M35 SS pattern officers service dress tunic : Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler

Early model SS pattern officers service dress tunic with dark green collar and folded back cuffs. Sewn on the right collar is a black rectangular patch bordered by silver piping which contain machine woven 'SS' runes. A similar patch is located on the left collar, except that the runes have been replaced by three rank pips set on a 45 degree angle. The rank displayed on this particular tunic is that of an Untersturmfuhrer, the equivalent in the allied armies being second lieutenant.

The shoulder boards are attached to loops where the sleeves join the body of the tunic and are secured to the tunic by aluminium buttons. Black piping, denoting service with the engineer regiment of the Liebstandarte, edges each shoulder board. Located centrally on each shoulder board is a gold plated metal monogram 'LAH'. The monogram signifies that the wearer belongs to the Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler Division.

The tunic has six aluminium buttons down the front and located in the second button hole is a black, white and red ribbon representing the award of the Iron Cross, Second Class.

Located on the left and right breast of the tunic are pleated pockets with scalloped edged button down flaps. Two internally hung pockets are located beneath the left and right waist of the tunic. These pockets have button down, scalloped edge flaps. Above the left pocket are cotton loops for attaching decoration ribbon bars to. Similar cotton loops are also located on the lower end of the left pocket, to which an Iron Cross 1st Class has been attached.

An SS pattern eagle woven with silver bullion wire is located on the left sleeve, which identifies this tunic as parade or walking out dress. The cuff title on the lower left sleeve has been machine woven in black with a horizontal border at the top and bottom of the band in silver cotton. Embroidered in silver within the border of the cuff is the name of the division, in this instance, 'Adolf Hitler'.

Type example of an M35 SS pattern Officer's tunic worn by an SS Untersturmfuhrer (SS second lieutenant) serving with the Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler (Hitler's personal bodyguard regiment). This tunic is a parade or walking out tunic, but this style of tunic was also worn in combat by members of the SS during the Second World War.

The Liebstandarte came up against Mackay Force, a mixed unit of Australians, including the 2/4 and 2/8 Infantry Battalions, British, New Zealand and Greek troops, during the battle for the Klidi Pass in Greece.