Description
Object description
Tunic, M1935 Parade Dress Waffenrock (with aiguillettes): Hauptmann der Reserve, Infanterie-Regiment 79 (SW 36)
Physical description
Single-breasted tunic with stand & fall collar of finely tailored field-grey tricot fabric of superior quality, piped vertically with white waffenfarbe to eight button front closure. The collar is of bottle green and edged with white waffenfarbe, the Prussian collar patches being of silver wire worked on white backings. The bottle green cuffs are of Swedish form and piped to the upper edges with white waffenfarbe, having pairs of wire embroidered vertical litzen patches worked on white rectangular backings, each having a single bright silver stipple pattern decorative button attached. Epaulettes are of flat silver wire Russia braid, worked on white backings on a grey underlay, and featuring pairs of gilt rank stars with gilt figures, '79' in Arabic form. To the rear of the tunic at the skirt are matching ornamental false pockets, edged with white waffenfarbe, each displaying three bright silver stipple buttons. The garment is closed to the front by eight bright stipple buttons and a silver wire hand embroidered army pattern eagle & swastika hoheitszeichen is sewn to the upper right breast.
To the left upper breast are mounted a pair of medals in traditional form: Iron Cross II Class (1914); Cross of Honour 1914-1918, with Swords. At the lower left breast is pinned the War Wound Badge 1914-1918 (hollowed form).
Attached to the right shoulder is a set of parade dress aiguillettes, worked in silver wire with matte silver trophies.
The tunic is complete with detachable white internal collar liner, the kragenbinde.
Label
All ranks of the German Army wore a special uniform for parade and ceremonial dress. Of traditional influence, the waffenrock echoed a form of dress similar to that used during the Kaiser's reign, with the branch to which the man belonged indicated by the decorative piping and backings to the various insignia panels. Individual unit identity was expressed by numbers fitted to the epaulettes, or in the case of the ranks, machine embroidered. Tailoring was of very high quality as were materials, showing the highest degree of workmanship.
In addition officers wore silver wire aiguillettes fitted to the right shoulder, together with a brocade belt and stone-grey riding breeches. Full medals were also worn as was the steel helmet (special lightweight versions were often worn by senior officers).
This form of dress was to be suspended on the outbreak of hostilities in 1939 but those who were in possession could still retain it for walking out, weddings, and other formal occasions. Parades from then on became less ostentatious with Service Dress being substituted.