Original Item: Only One Available. The National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK) was a paramilitary organization of the NSDAP that officially existed from May 1931 to 1945. The group was a successor organization to the older National Socialist Automobile Corps (NSAK), which had existed since April 1930.

The NSKK served as a training organization, mainly instructing members in the operation and maintenance of high-performance motorcycles and automobiles. The NSKK was further used to transport NSDAP and SA officials/members. The NSKK also served as a roadside assistance group in the mid-1930s, comparable to the modern-day American Automobile Association or the British Automobile Association. The outbreak of World War II in Europe caused the NSKK ranks to be recruited to serve in the transport corps of various German military branches. There was also a French section of the NSKK, which was organized after the German occupation of France began in 1940. The NSKK was the smallest of the NSDAP Party organizations.

Originally part of the SA, members of the NSKK originally wore the same "Brown Shirt" tunics and uniforms of that organization. After becoming an independent organization, they began wearing the NSKK.-Dienstrock (service tunic), which were much more similar to the standard military uniform. For use in the field, they adopted "pullover" style service shirts like those used by the Wehrmacht.

This lovely NSKK Service Uniform Shirt belonged to a Truppführer (Troop Leader) with Sturm 23 of the Motorstandarte 153. It is made from brown cotton twill, and is marked inside the collar with a stamped 5870 40 0788, which most likely indicates the maker and relatively size of the shirt. It also has a tag at the rear marked Indanthrenfarbig. This indicates that the shirt was made using Indanthrene colors textiles, which are made using Indanthrene dyes, known for their exceptional fastness and durability. The shirt features a 4 button front closure, with the top button being plastic, while the other three are silver colored, as are the buttons on the ends of the sleeves and on the two chest pockets. All of the buttons are retained by split rings on the reverse, except for the collar button retaining the shoulder insignia.

The right shoulder of the tunic features a stitched in black and silver “checkered” EM/NCO schulterklappe (shoulder strap), which is in very good service used condition, used with NSKK ranks Sturmmann to Obertruppführer. It features Stahlgrün (Steel Green) piping around the exterior with a black base. The NSKK retained the district colors from the SA, and "Steel Green" could be either the Nordsee Group (Western part of Province of Hanover, Oldenburg, and Bremen) or the Kurpfalz Group (including parts of Hesse and Baden). It is also possible that it is for an NSKK corps color, but we were not able to find any listing of these.

The kragenpatten (collar tabs) remain fully stitched on with all devices still properly attached, and are the correct black color with silver metal insignia. After separating from the SA the NSKK did away with the district colors on the collar insignia. The right collar tab is the unit tab, and 23 / M153 indicates the 23th Sturm (company), 153rd Motorstandarte (Regiment). The left collar tab has two rank "pips", for the Senior NCO rank of NSKK-Truppführe (Troop Leader), equivalent to a German Army Hauptfeldwebel (First Sergeant).

The tunic has the correct insignia for a member of the NSKK, including a cotton multi-piece NSDAP / SA armelbinde (armband) on the left sleeve, which is hand tack stitched in place with red thread. Lower down on the sleeve is a First Pattern NSKK Kraftfahrraute (Driver's Diamond) insignia, made from a silvered stamped wheel insignia on a black background. The right sleeve features a Bevo aluminum bullion embroidered NSKK Ärmelabzeichen (Sleeve Insignia), indicating pre-1939 issue, when this badge was moved to the left sleeve. Overall condition is very good, showing light to moderate wear, with no major damage to note. There is some light staining in areas, as well as some small pinprick holes.

Included with the tunic are a lovely pair of the correct black corduroy breeches, which were used by the NSKK, Allgemeine SS, and other NSDAP groups that utilized black trousers as part of their uniform. These have the classic look, and feature ten eyelet closures on the end of the legs that go inside the boots, though the lacing is missing. They feature a four button fly front closure, with a hook and loop fastener at the top, though one button is missing, and another looks to have been replaced. There are still buttons around the waist for attachment of suspenders, which some looking to have been replaced. The have the usual complement of pockets we see on these, two vertical slash waist pockets, a "pocket watch" pocket next to the fly, and a button closed horizontal slash pocket on the right seat.  There are also size adjustment straps on the sides.

