Waffen-SS Field-Reworked Drillich Work Tunic – Former NCO / SS-Unterscharführer Configuration

A very unusual and characterful Waffen-SS field-reworked Drillich work tunic, showing extensive period wear and several interesting modifications.

The tunic started life as a reed-green Drillich/HBT work jacket and was subsequently modified for field wear. Most noticeable is the added dark-green wool collar, which was fitted to the original Drillich garment. The inside of the collar clearly shows the additional stitching and construction associated with this modification, giving the tunic a distinctly field-adapted appearance.

The dark-green wool collar retains a pair of BeVo-woven Waffen-SS collar tabs, both of which appear to have been hand-sewn to the collar. The right-hand tab displays the characteristic silver-grey SS runes, while the left rank tab is presently without its rank insignia.

Close examination of the left collar tab reveals what appears to be an old attachment hole from a removed metal rank pip. Of further interest, the dark-green collar shows traces consistent with the former application of NCO collar Tresse. The combination of a single rank pip and NCO collar Tresse would correspond with the rank of SS-Unterscharführer, strongly suggesting that the tunic was once worn in this configuration. The pip and Tresse appear to have been removed at some point, while the collar tabs remained in place.

The tunic features four pleated patch pockets with scalloped flaps and retains its characteristic reed-green Drillich/HBT construction. It shows extensive genuine wear throughout, including fading, staining, small areas of damage and various period repairs. The mixture of buttons and somewhat improvised details further complement the field-used character of this unusual garment.

Of particular interest is its provenance. The tunic was discovered in Ödenburg (present-day Sopron), Hungary, when the new owners were clearing out an old apartment after purchasing the property. The location close to the Austrian border adds an interesting historical context to this field-worn piece.

Altogether, a fascinating and seldom encountered field-reworked Waffen-SS Drillich tunic, apparently formerly configured for an SS-Unterscharführer. Rather than being a standard factory-produced field blouse, the individually applied dark-green collar, hand-sewn BeVo collar tabs, traces of removed NCO Tresse and surviving evidence of a former rank pip make this a particularly interesting example of a work garment adapted for field service.