Original Item: One-of-a-kind. The NSDAP or Nationalsozialistische Deutsche ArbeiterPartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), was originally founded in Munich as the DAP, Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (German Worker’s Party), on January 5TH 1919. When Adolf AH joined the DAP in the autumn of 1919 he was to reform what was basically a debating society into an active political party. Appointed as the first chairman of the party on July 29TH 1921, AH was to restructure it along para-military lines in a hierarchy.

This new NSDAP structure consisted of four ascending levels of government: the Ortsgruppenleitung (Local group leadership), the Kreisleitung (District leadership), the Gauleitung (Regional District leadership), and the Reichsleitung (National leadership). Each group was distinguished by a specific color of piping on the collar tabs and visor cap. From 1936 to 1939 in this scheme, light blue was for the Ortsgruppe level, black for Kreis level, burgundy red for Gau level, and gold yellow for the Reich level. After that the Kreis level changed to white piping.

Brown was to become the official color of the N.S.D.A.P. and S.A. by circumstance rather than design. A large stockpile of discounted, surplus WWI tropical brown shirts and fabric, intended for wear in East Africa, were located in Austria in 1924 and purchased by the NSDAP as a temporary measure to bring uniformity of dress to their party members. In November of 1926 the brown shirt was officially introduced, and retained, as the basic uniform item for the N.S.D.A.P. and S.A., and was eventually adopted by other political organizations such as the H.J., D.A.F., and the N.S.K.K..

This is a very nice early example of a German WWII NSDAP "Brown Shirt" uniform tunic, complete with an original armband. The tunic shows some great period wear, and is outfitted with some lovely insignia, which are totally correct for the rank of Kries Zellenleiter (District Cell Leader). Zellenleiter (Cell Leader) was a NSDAP Party political title which existed between the years of 1930 and 1945. A Zellenleiter was higher in rank than a Blockleiter and was in charge of a "NSDAP Cell", composed of eight to twelve city blocks. 

The tunic still has an original maker label in the collar, reading Yndanthrenfarbig, and a size tag, 46. There is also a tag at the waist but it has been entirely washed out and is partially torn away. The buttons are all pebbled. 

The shirt has all the correct insignia for the period, including a multi-piece NSDAP / SA armelbinde (armband) on the left sleeve, which is tack stitched in place with red thread. The collar is equipped with Kragenspiegel (Collar Tabs), which have gold plush backgrounds with two rows of brocade gold tape with swas’s as shown. The collar tabs are piped around the edges in black, and there is also piping around the entire edge of the collar, indicating that the wearer was part of the Kreisleitung (District leadership) of the NSDAP.

Overall condition is very good, though it definitely saw long service during the NSDAP period. The insignia around the collar are all worn, and there is wear to the fabric on the inside of the collar. There are some light stains on the exterior, and some heavy staining to the interior especially along the waistband.

A very nice example of an early NSDAP "Brown Shirt" uniform tunic with some lovely insignia and an original armband. Ready to research and display!

Approximate Measurements
Collar to shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to sleeve: 22”
Shoulder to shoulder: 15"
Chest width: 19”
Waist: 15"
Hip: 15"
Front length: 17.5"