{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-red-cross-deutsches-rotes-kreuz-helfer-em-nco-tunic-with-elzach-medical-corps-armband","title":"Original German WWII Red Cross Deutsches Rotes Kreuz Helfer EM\/NCO Tunic with Elzach Medical Corps Armband","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only one available. This is a lovely WWII German\u003cem\u003e Duetsches Rotes Kreuz\u003c\/em\u003e (DRK) Officials Uniform Tunic with original Insignia, complete with a unit marked Red Cross armband. The DRK was the German Equivalent of the American Red Cross, and served a function similar to their allied counterparts, however they actually maintained a military rank structure, similar to many civic organizations during NSDAP rule. This tunic is for the DRK EM\/NCO Rank of \u003cem\u003eHelfer \u003c\/em\u003e(Helper), roughly equivalent to a Heer Army \u003cem\u003eGefreiter \u003c\/em\u003e(Exempt) a lower enlisted rank that was exempted from menial tasks. The DRK did not really have distinct Enlisted and Non Commissioned officer ranks in the traditional sense, and Helfer is actually the second lowest rank, with only \u003cem\u003eAnwärter \u003c\/em\u003e(aspirant) under it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tunic is fabricated from a coarse dark charcoal gray wool, and is very similar to the standard Heer Army tunics of the time. The lay down collar features a soft gray covering on the top portion, going onto the sides and ending at the lapels. The front features a five button front closure, though the button for the lay down collar has popped off. The tunic is fitted with four pleated pockets that all have scalloped top flaps. The buttons are the standard pebbled type, magnetic with pebbled aluminum caps, and all look to be maker marked on the back. The interior is lined with what feels like black brushed cotton, or a cotton rayon blend, and the sleeves are lined with a patterned cotton \/ rayon blend. There is a slash pocket on the interior right breast, and also a sewn up pocket at the bottom on that side that has an unknown purpose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tunic is adorned with EM\/NCO \u003cem\u003eschulterklappen\u003c\/em\u003e (shoulder straps), each board with mid-tone gray wool uppers, edged with a light gray piping. There are no rank \"pips\" installed, correct for a Helfer. The attached red Cross collar tabs are light gray and trimmed with silver bullion, each adorned with a red enamel cross. The left sleeve has a lovely white Red Cross armband with a red Geneva Cross embroidered directly into the white material. It has a printed unit marking on it in a circle surrounding the cross, which reads as follows:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDEUTSCHES ROTES KREUZ\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(Red Cross Insignia)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSANITÄTSKOLONNE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eELZACH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lower lines translates directly to \"Medical Corps Unit Elzach\", so this member was stationed in that area in the far South Eastern corner of Germany. The armband is not sewn or stitched to the sleeve, so it can be removed if desired.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition overall is very good, though the tunic does show some signs of honest wear from use, age, and storage. The collar area especially shows some wear through the fabric at the back of the neck, and possibly some moth damage in that area as well. We do not see any large tears or repairs, however there are scattered small moth holes present, extremely common on any WW2 wool uniform.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a well-preserved German WWII DRK Helfer’s tunic retaining its original shoulder straps, collar insignia, and removable unit-marked armband for the Sanitätskolonne Elzach. The scattered moth holes, collar wear, and missing collar button are fully evident, but the tunic remains complete and presents an honest service-used appearance. Its identified local medical-unit association and intact rank insignia give this example particular historical and collector interest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApproximate Measurements:-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCollar to shoulder: 9\"\u003cbr\u003eShoulder to sleeve: 26”\u003cbr\u003eShoulder to shoulder: 15\"\u003cbr\u003eChest width: 20”\u003cbr\u003eWaist: 19.5\"\u003cbr\u003eHip: 21\"\u003cbr\u003eFront length: 32\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory of the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz in WW2:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eIn April 1933 the NSDAP Reich Interior Minister Wilhelm Frick made it clear to Winterfeldt-Mencken that this policy would no longer apply; instead, the DRK would be expected to play its part in supporting the armed forces in any future conflict. Shortly after this the DRK was informed