Yugoslavia, Republic. A Ceremonial Colonel General Formal Service Uniform, Tunic and Trousers belonging to Ivan I. Gošnjak

An extremely well preserved Yugoslav Ceremonial  “General-Pukovnik” rank formal service uniform consisting of a tunic and a pair of trousers.

The tunic is constructed of thick, high quality, dark blue woven wool, featuring a traditional turned-down collar that transitions into double-breasted lapels. The collar is decorated on each side with a single tab constructed of a buckram core with fine quality gilded aluminum bullion wire embroidery in the shape of an oak branch consisting of a stem, six leaves of varying sizes, and three acorns. The collar is flanked on either side by a set of sewn-on shoulder boards that are sewn in place at the shoulder and secured to the uniform using a circular button decorated with the insignia of the Yugoslav People’s Army. The shoulder boards themselves are decorated with three five-pointed stars constructed of matching fine quality gilded aluminum bullion wire embroidery, consisting of a crossed set of cannon barrels within an open-ended laurel wreath, surrounded by a border of laurel leaves along the outer edge of the board. Together, the collar tabs and shoulder boards denote the rank of Colonel General (General-Pukovnik) of the Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA). The tunic opens into double lapels, each side decorated with three vertically-mounted gilt buttons bearing a five-pointed star within a pebbled background. The buttons on the right lapel meet an equal number of reinforced horizontal-slit buttonholes on the opposing side, while the buttons on the right lapel stand freely. Both sleeves are undecorated with the exception of insignia along the cuff, consisting of a 38 mm wide red strip of doeskin fabric that is lined along the top and bottom edges with a strip of gilded aluminum bullion wire embroidered tresse along with laurel leaves running along the cuff horizontally. This tunic features one internal horizontal-slit pocket per side, each secured shut via a box-cut flap without additional buttons. The interior is lined with medium grey-coloured cotton-silk blended fabric with a singular interior horizontal-slit pocket integrated into the left flap. The tunic measures 48 cm across the shoulders (seam to seam), with a sleeve length of 69 cm, and an overall length of 86 cm.

The trousers are constructed of matching thick, high quality, dark blue woven wool. The waist has a vertical opening centrally along the front, and is secured shut via five black bakelite buttons mounted vertically in a series along the right side of the flap, and meet an equal number of reinforced horizontal-slit button holes on the opposing side, and reinforced with a metal (magnetic) loop and catch assembly near the top for additional security. The waist of the tunic is decorated along the exterior with seven belt loops.

Footnote: Ivan I. Gošnjak (June 10th, 1909 - February 8th, 1980) was a Croatian and Yugoslav communist who held several important positions during and after the Second World War. He was a carpenter by profession and joined the Communist Party of Yugoslavia in 1933. He attended Lenin School for one year during 1935, receiving lectures from Josip Tito. In January 1937 he was stationed as a volunteer in the Spanish Civil War. Following the defeat of the republican forces in Spain, Gošnjak was a prisoner of war from 1939 until his escape in 1941. He traveled from France to Croatia with a fake passport, and joined Tito’s partisans later in 1941. Ivan Gošnjak served under Tito as Defense Minister from 1950-1953 and was elected a member of the Politburo several years in a row at the at the Yugoslav congress. General Ivan Gošnjak retired from active military service in 1974, and was later appointed to serve on the Council of Federation. He is buried in the Alley of Distinguished Citizens in Belgrade, Serbia.