German WW2 M40 Wool Tunic By Richard Underwood No Badges

German WW2 Model 1940 Feldbluse.

The M40 or 1940 Model wool feldbluse tunic was worn by both the Waffen SS and the German Army (Heer) only the later tunics varied in style between the SS and Army.

By 1940 the German Army had started to change the design of the wool uniform in an effort to speed up production time and to cut production costs. Some of the more elaborate designs of the tunic where dropped the most obvious one being the green wool collars.

The M40 tunic was worn throughout Europe and can be seen in use on the Russian front. During the war some soldiers modified the M40 tunic by adding green wool onto the collars to make them look like the earlier M36 tunics, this could have been for several reason maybe to replicate the soldiers previous tunic, to make them look more like a veteran or just because they like the look of the green collar. The M40 was used by the Waffen SS and the Heer, just the insignia was different.

This M40 tunic only comes with a set of Heer Infantry shoulder boards so you can add your own insignia and if you need a waffen SS tunic you would need to change the shoulder boards also.

This quality M40 Waffen replica wool tunic has the original features including:

• Plain collar, no green collars like on the earlier M36 tunic.
• Tunic has a cotton twill liner in all wear areas like shoulders and under the arms, later models used a man made sateen fabric for the liners.
• Four front pockets all have the centre pleat down the middle of them.
• Lower pockets have a boxed shape to them allowing them to hold more and they are attached to the main body in the same style as the M36 tunic later models used a simplified way of sewing the pocket on.
• Pocket flaps are shaped some later models had flat square pocket flaps.
• Three buttons on the inside of the collar to attach the collar band (removable collar band not included).
• Small metal hook and loop fastener on the collar.
• Heer Infantry shoulder boards edged with white piping for the Infantry.
• The shoulder has a sewn on loop and button to attach the shoulder boards.
• Sleeve cuffs are fastened by a button.
• Belt hook eyelets holes 2 on the front and two on the back. The belt hook holes are a series of 3 vertical holes where the aluminium belt hooks are fitted through. (Belt hooks are not included).
• The front is fastened with 5 metal buttons which have a pebble finish and are painted.
• Inside pocket on the lower right hand side of the tunic for a field dressing packet.
• The liner has slots at the front and rear waist and the shoulders for the internal suspenders to be threaded through. The suspenders connected to the belt hooks which in turn went through the belt hook eyelets in the tunic and helped hold the leather equipment belt in place and distribute the weight on to the shoulders (internal suspenders are not included). Later in the war these where not required after the introduction of the 1939 leather Y straps for the belt.

Size conversion chart.