German WW2 Model 1936 wool Feldbluse, worn by both the Heer (Army) and the Waffen SS.

The German 1936 feldbluse was the standard German uniform worn by the German Army and the Waffen SS at the outbreak of WW2 in 1939. The 1936 feldbluse was a modified version of the new style of uniform introduced in 1933, by 1936 the tunic had already gone through several changes so by the start of WW2 the German soldier had a smart looking and practical uniform.

The M36 tunic was worn by both the Heer and the Waffen SS and was the uniform worn up to about the spring of 1940. So as it would have taken a while for the M40 feldbluse to reach the front line troops the M36 can be worn for any re-enactment up to about mid 1940 which would include the evacuation of Dunkirk in May 1940. Then if you study original war time photographs it seems to show some soldiers would convert their later tunics like the M40 by adding green wool onto the collars, maybe to give that old hand veteran look.

The 1936 feldbluse by Richard Underwood Militaria includes Army infantry shoulder boards but no eagles or collar tabs so you can put your own badges on it. If you are making the M36 tunic into an SS tunic you will also have to buy a pair of SS shoulder boards.

This quality replica tunic of the M1936 wool feldbluse has all the features of the original including the following:

• Feldgrau colour which is field grey-green.
• The collar has a green cloth outer.
• Three buttons on the inside of the collar to attach the collar band (collar band not included).
• Army Infantry shoulder boards with white piping.
• The shoulder has a sewn on loop and button to attach the shoulder boards.
• Sleeve cuffs are fastened by a button.
• Pleat down the centre of all front pockets.
• Pocket flaps are shaped some later models had flat square pocket flaps.
• Lower pockets have a boxed shape to them allowing them hold more.
• 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.
• The inside is lined with cotton twill in all wear areas like shoulders and under the arms. The earlier tunic did not have any liner which was to help keep the German soldiers from getting too hot but they found the tunics wore out to quickly, so a part liner was added to make the tunics last longer.
• 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. Later in the war these where not required after the introduction of the 1939 leather Y straps for the belt.

Size conversion chart.