SA Obergruppenfuhrer Franz Xavier Schwarz Tunic

Tailored by Scharrer of Munich | Stripped of insignia in 1945

Schwarz's SA-Obergruppenfuhrer tunic dates from 1936. The fine quality brown wool gabardine tunic with typical pleated top pockets and box lower pockets. The tunic lined in a fine borwn silk and with cream cotton silk sleeves. The Scharrer, Munich tailor label to the inside pocket.

Condition report: The tunic was completely stripped of insignia after 1945. The collar completely cut away. The two ends of the silver collar edge piping stil attached to the topof the lapels. Epaulette removed. All buttons removed. The armband removed. The french cuffs cut off. The left-hand breast pocket now half unstitched. The lining intact, and in good condition. A few moth bites and tracks evident. 

Notes: It hasn't been  possible to find out if the stripping of the tunic was done by American soldiers, or later when the Schwarz's unifrms were sold to the Munich-based compnay of Breyer. It is possible that a conservation company could repair and replace some of the cloth, and likewise, the basic Staff SA-Obergruppenfuhrer insignia could be found with patience. Histrically, it is a case of is the tunic more interesting as it is, or does one aim to restre. That is a decision down to the next custodian.

Provenance: Schwarz's uniforms originated from Breyers of Munich. The company were a long established theatrical hire business. After 1945, Breyer made it known he was always interested to purchase Third Reich uniforms to increase his holding of theatrical hire uniforms. However, in reality he had already spotted a market for such uniforms from Amercian soldiers, and later from American collectors.

Schwarz's uniforms were sold to Breyer by the family at somepoint after 1945. At the beginning of the 1970s they were sold by Breyer to an American dealer. Two of Schwarz's tunics were not purchased at that time, one being an SS office tunic, and another being a stripped tunic worn by Schwarz as SA-Obergruppenfuhrer (both probably looked rather uninteresting at the time for the dealer, and in fact the office tunic had the armband tucked in one of the pockets, so it was void of insignia). In 1976, the two tunics were purchased from Breyer by a Munich-based Dealer, shortly afterwards, they were acquired for the Ulric of England Collection. The tunics remained in the ULRIC of ENGLAND collection from 1976 until 2000, and were then disposed of. From 2000 until now the office tunic has been in two collections  before being consigned with us for sale.