that the head of the SA Medical Corps, Dr. Paul Hocheisen had been given responsibility for voluntary nursing organizations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 11 June 1933 Frick was invited to speak at the Red Cross Day. He declared:\u003cbr\u003e\"The Red Cross is something like the conscience of the nation. ... Together with the nation, the Red Cross is ready to commit all its strength for the high goals of our leader, Adolf AH\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe DRK was quick to respond to the changed circumstances, indeed Winterfeldt-Mencken had always been opposed to the system of parliamentary democracy. The Workers' Samaritan League, a left-wing humanitarian organization, had always been an unwelcome competitor to the DRK. Hocheisen very quickly arranged that it should be taken over by the DRK. Similarly, the DRK moved quickly to rid itself of left-wing members, and in June 1933 it also decided that the NSDAP \"Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service\" should be applied and dismissed its Jewish employees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever the DRK was still a member of the Red Cross movement, and Germany remained a signatory to the Geneva Convention, so it was not possible for them to apply the same level of \"Gleichschaltung\" to the DRK as it was to other organizations. The attitude of the ICRC towards the DRK’s exclusion of the Jews was later expressed in a letter written by Max Huber in 1939. According to him, the primary obligation of neutral treatment as foreseen in the Geneva Convention was to the victims of war, and not to the helpers. He argued that as it was impossible to prescribe rules which were in conflict with the laws of a country, it was better to take a flexible approach than to risk the break-up of the universal Red Cross movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite Winterfeldt-Mencken’s professions of loyalty to the regime, they were not reciprocated and a replacement was sought. President Hindenburg was able to influence the decision, and selected Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha who was Queen Victoria’s grandson, rather than Hocheisen. Charles Edward had moved from England to Germany at the age of 15, had subsequently served as a general in the German army in the First World War, and had long supported right-wing movements in general, and AH in particular. He was already honorary president of the National Socialist Motor Corps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCharles Edward became President of the DRK in December 1933, while Hocheisen became his deputy. Not unsurprisingly, they did not work well together. There followed a typically NSDAP-Darwinist power struggle, in which Hocheisen was eventually able to assert his authority – only to be ousted by the top SS doctor Ernst-Robert Grawitz at the start of 1937. At the end of 1938 the German Red Cross officially came under the control of the Ministry of the Interior's Social Welfare Organization, becoming de facto a NSDAP entity, led by Grawitz in the role of 'acting president', with Oswald Pohl as chairman of the board of administration.[9] By this stage there was no doubt about who was in charge, though Charles Edward remained in his post until 1945. As he was related to European royalty and spoke good English, he was a useful figurehead for the DRK, but Grawitz was different – he would turn up to International Red Cross meetings in his SS uniform. Grawitz took a radical approach to his task. He introduced a hierarchical chain of command into the DRK, and arranged for a new large and imposing \"representative\"- presidential building to be constructed in Potsdam-Babelsberg, complete with a balcony from which speeches could be made. His ideal concept for the DRK was that of a \"healthy structure which would fit itself organically into the laws of life in the National Socialist Third Reich\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the years after the NSDAP takeover, as well as adopting NSDAP salutes and symbols, the DRK introduced NSDAP ideology into their education. Rescue teams were trained in military conduct, basic concepts of National Socialism, genetics, racial hygiene and demographic policy. More senior staff – doctors, nurses and managers were educated in demographic policy, racial history, racial hygiene, the biology of inheritance and the foundations of genetics. As a preparation for war, the DRK focused on training people to deal with air raids and gas attacks and organised joint exercises with the police and the fire brigades.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45366094823493,"sku":"ONJR26JUMS070","price":895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/A71CAAD8-14AF-4C36-8908-72B7E14BAAA5.jpg?v=1784302975","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-red-cross-deutsches-rotes-kreuz-helfer-em-nco-tunic-with-elzach-medical-corps-armband","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}