Austria. The word Jäger (meaning "hunter" or "huntsman") is a characteristic term used for light-infantry or light-infantryman in German-speaking military context.

The mountain infantry of Austria have their roots in the three Landesschützen regiments of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The mountain infantry of Germany carry on certain traditions of the Alpenkorps (Alpine corps) of World War I. Both countries' mountain infantry share the Edelweiß insignia. It was established in 1907 as a symbol of the Austro-Hungarian Landesschützen regiments by Emperor Franz Joseph I. These troops wore their edelweiss on the collar of their uniforms. When the Alpenkorps came to aid the Landesschützen in defending Austria-Hungary's southern frontier against the Italian attack in May 1915, the grateful Landesschützen honored the men of the Alpenkorps by awarding them their own insignia: the edelweiss. Together with the Fallschirmjäger (Paratroopers) they are perceived as the elite infantry units of the German Army.