Wehrmacht Field Tunic, Parade Field Tunic and Visor Cap from the Estate of Karl Breyer of Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100

The field tunic is a Model 38 field tunic, an issue piece, which was later modified at the clothing depot as an officer's field tunic. Field-gray wool, with dark green collar, the sleeves with simulated cuffs. Complete with all insignia: metal-thread hand-embroidered breast eagle on dark green, machine-sewn (!), the collar tabs also machine-sewn. Sewn-in shoulder boards with gilt numerals “100”. On the right sleeve the Mountain Troops badge in hand-embroidered officer's quality. Ribbon for the Iron Cross 2nd Class in the buttonhole, on the chest the Wound Badge in Black pinned. Interior with dark green lining of officer's quality, with sewn-in slit for wearing the officer's dagger. On the button panel still clearly visible the depot stamps “.. B 38” and “1./GJ..” (= 1st Company, Gebirgs-Jäger...). Minimally worn, in almost mint condition!
The parade field tunic is an elegant privately-purchased piece, circa 1940. The fabric of light field-gray gabardine, dark green collar, the collar and button panel with green piping. Complete with all insignia: metal-thread hand-embroidered breast eagle in silver (not aluminum!) on dark green ground hand-sewn, the collar tabs machine-sewn, glossy sewn-in shoulder boards with gilt numerals “100”, branch color green. On the chest loops for 1 pin-on badge. On the right sleeve the Mountain Troops badge in hand-embroidered officer's quality. Interior with stone-gray cloth lining, side with sewn-in slit and clip for wearing the officer's dagger. Measurements: sleeve length: 63 cm, shoulder: approx. 44 cm, chest circumference: 92 cm, back: 63 cm. Only lightly worn, condition 2+.
Visor cap for Mountain Troops officers, an elegant privately-purchased piece, typical manufacture by firm Peküro. High elegant saddle form, complete with national eagle, Edelweiss, oak leaf wreath with cockade in aluminum, branch color green. Interior with light sweat leather and black velvet edge, light lining, the celluloid diamond removed, size approx. 58. Only lightly worn, condition 2+. Additionally, a very fine original photograph of Oberleutnant Breyer in precisely this parade field tunic and this visor cap! Furthermore, 2 “Wehrmacht” admission tickets to the Salzburg Festival 1942 for 2 concerts. Breyer married his wife on home leave in August 1942 and attended the festival in Salzburg with her.

Additionally, the Wehrpass with protective cover, issued 1938, complete with all entries until his death, killed in action as member of 12./Geb.Jäg.Rgt. 98 in the Caucasus, Russia on 14.12.1942. Promotion to Oberleutnant occurred on 12.12.1942. Recorded awards: Wound Badge in Black on 6.4.1941, Iron Cross 2nd Class on 1.12.1942. Additionally, the certificate of 11th Company Geb.Jäg.Rgt. 100 regarding an assault on the armored fortification group Kelkaia on 6.4.1941, “which corresponds to the requirements for the award of the Infantry Assault Badge...”. Furthermore, a fine portrait photograph as Oberjäger.
After the death of Oberleutnant Breyer, the uniforms remained together with his Wehrpass with the widow. After her death, we were able to acquire this truly beautiful ensemble in January 2021.
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Wehrmacht Field Tunic, Parade Field Tunic and Visor Cap from the Estate of Karl Breyer of Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100

This extraordinary uniform ensemble documents the military career of Oberleutnant Karl Breyer, who served with Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100. The collection comprises a Feldbluse M38, an enhanced officer's field tunic, and a Schirmmütze visor cap, accompanied by personal documents that provide rare and authentic testimony to mountain warfare service during the Second World War.

Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100 was established on October 15, 1935 in Wehrkreis VII. From April 9, 1938, the regiment was subordinate to the 1st Gebirgs-Division. On November 3, 1940, Gebirgs-Jäger-Regiment 100 under Oberst Utz separated from the divisional association and joined the newly established 5th Gebirgs-Division. This division was formed on October 25, 1940 by Wehrkreis XVIII (Salzburg) in the area Salzburg – Zell am See.

The uniform pieces presented here bear the characteristic insignia of the mountain troops. On May 2, 1939, the OKH (Oberkommando des Heeres/High Command of the Army) authorized wear of the distinctive Edelweiss tradition badge by Mountain Troop personnel on the upper right sleeve. Both tunics feature this badge in the officer's hand-embroidered version, along with the Wehrmacht breast eagle, collar tabs, and sewn-in shoulder boards with gilded "100" designations. The green Waffenfarbe piping indicates Gebirgsjäger affiliation. On introduction, the edelweiss badge was on a blue-green badge cloth base, but in early 1940 this was altered to a field-grey wool base.

The Feldbluse M38 represents a depot-issue item that was modified for officer use. The Model 36 tunic retained the traditional grey-green field gray wool but incorporated four front patch pockets with scalloped flaps and pleats, with the collar and shoulder straps of dark bottle-green. This M38 shows clearly visible depot stamps on the button placket: "..B 38" and "1./GJ.." (1st Company, Gebirgs-Jäger). The interior features dark green lining in officer quality with a sewn-in slit for wearing the officer's dagger.

The enhanced Feldbluse represents an elegant private-purchase item circa 1940. In 1937, officers were authorized the optional purchase of the "ornamented" or "piped" uniform to be worn as a less-formal alternative, with collar and its insignia identical to the dress uniform, and collar, closure and cuffs piped in Waffenfarbe. This tunic of light field-grey gabardine with dark green collar and green piping embodies this private-purchase tradition. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own caps and were allotted a clothing allowance through the army's Kleiderkasse (Clothing Account) system.

In March 1941, the division moved into the Balkans and took part in the invasion of Greece. The included certificate mentions the assault on Panzerwerkgruppe Kelkaia on April 6, 1941, which occurred during the frontal attack on fortifications at the Rupel Pass leading to Saloniki, where the division attacked works Rupesko, Popotliwitsa, Istibei, Kelkaja and Arpaluki. Breyer's Wound Badge in Black, awarded on April 6, 1941, was given for those wounded once or twice by hostile action.

In December 1941, Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100 left Crete and relocated to Salzburg and Tyrol. In February 1942, the division was transferred to the Eastern Front and deployed with the XXVIII. Armeekorps at Heeresgruppe Nord at the front before Leningrad, where it served in the Volkhov region until December 1943. Breyer married his wife during home leave in August 1942 and attended the Salzburg Festival with her, as documented by the included concert tickets.

The Wehrpass, issued in 1938, documents Breyer's complete military career until his death. His promotion to Oberleutnant occurred on December 12, 1942. Just two days later, on December 14, 1942, he was killed in action as a member of 12./Geb.Jäg.Rgt. 98 in the Caucasus, Russia. His Iron Cross 2nd Class, awarded December 1, 1942, was typically displayed as a ribbon through one of the button holes in the recipient's tunic.

After Breyer's death, the uniforms remained with his widow along with his Wehrpass. Following her death, this remarkable ensemble was acquired in January 2021, preserving these authentic witnesses to an eventful military career.

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