Since the TeNo. TN. Technische Nothilfe became an integral part of the Polizei officially in 1937 (thus a part of the growing SS), this Sub Forum seems the right spot for TN Items, others to follow.
TeNo / TN-Mantel - I've been looking for a TN Overcoat for quite some time & expected to find one made of wool (If I was lucky enough to find one at all!) To my pleasant surprise, this TN-Mantel is made of a heavy Navy blue / dunkelblau Cotton fabric which has been 'water proofed.' Almost as heavy as a canvas, but slightly softer and more malleable. It's consistency is more like a duck hunter's all weather coat. The internal seams are all rubberized and there is a cotton strap with clip for attaching the TN F?hrerdolch, which passed through the left pocket.
The Mantel has TN-Kameradeschaftf?hrer's slip-in shoulder boards (with TN logo buttons)which is consistent with the 1940-1943 TN insignia in effect. Also present is the TN Tyr Rune Arrow noting that this officer had been through either the Belzig or Dresden TN-Reichschule. The TN triangular eagle patch is the standard metallic wire on dunkelblau model.
It is interesting that no collar tabs, or TN cuff title, were ever attached to this TN-Mantel. My belief is that since the purpose of the particular overcoat was for use in the rain, etc., that those insignia devices were omitted.
Official TN issued overcoats are distinctive in that they have 2 rows of 5 buttons each, 10 in total, and are the TN logo type (silver or OD, olive drab, in rare instances.) The TN assigned to the Heer and Luftwaffe used their overcoats, which are the 2 rows of 6 button's types (12 buttons in total). (TN in Kriegs' service did exist, but is so rare, that I have not yet even seen any uniform photos!)
All in all, I feel that it is a nice representative TN uniform item of a TN-Mantel.
Txs, Dave/dblmed
