Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is an exceptional and remarkably complete original WWII Italian Regio Esercito Engineer officer’s uniform grouping belonging to a Tenente, or Lieutenant, identified by the embroidered initials L.C. The grouping includes the officer’s gray-green tunic, matching breeches, Engineer officer’s Bustina, leather officer’s belt with pistol holster, shirt, suspenders, and a pair of leg warmers. The tunic and breeches share the same L.C. initials and matching Engineer branch piping, providing a strong physical connection between the principal uniform components.

The tunic is a high-quality bespoke example constructed in gray-green wool and fitted with correct gilt MILITARE GENIO buttons for the Royal Italian Army Engineer branch. The collar is faced in black velvet and carries the characteristic Engineer branch coloration, with crimson or raspberry-colored piping and metal stars. Period Italian uniform regulations identify the Engineer branch with black collar insignia edged in crimson and matching crimson piping on the shoulder boards and trousers.

The 3rd Engineer regiment was reconstituted at Lodi on November 1, 1926, developing from the earlier 2nd Engineer Grouping of Army Corps. From 1934 to 1937 it served as the 3rd Engineer School Regiment, after which the school and regiment again became separate organizations. At the outbreak of WWII, the regiment functioned largely as a mobilization center, with its depot raising the 2nd Special Army Engineer Grouping for service in North Africa along with numerous other engineer units and detachments. The regiment was dissolved in September 1943 following the collapse of the Royal Italian Army after the armistice.

The uniform tunic has two shoulder board / epaulets with bullion Italian Engineer badges. There are black velvet discs in the middle of each that looks to have had a device attached at one point, but they are now gone. This is likely where the “3” devices were for the 3rd Engineer Regiment, but we cannot say for sure. The cuffs are also piped with the correct color for Engineers with ranks on both cuffs denoting Tenente or Lieutenant. Under the collar are the embroidered initials L.C. for the wearer. The interior has no maker’s label we could find. It is a very high quality bespoke example.

The breeches are entirely matching to the tunic with the same raspberry-colored piping and the exact same embroidered L.C. initials along the waist. The suspenders are retained and they are in outstanding condition. Two of the buttons have breakage but all are marked UNIONE MILITAR. It is very rare to find a matching tunic & breeches set like this.

The included Bustina is a great example with a 3rd Engineer regiment bullion cap badge at the front, and two bullion stars attached at the side, denoting Tenente or Lieutenant. This green grey wool field cap features fold down side panels that are held together over the crown of the cap by two corresponding hidden snaps. The front visor is in the upright position. The interior is lined in blue with a leather sweatband.

The officer’s belt has a maker stamp on the back reading:

FORNITURE MILITAR
SCUOTTO
NAPOLI

Attached to the belt is an M1934 Beretta holster in good shape, which appears unmarked. The leather of the belt is still supple and displays nicely.

The included shirt is in good condition with a maker’s label for VeDeMe of Milano. Above this is a tag with the initials C.C.. The set also comes with a pair of leg warmers in green with a black and red stripe at the top of each. They came with the group and did belong to the officer.

The Royal Italian Army’s Engineer branch encompassed a wide range of specialties, including sappers, miners, telegraph and communications personnel, searchlight units, and other technical formations. The 3rd Engineer Regiment itself became particularly important during WWII as a mobilization and training organization, raising specialized units for deployment to active theaters rather than operating solely as a single intact frontline regiment.

This is one of the most complete Italian officer’s uniform groupings we have encountered, combining the matching L.C.-initialed tunic and breeches, Tenente rank insignia, Engineer branch piping and buttons, 3rd Engineer Regiment Bustina, officer’s belt and Beretta holster, shirt, suspenders, and leg warmers. The missing shoulder-board numerals and differing initials on the shirt are important details, but the matching principal uniform pieces and surviving regimental headgear give the grouping a particularly strong internal consistency. As a nearly complete Royal Italian Army Engineer officer’s ensemble, it provides an unusually detailed view of the clothing and equipment worn by an Italian Tenente of the Genio Militare during the WWII period.

Approximate Measurements:

Jacket
Collar to shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to sleeve: 23"
Shoulder to shoulder: 17"
Chest width: 19.5"
Waist: 17.5"
Hip: 23"
Front length: 31"

Shirt
Collar to shoulder: 9.5"
Shoulder to sleeve: 24"
Shoulder to shoulder: 17.5"
Chest width: 19"
Waist: 19"
Hip: ~19"
Front length: 25"

Pants
Waist: 14"
Rise: 16.5"
Inseam: 22"