Description
Physical description
Single-breasted, long-sleeved overshirt of light brown cotton fabric, of 'blouse' style, featuring a turn-down collar edged in black piping, right shoulder epaulette of black and white braided cord on a light blue underlay (denoting class of rank and Motorgruppe locality, respectively), front fastening of five buttons, pleated breast pockets with scalloped button flaps, upturned button cuffs, a single rear belt loop and four metal belt hooks fitted into the lower hem of the shirt. All external buttons are of rounded polished silver type.
The collar features rectangular patches of black cloth, the right patch fitted with the metal unit number 'M 84', the right with the rank insignia of Rottenführer, being two white-black-white stripes across the lower half of the patch. Fitted to the shoulder seams are 'swallows nests' of black cloth and silver tresse, denoting the trade of Musician. Crudely pinned to the right arm is the NSKK eagle and swastika emblem, machine-woven in white-grey thread onto a brown-green backing, while pinned to the left breast pocket is a NSDAP membership badge. Fitted around the left arm and tacked on with thread is a NSDAP swastika armband, while to the lower left arm is a NSKK Qualified Driver badge (second pattern), being the eagle and swastika emblem superimposed over a wheel, machine-woven in aluminium thread on a black cloth diamond.
History note
The National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK) was a paramilitary formation which was initially a branch of the SA. After the SA was purged in 1934, the NSKK became an independent party organisation and adopted its own uniform and insignia. It soon became involved with training recruits for the Army's armoured and motorised arms and during the Second World War it augmented Army and Luftwaffe transport assets. From 1944 it became a dedicated transport corps, but was disbanded with the surrender of Nazi Germany in May 1945.