Description
Product Description: We are pleased to be able to offer this outstanding, historically important grouping featuring a tunic that belonged to the famous German Army Panzer General Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma. The Heer General Uniform Set for Ritter von Thoma offered in this sale consists of five total pieces, these being the tunic of von Thoma, trousers, belt, boots, original Certificate of Authenticity by German dealer Helmut Weitze, and a book about von Thoma. The visor and awards shown in the photos are not included in this sale and are only for show. Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma was born in 1891 and served with distinction in WWI, for which he was awarded the highest valor decoration in the Imperial Bavarian Army, the Knight’s Cross of the Bavarian Military Max Joseph Order. It was for this service that he was given the honorary title of Ritter. After the war, von Thoma continued to serve in the Reichswehr. He is well-known as the commander of the Condor Legion Panzertruppe during the Spanish Civil War. When WWII broke out, von Thoma led a regiment of tanks in Poland as part of the 2. Panzer Division. He went on to command tanks in the field during the campaign in France in 1940, later commanding 17. Panzer Division during Barbarossa, and the 20. Panzer Division in the Battle of Moscow. His final and most famous wartime role was in North Africa as a commander of the Afrikakorps and Panzerarmee Afrika. It was there, serving with Rommel, that General von Thoma was captured, becoming a prisoner of the British. Among other awards, von Thoma was decorated with the Knights Cross, and the Spanish Cross in Gold with Diamonds, as well as being the only recipient of the Condor Legion Panzer Badge in Gold. General Von Thoma returned to his home in Dachau near Munich after the war, and it was there that he died at the age of 56, in 1948. The tunic offered here was found at a flea market near Munich roughly 15 years ago and was soon after sold by Helmut Weitze of Hamburg. The General riding trousers, boots, and belt were not found with the tunic, but will be sold as a set. The tunic is a textbook tailor made private purchase style. It’s a piped four pocket service tunic, made of summer weight fine gabardine wool in a pleasant medium field gray color. The tunic shows clear signs of honest wear, with some fraying to the bottom edge. It also shows some effects of decades of storage, with a few areas of mothing and small holes throughout. The collar is what one would expect to see for an officer of this rank, with top quality dark green badge cloth. There is some mothing to the underside of the collar. The collar retains beautiful collar tabs for General ranks, exquisitely hand embroidered in gold bullion wire on red wool backings. The tabs show normal age toning to the metallic embroidery and are original to the tunic, tailor applied with straight machine stitching. The General ranks shoulder boards are also original to the tunic, and are the expected sew-in style. The shoulder boards each have one large rank pip indicating the rank of Generalleutnant, to which von Thoma was promoted on August 8, 1942. The boards show typical toning to the woven wire tops as well as some light mothing to the edges of the red wool underlay. This tunic was originally found in Germany without a breast eagle, but with evident traces of where the eagle had been. The last owner replaced the eagle, and we will let the new owner decide if he wants to keep this replacement on, or return the tunic to as-found condition. We aren’t sure of the originality of the eagle itself. All of the General style gold buttons are matching, and maker marked “A,” with the exception of the shoulder board buttons. It is possible these were wartime replaced but they are in any case original to the tunic as worn. The chest of the tunic features appropriate award loops for this extremely highly decorated officer, with loops for a long ribbon bar, Golden Party Badge, Iron Cross First Class with Spange, Legion Condor Tank Badge, and Spanish Cross. The inside of this finely made tunic is fully lined with artificial silk. The lining shows traces of daily wear, with some small holes. A machine woven maker’s label is sewn into the upper rear area,for the firm of “Armeemarinehaus, Berlin.” The same maker’s name tag is found in the inner chest pocket, with a handwritten name inscription reading “V. Thoma – 3.7.1940.” We have no doubt that this name tag and the written name are original to the tunic, and this is almost without doubt a tunic belonging to and worn by Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma. On March 3, 1940, von Thoma was ordered to the supreme command of the German Armed Forces to take over command as “General Der Schnellentruppe,” which made it clear that he was to be promoted to General soon. It was after this, but 4 weeks prior to his eventual promotion on August 1 1940, that this tunic was originally made for General von Thoma. When this tunic was made, it would have had no rank pips on the shoulder boards. The pips were added after his final rank promotion in 1942. Offered with this tunic are a fine pair of breeches with the red stripes worn by General officers. These breeches are made of fine feldgrau wool that shows no damage or mothing. The red wool stripes, affixed when the breeches were manufactured, and are also free of mothing or damage, with strong original red color. The interior of these trousers is lined with fine officer quality artificial silk with striped and floral patterns. An original pair of suspenders are included with the trousers. Also included are a pair of typical private purchase officer style tall boots. These are riding style boots, in black leather, with nice shine to the original surface and strong color. The leather is supple and shows light wear. The interiors retain the original pull straps, and the top of each boot has an intact buckle closure calf strap. The boots have leather soles with toe taps and heel irons, but no hobnails, as was standard for walking-out footwear. This grouping is also offered with a correct belt, made of brown leather with General type gold finish to the buckle and hardware. The leather is beginning to show some surface cracks at adjustment areas, but remains intact and full length, with much of its original brown finish to the obverse. The buckle shows attractive original gold wash. This fine grouping comes with the original photo COA from Helmut Weitze from when the tunic was originally found and sold, as well as a history of Thoma and the Panzer troop in Spain with the Condor Legion. This is a significant, museum quality uniform. Items like these are only seldom offered on the open market. This Heer General Uniform Set for Ritter von Thoma represents a unique opportunity for an advanced collector.
Historical Description: The Deutsche Heer, the Army of the German military during the Third Reich, was established in 1935. Over the next 10 years, German Army troops wore a huge variety of uniforms. Enlisted men generally wore uniforms issued from military depots. Most enlisted soldiers wore wool trousers and a tunic with four external pockets, known as a Feldbluse (field blouse). Before the war, soldiers also were issued a walking-out tunic, with flashy insignia, called the Waffenrock. Officers wore the same general uniform styles but as officers, had to supply their own uniforms. They usually wore tailor made versions. There were also myriad varieties of specialized uniforms worn by certain units or in specific situations, from the stylish black wool “wraps” worn by crews of armored fighting vehicles, to the drab HBT work uniforms. There were tropical and summer uniforms, and camouflage smocks for combat troops. For troops operating in winter climates, there were long wool overcoats, fur clothing articles, and padded jacket and trousers sets. In 1944, a new uniform was introduced, featuring a short jacket with only two external pockets. Most, but not all, German Army uniform jackets bore the Heer emblem of an eagle holding a swastika.
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