Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a lovely lightly used 1944 dated German WWII Heer Army Panzergrenadier NCO Herring Bone Twill constructed M42 Drilljacke or Drillichjacke (Drill Work Jacket) tunic, with a fantastic look.

During the reorganization of the army in April 1933, a new grey drill uniform or "Drillichanzug" - a direct descendent of the Reichheer's "Moleskinanzu"- was released. The new outfit was composed of off-white, at times greyish linen tunic (Drillichjacke) and trousers (Drillichose) with just the rank insignias on it. It was used by all recruits in quarters and was used exclusively as the working and campaign uniform by the troops. The tunic was furnished with five buttons, had a closed collar and two lower, no flap, bag pockets without buttons. It was hung by means of the inside waist strap. Originally, the design was meant to go over the standard service uniform, and protect it from getting dirty, but that concept was quickly abandoned.

Because of the conditions on the many fronts and the fact that conflicts quickly flared up across much of the Greater Germany landmass, the gray color of this fatigue uniform didn't really match the new camouflage concepts, especially because when in service it would fade to an off white color. By an order of February 12th, 1940 orders were issued stating that these drill uniforms had to be manufactured in green. This new version was very popular at the front during the summer months as a cooler alternative to the combat jacket and also as an overall.

At this time, the drill uniform began to be used showing the same insignia and emblems as that used with the combat jacket, in open contravention of regulations. It was a completely practical uniform that moved the Army Ministry to demand a new, specific, summer tunic in early 1942 for combat and duty job fashioned after the 'Feldbluse'. Apparently, the advent of the new 1944 uniform affected the 'Drillich' although there is no record that an eventual summer version of this late uniform was ever developed.

This is a very nice lightly used condition totally genuine German WWII Heer Model 1942 HBT (Herringbone Twill) Battle Tunic or Summer Tunic, marked for a Panzergrenadier Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO). It features a six button front closure, and four square unpleated pockets with square top flaps. These are all secured with painted pebbled magnetic buttons that do not appear to be maker marked, which are all secured by circlips under fabric flaps. The large flap on the inner right size is also stamped with the original size information in white, and has E. 44 underneath, for 1944 issue at the Erfurt depot. The tunic is correctly unlined, with rayon reinforcements in structural areas, and there is only a bandage pocket on the lower right on the interior.

The tunic is outfitted with all of the insignia usually seen on the field uniform. The upper right chest features a BeVo machine embroidered Wehrmachtadler Eagle, which is the correct shape and gray on green color introduced in 1940, and not replaced until 1944. There are EM/NCO litzen collar patches sewn directly to each side of the collar, which are woven from gray and green threads. They do not have Corps Color stripes, as in 1938 they were removed from EM/NCO collar insignia to save time. There is no NCO Tresse around the edge of the color, and it seems to usually have been omitted on this style of tunic.

The button attached style Unteroffiziere Schulterklappen (NCO shoulder straps) are made with black "badge cloth" material on the top and bottom, as are the attachment straps. They feature silver colored NCO tresse diamond weave piping around the entire edge, and the straps are also piped around the edge with Wiesengrün (Meadow Green), the Waffenfarbe (corps color) for the Heer Panzergrenadiertruppen (Panzer Grenadier Troops). These were motorized / mechanized infantry troops, and were legendary in the field. Originally called Schützen regiments, they had used the same Pink piping as the Panzer corps. Then in 1942 Infantry Regiments were renamed as Grenadier Regiments by Adolf H as a historical homage to Frederick the Great's Army, and the Schützen were renamed to Panzergrenadiers.

The shoulder straps each have a single rank "pip" installed on them, which indicates the Unteroffiziere mit Portepee (Senior NCO) rank of Feldwebel, equivalent to a U.S. Army Technical sergeant. We are not aware of any special title associated with Panzergrenadier NCOs.

The tunic shows only light wear, mostly in the form of wear to the painted buttons, making this a really great example. This would make a great addition to any German WWII collection!

Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 10"
Shoulder to sleeve: 26”
Shoulder to shoulder: 14"
Chest width: 19”
Waist: 17"
Hip: 17"
Front length: 32"