Original Item: Only One Available. During the NSDAP period in Germany, the Reichsministerium für die Besetzten Ostgebiete ("Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories" or RMfdbO), or Ostministerium (Eastern Ministry) was created by A H on 17 July 1941. The organization was headed by the NSDAP theoretical expert, Baltic German Alfred Rosenberg, with Alfred Meyer serving as Rosenberg's deputy. The German government formed this ministry to control the vast areas captured and projected for capture by the Wehrmacht in Eastern Europe and Russia. The Ostministerium (East Ministry) also played a part in supporting anti-Soviet groups in Central Asia.
In February 1942, under Rosenberg's plans, the Ministry tried to promulgate a program of land reform in the occupied territories in the Soviet Union that included promises of decollectivization through the abolition of kolkhozes and the re-distribution of land to peasants for individual farming. Germany established two Reichskommissariats, for Ostland and Ukraine, and planned for two more, for Muscovy and for the Caucasus. The Wehrmacht never established firm possession of the areas designated for the last two Reichskommissariats and so German civilian control never developed there.
In practice, the appointment of Erich Koch to administer the Reichskommissariat Ukraine substantially undermined Rosenberg's authority. Adolf H ordered Koch to take a hard and brutal approach, which helped to push potential Ukrainian allies back to the Allied camp. Rosenberg wished to portray the Germans as liberators of Ukraine from Soviet domination. Furthermore, Rosenberg's ministry was denied authority over army and other security formations within the occupied territories. The other Reich Commissar, Hinrich Lohse (Ostland), was widely disregarded. The SS filled the resulting power vacuum by acting as it wished.
This is a very nice and hard to find example of a German WWII RMfdbO East Ministry (Ostministerium) uniform set, consisting of a feldbluse service tunic and trousers, both made from the same lovely golden brown wool. These are very seldom seen, and this is the first example of a uniform that we have ever had. The tunic features a long fold down collar with lapels, and has a four button front closure. The collar is lined with chocolate brown wool, and it is has a sewn on golden colored cord border, which matches the border on the long cuffs. The only insignia visible is the RMfdbO Eagle on the left sleeve, which is made from gray silver thread machine embroidered onto a brown background. It looks to possibly have been partly re-stitched to the sleeve at some point.
The tunic has two pleated patch breast pockets with straight edged button down flaps and two unpleated hip pockets with similar button down flaps. All of the buttons are the correct RMfdbO type, showing a stylized Reichsadler on the front, and are maker marked on the back. All are sewn directly to the fabric. The left waist pocket has the large eyelet near the top for use with a dagger / hewer, and there is an internal loop hanger sewn in place next to it. The tunic's reverse features a vertical tail skirt vent.
The interior is fully lined in maroon ribbed rayon, and the sleeves are lined with white rayon fabric with blue stripes. The lining has a horizontal slash pocket on the left inner chest. There are no maker or other markings that we can see. Overall condition is really very nice, showing very little wear, and no moth or other damage.
The included trousers are a bit more "brown" in color, but match the tunic well. They feature a three button fly with a metal hook at the top, and are outfit for suspenders, as most trousers of the time were. All of the buttons are black plastic. The trousers have two vertical slash waist pockets, and a horizontal slash pocket on the rear right, which is missing the button. Overall condition is very good, showing only light wear, most of which is apparent on the interior partial lining.
A lovely example of a rare German WWII Ministry for Occupied Eastern Territories Uniform set, ready to add to your collection!
Approximate Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 10.5"
Shoulder to sleeve: 24”
Shoulder to shoulder: 18.5”
Chest width: 24"
Waist width: 26"
Hip width: 28"
Front length: 30.5"
Pants:
Waist: 15"
Inseam: 30"
