Waffenrock
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Waffenrock (also
Later, Waffenrock became the generic term for any
Historical roots
Waffenrock was derived from the substantive wâfenroc or wâpenroc ("weapon tunic") of knights. It was often made from expensive silk cloth. The colors of this cloth corresponded to those on the shield quartering. In the spirit of this, the heraldic figures on the coat of arms were frequently designed with gold and silver embroidery.
In the Prussian Army, the service coat was commonly called Montierung. It was renamed to Soldatenrock ("soldier's tunic") in October 23, 1842, by the Prussian cabinet order of His Majesty (German: allerhöchste Kabinettsorder). In 1843, it was finally renamed to Waffenrock.[3] All German-speaking armies commonly used this wording, except for the Austro-Hungarian Army (later Austrian Army), where the designation Adjustierung was in use.
World War II use
In its Wehrmacht form as issued in 1935, it was a formfitting thigh-length eight-button tunic of fine feldgrau wool, without external pockets. The collar was taller than the service tunic and bore more elaborate Litzen, embroidered all in silver-white and mounted on Waffenfarbe backing; smaller Ärmelpatten, similar in appearance to Litzen, appeared under the buttons on the dark-green Swedish cuffs. Waffenfarbe piping also edged the collar, cuffs, front closure, and scalloped rear vent.
Officers wore a formal belt of silver braid. Trousers were steingrau, with the outer seams piped in Waffenfarbe. In the full-dress uniform (grosser Gesellschaftanzug) the Waffenrock was worn with medals,
Production and issue of the Waffenrock were suspended in 1940, and either the service or the officers' ornamented uniform was worn for dress occasions instead. However, the Waffenrock remained authorized for walking out for those who had or could purchase it. It was a widespread if unauthorized practice to loan a soldier a Waffenrock from regimental stocks to get married in, as evidenced by many wartime wedding photos.
Historical examples
The gallery below shows examples of Waffenrock over the suit of armor.
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Alexander Nevsky in Waffenrock with suit of armor and sword -
Saint George in a suit of armor, with a tunic (German: Waffenrock) and lance -
Knight in suit of armor and Waffenrock, preparing to battle -
Fighting knights in a suit of armor and Waffenrock -
Tourney in suit of armor and Waffenrock (16th or 17th century)
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The gallery below shows Waffenrock examples until 1945.
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Frederick II of Prussia in Waffenrock (dress tunic) -
Waffenrock k.u.k. 94th InfRgt, Stabsfeldwebel in white egalisation colour -
Waffenrock k.u.k. colonel of the engineer corps in steel-green egalisation colour -
Waffenrock of a customs inspector in Hamburg 1888-1919 -
Waffenrock Hauptmann of the Wehrmacht ca. 1939
See also
References
- ISBN 3-468-01126-1; p. 1.752 – Waffenrock / Service coat tunic.
- ^ BROCKHAUS, The encyclopedia in 24 volumes (1796–2001), Volume 23: 3-7653-3683-1, page 488, definition: Waffenrock.
- ^ Word and tradition in the German Army (de: Heer), by Transfeldt – v. Brand – Quenstedt, 6th increased edition, Hamburg 11 H.G. Schulz 1967, p. 2, roots of the noun: Waffenrock.