Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely service-worn private-purchase example of a scarce Imperial German WWI Prussian Officer’s M-1915 "Litewka" Field Tunic. The "Litewka" is a double breasted style of uniform tunic, the name of which apparently has origins of being "Lithuanian" style, and these are usually only seen as dress tunics. However, this is a rare FIELD blouse or tunic, intended for wear in battle and not during fancy dress parties. This example bears shoulder boards denoting the 86th (Schleswig-Holstein) Fusiliers "Queen" Regiment, which was formed on September 27th, 1866 and headquartered at Flensburg, Sonderburg, as part of the IX Army Corps.

As officers were required to provide their own uniforms, there is a great degree of variety with the details amongst surviving examples. This example is of a lighter gray wool with the same red piping. It features two waist pockets, which have flaps that can be placed inside the pockets if desired. Piped in red along the front edge, collar, and turnback cuffs, which at this point during German history was for an Infantry soldier. The tunic is secured by two rows of six copper buttons, all marked on the back with various German maker’s markings.

The Tunic is fitted with button-attached shoulder boards with two pips for Hauptmann (Captain), with two double rows of silver flatware "Russia braid" around the edge, which have black chevrons woven into them. The top of each board is affixed with the device for the 86th (Schleswig-Holstein) Fusiliers "Queen". The underlay is white, which indicated infantry from 1915-1919, but could also indicate that the wearer as a member of the I, II, IX, X, XII Armeekorps, and I Bavarian Korps. At the time (1915) German forces were changing the meaning of the colors on shoulder boards from Korps membership to the type of unit, which makes accurate identification quite difficult as units were shifted around during mobilization.

The interior has a light tan/gray polished cotton/wool lining, with an interior pocket on the inside chest on the left side. There is no maker mark or other markings we can see, typical of a bespoke example. The uniform is in fair condition, considering its age, and just how rare WWI Imperial German uniforms are. There is heavy staining across the exterior of the uniform, but some of this does appear period. There is some mothing on the front we can see, and there do appear to be some field repairs on the interior lining. It shows no evidence of post war use in the Reichswehr, and is definitely a great example.

The original silver wound badge is in worn condition with the silver mostly gone from the front. It is sitting on sewn award loops.

Imperial German uniforms are incredibly hard to find on the market today, both officer and enlisted. Aside from the attrition of clothing worn in the trenches, much was burned as a result of the Spanish Influenza Pandemic and lice infestations. What survived was either worn out by veterans who repurposed their old uniforms as everyday clothing following the bleak years during the massive depression that raged throughout Germany, or, was simply repurposed or converted for use with the Reichswehr.

An excellent addition to a First World War collection!