W.Unland

Another view:

Here is a close up of the cap itself. Very pretty piece with the carmine pink piping.

Hello, It's been a while. I was able to obtain the cap to go with this tunic so the completed ensemble is presented here:

Here is a photo of the inside of the lower back showing that the lining is contiguous where the vent and flaps should be. It looks like the center is a different color, but it is really one piece of cotton, the color difference due to camera flash. Again, this detail showing that this tunic was made this way. The tunic is otherwise fully lined with dagger hole and bandage pocket. It is entirely original, if not entirely badged as it came from the factory. Another example of how losely regulations were followed when it comes to these civil police service tunics. Thanks for taking a look. Regards, William Unland

Here is a closer view showing that this tunic was made this way. It is possible that it was originally cut to be manufactured in the traditional manner. That said, the modification was carried out when it was originally assembled as the thread used is the same as the other construction. This is NOT a "collector" modification. I can only guess that this detail was omitted as this tunic was intended for a fireman. Perhaps the decorations were considered unnecessary, or perhaps they interferred with the fire service belt. Or maybe they were just left off to save time. I will never know.

Now for the strange, contrary to regulations aspect of this tunic. Here is a photo of the back. Typical police "rock" construction.....EXCEPT......that's right, no decorative flaps, or vent at the bottom, and no piping.

And here are the depot stamps which tell me this was a Feuerwehr tunic NOT a Feuerschutzpolizei. It is clearly stamped with "FW" (FeuerWehr) rather than "Fu Sch Po" as is a tunic with very similar depot stamps in another collecot's collection. Clearly this is a rather rare example of a green tunic actually issued to a career fireman, most whom continued to wear the blue tunics until the end of the war.

When I received the tunic it had a SchuPo d. Gemeinden eagle machine sewn to the sleeve. Very strange as it was clearly NOT a fire eagle. Also the edges of that eagle were not married into the body of the sleeve, and it appeared to have been freashly applied. Close examination showed that someone had opened the seam on the back of the sleeve to allow the machine stitching of the WRONG color eagle. It was clearly NOT the eagle original to this tunic. Proves that machine stitching of eagles means very little when evaluating authenticity. The alteration was discovered as the less than competent tailor had left the seam thread holes from the original construction visable where he mismatched the closure of the shoulder seam proving that the seam had been opened after original assembly. Why someone would use a rare GemPo eagle to slap this tunic together is anyone's guess. He probably didn't know the difference. I have replaced that eagle with a proper all carmine Feuerwehr eagle ( actually a rather rare eagle type), rather than a more common Feuerschutzpolizei eagle with a black swastika, for reasons that shall become obvious in a second. This eagle was originally an exact match to the tunic. Unfortunately it has suffered moth grazing to the nap which gives it a slightly mottled appearance. It is a fairly close match for the wear and service condition of the tunic.

Here is a view of the black corded boards and tabs. When I closed the seams holding the shoulder boards I found remnants of at least five different color threads, suggesting that this tunic has seen many alterations during it's life. Hopefully it has now seen it's last "modification" as it has been returned to it's original appearance, rank not withstanding.

Hello, Presented here is an interesting Feuerwehr green tunic. Although the volunteer and career firemen traditionally worn the Prussian blue tunics we always associate with them, in 1943 they were ordered to begin switching over to a standardized green police type tunic. Here is one such tunic intended for Feuerwehr use rather than Feuerschutzpolizei as are most green fire tunics encountered. Here is a view of the front. Standard carmine pink piping of the fire services with black collar and cuffs. This tunic had been used and abused over the years and has had the insignia changed many times. This is the result of my restoration to what it should have looked like during the period. When I received it it had no tabs and the wrong shoulder boards. The boards are sitting slightly foreward of the normally encountered position, but this is where they were originally mounted as evidenced by construction details inside the shoulders, so I dd not modify the position.

Hello, Of course Ernst is correct. SS style tabs were mandated for all branches of the police, but the only one's that ever actually used them were police generals and the tenopolizei since they brought their SS style tabs with them when they were absorbed into the police. Over the years I have seen various green police SS-style tabs for sale, but I have always considered these to be reproductions as they never had a chance to be used. I suppose it IS possible that some staff officer's might have actually used them, but certainly not volunteer firemen. Regards, William unland

And lastly, an alternative view with an officer's side cap rather than helmet. Regards, William Unland

Here is a view of the M42 helmet with plain rim and double decals.

Here is an example of a "subdued" eagle more appropriate to this tunic.

The officer's sleeve eagle. In this case a bright bullion eagle is mounted. It MAY be a replacement as matte gray eagles were produced for use on this type of tunic:

A view of the "plain" unpleated back.

A view showing the matte gray insignia.

A slightly closer view showing the "plain" collar and cuffs.

Hello, Presented here is a Gendarmerie officer's field service, or "combat" tunic. It can be distinguished from the dress service tunic by the lack of brown collar and cuffs, as well as the unpleated back. It is also badged with "subdued" gray collar tabs and boards as opposed to the dress bright silver insignia. Here it is shown with boot breeches and M42 helmet as might have been worn by a Gendarmerie officer assigned to a combat theater.

Thank you for the kind words. Regards, Bill U

Dear Mike, Yes, Japan is a small place For some reason they build houses and apartments here without closets, so yes you are correct............I STILL have no room for uniforms! BUT, sometimes you just can't pass something It brings back memories of my three years in the joint..............................as a guard that is when i first became a cop way back in 1974.........god I'm getting old. Actually I have only a few. I still concentrate on the small stuff. Unfortunately, it is becoming very difficult to find since the dealers started convincing new collectors that the police were the SS-lite, and police insignia has become popular! Regards, Bill Unland

Hello, I don't know. Judges wore national eagles, and most of the political groups who didn't wore armbands. These are the ONLY armed branch of the government that I know of who wore no national emblem or swastika. Why??? Prussian tradition perhaps, or oversight. No idea, but even in the 1942 regulations there is NO eagle worn. Even the Post Office and Train conductors wore eagles, but not these guys.....and they carried guns! I would have made a guess that somehow the "justice" ministry was "above" politics, but since judges wore eagles that doesn't make any sense. Regards, Bill Unland

Here is the "Justice" green next to a "police" green to demonstrate the difference in color. Regards, William Unland

Lastly here is a closer view of the cap and tunic showing how closely the color of the materials match. This color is unique to the Justice/prison services. Not quite "police" green, and not quite field gray.

This tunic is shown with a pre-1936 style Prussian Justice official's service belt.