{"product_id":"original-italian-wwii-3rd-engineer-regiment-lieutenant-s-uniform-group-with-bustina-officer-s-belt-holster-and-leg-warmers","title":"Original Italian WWII 3rd Engineer Regiment Lieutenant’s Uniform Group with Bustina, Officer’s Belt, Holster, and Leg Warmers","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is an exceptional and remarkably complete original WWII Italian \u003cb\u003eRegio Esercito Engineer officer’s uniform grouping\u003c\/b\u003e belonging to a \u003cb\u003eTenente, or Lieutenant\u003c\/b\u003e, identified by the embroidered initials \u003cb\u003eL.C.\u003c\/b\u003e 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 \u003cb\u003eL.C.\u003c\/b\u003e initials and matching Engineer branch piping, providing a strong physical connection between the principal uniform components.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tunic is a high-quality bespoke example constructed in gray-green wool and fitted with correct gilt \u003cb\u003eMILITARE GENIO\u003c\/b\u003e buttons for the Royal Italian Army Engineer branch. The collar is faced in black velvet and carries the characteristic Engineer branch coloration, with \u003cb\u003ecrimson or raspberry-colored piping\u003c\/b\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 3rd Engineer regiment was reconstituted at \u003cb\u003eLodi on November 1, 1926\u003c\/b\u003e, developing from the earlier 2nd Engineer Grouping of Army Corps. From \u003cb\u003e1934 to 1937\u003c\/b\u003e it served as the \u003cb\u003e3rd Engineer School Regiment\u003c\/b\u003e, 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 \u003cb\u003e2nd Special Army Engineer Grouping\u003c\/b\u003e for service in North Africa along with numerous other engineer units and detachments. The regiment was dissolved in \u003cb\u003eSeptember 1943\u003c\/b\u003e following the collapse of the Royal Italian Army after the armistice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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 \u003cb\u003eTenente \u003c\/b\u003eor \u003ci\u003eLieutenant. \u003c\/i\u003eUnder the collar are the embroidered initials \u003cb\u003eL.C. \u003c\/b\u003efor the wearer. The interior has no maker’s label we could find. It is a very high quality bespoke example.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe breeches are entirely matching to the tunic with the same raspberry-colored piping and the exact same embroidered \u003cb\u003eL.C. \u003c\/b\u003einitials along the waist. The suspenders are retained and they are in outstanding condition. Two of the buttons have breakage but all are marked \u003cb\u003eUNIONE MILITAR\u003c\/b\u003e. It is very rare to find a matching tunic \u0026amp; breeches set like this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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 \u003cb\u003eTenente \u003c\/b\u003eor \u003ci\u003eLieutenant\u003c\/i\u003e. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe officer’s belt has a maker stamp on the back reading:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFORNITURE MILITAR\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSCUOTTO\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNAPOLI\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAttached 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe included shirt is in good condition with a maker’s label for VeDeMe of Milano. Above this is a tag with the initials \u003cb\u003eC.C.\u003c\/b\u003e. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is one of the most complete Italian officer’s uniform groupings we have encountered, combining the \u003cb\u003ematching 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\u003c\/b\u003e. 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 \u003cb\u003eTenente of the Genio Militare\u003c\/b\u003e during the WWII period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApproximate Measurements:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJacket\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCollar to shoulder: 9\"\u003cbr\u003eShoulder to sleeve: 23\"\u003cbr\u003eShoulder to shoulder: 17\"\u003cbr\u003eChest width: 19.5\"\u003cbr\u003eWaist: 17.5\"\u003cbr\u003eHip: 23\"\u003cbr\u003eFront length: 31\"\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShirt\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCollar to shoulder: 9.5\"\u003cbr\u003eShoulder to sleeve: 24\"\u003cbr\u003eShoulder to shoulder: 17.5\"\u003cbr\u003eChest width: 19\"\u003cbr\u003eWaist: 19\"\u003cbr\u003eHip: ~19\"\u003cbr\u003eFront length: 25\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePants\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWaist: 14\"\u003cbr\u003eRise: 16.5\"\u003cbr\u003eInseam: 22\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45819650080837,"sku":"ONJR26AULC044","price":1295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/C7382CC3-EC1A-4907-93D3-10DDBEEB026F.jpg?v=1790016967","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-italian-wwii-3rd-engineer-regiment-lieutenant-s-uniform-group-with-bustina-officer-s-belt-holster-and-leg-warmers","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}