They are in very good service used condition, showing some period stitch repairs and signs of a good amount of use. Many of the buttons and other fittings were originally blued steel, which now shows oxidation in most areas from moisture exposure and use. We can also see some small tears which were stitch repaired during the period.

A lovely NSKK uniform set, ready to research and display!

Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 9.5"
Shoulder to sleeve: 21”
Shoulder to shoulder: 18"
Chest width: 22.5”
Waist: 23"
Hip: 23"
Front length: 31.5"

Pants:-
Waist: 17"
Inseam: 22"

History of the NSKK
The National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK) was a successor organization to the older National Socialist Automobile Corps (NSAK), which had existed since being formed on 1 April 1930. Legends about the actual emergence of the NSKK go back as far as 1922, when the publisher of the Völkischer Beobachter (People's Observer) and founding member of the German Workers' Party (DAP), Dietrich Eckart, allegedly purchased trucks so the SA could perform their missions and transport propaganda materials. Martin Bormann founded the NSAK, which itself was the successor to the SA Motor Squadrons (Kraftfahrstaffeln). AH made the NSAK an official NSDAP organization on 1 April 1930. The NSAK was responsible for coordinating the use of donated motor vehicles belonging to party members, and later expanded to training members in automotive skills. Adolf Hühnlein was appointed Korpsführer (Corps Leader) of the NSAK, which was to serve primarily as a motorized corps of the Sturmabteilung (SA). Hühnlein became the organization's "nucleus".

The organization's name was changed to the National Socialist Motor Corps (Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrkorps; NSKK), becoming official on 1 May 1931. It was essentially a paramilitary organization with its own system of paramilitary ranks and the smallest of the NSDAP organizations. Despite its relatively smaller size, when the NSDAP celebrated Braunschweiger SA-day on 18 October 1931, the NSKK had upwards of 5,000 vehicles at its disposal to move men and materials.

The primary aim of the NSKK was to educate its members in motoring skills or what was called "fitness in motoring skills" (Motorische Ertüchtigung), but it also transported NSDAP and SA officials. In the mid-1930s, the NSKK also served as a roadside assistance group, comparable to the modern-day American Automobile Association or the British Automobile Association.

Membership in the NSKK did not require any prior knowledge of automobiles. It was thought that training in the NSKK would make up for any previous lack of knowledge. Under the guidance of the police, numerous NSKK men were stationed at traffic junctions and trained in traffic control.

On 20 July 1934, weeks after the major purge of the SA in what became known as the Night of the Long Knives, the NSKK was separated and promoted into an independent NSDAP organization. From 1935 onward, the NSKK also provided training for Panzer crews and drivers of the Heer (German Army). The NSKK had two sub-branches within the organization known as the Motor-HJ (Motor-HJ Motor-HJ) and Naval NSKK (Marine-NSKK). The Motor-HJ branch was formed by Reichsjugendführer (HJ Leader) Baldur von Schirach after he became a member of the NSKK. It operated 350 of its own vehicles for educational and training purposes. The Naval NSKK trained men in the operation and maintenance of boats.

During the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, the NSKK assumed responsibility for a variety of transport tasks, proving themselves effective at political propaganda by transporting foreign visitors around on designated tours. By 1938, NSKK members were undergoing mechanical and operational training for both civilian and military type vehicles. Over time, the training at NSKK schools became primarily focused on military related tasks. For services to the NSKK and due in part to the general success of the NSKK, Hühnlein was promoted to the position of a Reichsleiter of the NSDAP in 1938. Hühnlein was NSKK Korpsführer from 1931 until he died in 1942, when Erwin Kraus took over.