Germany, Ordnungspolizei. An Oberleutnant of the Schutzpolizei Uniform, Tunic and Trousers by Roger Kauert K.G.

(Uniform eines Oberleutnant der Schutzpolizei des Reiches). A fine quality and extremely well preserved uniform consisting of a tunic and trousers, belonging to an Oberleutnant of the Schutzpolizei under the Ordnungspolizei.

1. The tunic is constructed of fine, high quality, field-grey wool fabric, and features a traditional turned-down collar that is decorated on both sides with fine quality officer’s collar tabs. The tabs consist of a buckram core and a dark green “Flaschengrün” wool exterior, with two column litzen embroidered onto the obverse. The columns are made out of rolled silver bullion wires, with bright green piping running along the columns, denoting membership in the Schutzpolizei of the Ordnungspolizei. The shoulders are ordained with sewn-on shoulderboards that are held in place via a stitch at the shoulder as well as one pebbled magnetic button per side. The shoulder boards are constructed of a cardstock core with a bright green wool exterior. The tops of the boards are decorated by multiple rows of “U” shaped piping constructed of matching rolled silver aluminum bullion piping. The right sleeve is undecorated, however, the left sleeve features an extremely well preserved and finely detailed police eagle insignia consisting of a field grey wool backer with flat and rolled silver aluminum bullion wires in the shape of an eagle with open wings clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, sitting within a large oval oak wreath. The sleeves also feature a lower cuff at the end of each sleeve with a depth of 16 cm, secured in place with two stitches per side. This tunic features four externally mounted pockets; two at pleated pockets at breast height, and two regular unpleated at waist hight. All pockets are secured shut via a scalloped flap and pebbled non-magnetic putton. On the left breast pocket are two pairs of small loops for the attachment of awards. Below it is a set of “SS” runes constructed of fine quality hand-embroidered rolled silver aluminum bullion wires on a field-grey wool backer. The tunic closes at the front with four non-magnetic pebbled buttons that meet an equal number of reinforced horizontal-slit buttonholes on the left flap. The top buttonhole is decorated with a ribbon for a War Merit Cross 1939 Second Class. The interior is fully encompassed by a multi-piece rayon liner which consists of grey-coloured fabric through the torso, transitioning into a pinstripe design through the arms. The inside of the left flap features an integrated horizontal-slit pocket featuring a maker’s label reading “Roger Kauert K.G.” in black ink, along with the sizing marks “46, 44, 114, 70, 58” and date-marked “PO. 42”, all in black ink. The tunic measures 42 cm across the shoulders (seam to seam), with an arm length of 56 cm, and an overall body length of 85 cm. The tunic demonstrates only minor signs of age and wear, remaining in overall better than extremely fine condition.

2. The trousers are constructed of matching high quality field grey wool. The waist has a vertical opening centrally along the front, and is secured shut via four small, and one large bakelite button mounted vertically in a series along the right side of the flap, meeting an equal number of reinforced horizontal-slit button holes on the opposing side. This pair of trousers features one diagonal-slit pocket per side, with a small horizontal-slit fob pocket immediately to the right of the opening slit. Along the right side of the reverse is an additional horizontal-slit pocket that is secured shut by a single bakelite button. The interior of these trousers is partially lined with off-white cotton along the waist for comfort, decorated with a total of six bakelite buttons for the attachment of suspenders. The pant legs feature a long vertical slit along the cuff that is secured shut via twelve rivets and a drawstring that is threaded in an “X” pattern. The trousers measure 42 cm across the waist, with an inseam of 72 cm, and an overall length of 102 cm. The trousers present very well, appearing only slightly worn, with well-exectured repairs to both knees, in overall near extremely fine condition.