Description
Physical description
Single-breasted, long-sleeved overshirt of brown cotton fabric, of 'blouse' style, featuring a turn-down collar, front fastening of five buttons, pleated breast pockets with scalloped button flaps, button cuffs and four belt loops around the waistband. All external buttons are of the gilt NSDAP pattern, except for the top front fastening button which is of brown vegetable ivory.
Sewn to each collar point is the pre-1939 NSDAP rank insignia of Zellenleiter, being two 'L' shaped bars in gold thread with superimposed swastikas on a light brown rectangular backing edged in light blue piping. Above the left breast pocket are fitted the following medal ribbons: NSDAP Long Service Award (15 years); NSDAP Long Service Award (10 years). Pinned to the left breast pocket is the SA Sports Badge (silver), while around the left arm is a pre-1939 NSDAP swastika armband, tacked on by thread and with RZM label to the underside..
Label
The brown shirt was the symbolic uniform item of various Nazi organisations and first adopted in 1925 when a large consignment of unissued German army tropical shirts were bought in Austria at a competitive price. Invariably collar patches were worn to define rank and seniority status, in this case the equivalent of a corporal serving within an urban environment. Unlike the SA, the NSDAP Political Leadership Organisation did not wear decorative epaulettes but did wear the Party armband, or Kampfbinde. As with the other various uniformed Nazi organisations, medal ribbons and decorations would be worn as appropriate.
Inscription
Diensthemd [RZM logo]
für Politische Leiter
Hersteller:
[illegible]
-meisterei
der NSDAP B No 366441
Inscription
7500[?] 5010/4 56/45