Original German WWII Organisation Todt OT-Obertruppführer NCO Earth Brown Wool Greatcoat with Armband

Item DescriptionOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a high quality private-purchased Org. Todt NCO Personnel Greatcoat, with an earth brown wool outer shell. It features a six button double-breasted closure with a lay down collar, which has a hook and loop closure, and also a securing strap for when the collar is worn in the up position. All of the buttons are the pebbled magnetic variety, and are gray painted. These are all sewn directly to the fabric, which does make them more prone to tearing off, however these are all still present. The greatcoat features long French style cuffs on the end of the sleeves, and has two large waist pockets with top flaps.The inside of the coat is lined on the top half with gray rayon herringbone twill fabric, which extends down both of the sleeves, and there is a horizontal slash pocket on the inner left chest. There is a49marking above the pocket, and some other markings, which we are unfortunately unable to read.The greatcoat has an NCO gradekragenspiegel(collar tab) on each side of the collar, showing an earth brown background with an overlapping embroidered redOTinsignia. These each have two rank pips, one at the top and one at the bottom, which we believe is for the NCO rank of OT-Obertruppführer, equivalent to a Heer Army Stabsfeldwebel, or a U.S. Army Master Sergeant. Pictures we have seen usually show the two pips both at the bottom, but there is definitely variation in the insignia used over the years. The shoulder straps have a braid around the edge with two silver bullion straps at the edge, and there are two rank pips installed. Shoulder straps were only really used to display rank from 1938 until 1942, and previously it had been indicated by the armband. In general pips were only used on at least NCO ranks, so we're fairly certain this is an NCO greatcoat. Sewn to the left sleeve is a correctORG. TODTcuff title sewn to the top of an NSDAP printed armband, correct for all members of Org. Todt. It is held in place with pins at present, and shows holes and other damage from service and use.Overall condition is very good, showing no major mothing or other damage. There is some stitch pulling and fraying in areas, and several of the buttons are a bit loose off due to the stitching having worn. A lovely Org. Todt NCO Greatcoat in very nice condition, complete with the correct collar insignia and armband. Ready to research and display!Approximate Measurements:-Collar to shoulder: 10'Shoulder to sleeve: 27'Shoulder to shoulder: 16'Chest width: 20'Waist: 21'Hip: 27'Front length: 51'TheOrganisation Todt (OT)was a civil and military engineering organization in NSDAP Germany from 1933 to 1945, named for its founder, Fritz Todt, an engineer and senior NSDAP. The OT was not given an official name until AH did so soon after coming to power during 1933. During 1938 Todt initiated the Organisation Todt proper as a consortium of the administrative offices, which Todt had personally established in the course of the Autobahn project, private companies as subcontractors and the primary source of technical engineering expertise, and the Labour Service as the source of manpower. He was appointed by AH as plenipotentiary for labour for the second four-year plan, decreasing Göring's role. Investment in civil engineering work was reduced greatly. The organization was responsible for a huge range of engineering projects both in NSDAP Germany and in occupied territories from France to the Soviet Union during World War II. It became notorious for using forced labor.From 1943 until 1945 during the late phase of the Third Reich, OT administered all constructions of prison camps to supply forced labor to industry. Fritz Todt's primary office was that of the General Inspector of German Roadways (Generalinspektor für das deutsche Straßenwesen) and his primary responsibility, the construction of the Autobahn network. He was able to draw on 'conscripted' (i.e. compulsory) labour, from within Germany, through the Reich Labour Service (Reichsarbeitsdienst, RAD).Fritz Todt died in an airplane crash on 8 February 1942, soon after a meeting with AH in East Prussia. Todt had become convinced that the war on the eastern front could not be won and thought himself independent enough to say as much to AH. As a result, there has been some speculation that Todt's death was a covert assassination, but this has never been substantiated.Shipping RestrictionsThis product is available for international shipping.Shipping not available to: Australia, France, or GermanyPayment OptionsNot eligible for payment with Paypal or AmazonLegal InformationDue to legal restrictions this item cannot be shipped to Australia, France or Germany. This is not a comprehensive list and other countries may be added in the future.