Original Item: Only One Available. The National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK) was a paramilitary organization of the NSDAP that officially existed from May 1931 to 1945. The group was a successor organisation to the older National Socialist Automobile Corps (NSAK), which had existed since April 1930.

The NSKK served as a training organization, mainly instructing members in the operation and maintenance of high-performance motorcycles and automobiles. The NSKK was further used to transport NSDAP and SA officials/members. The NSKK also served as a roadside assistance group in the mid-1930s, comparable to the modern-day American Automobile Association or the British Automobile Association. The outbreak of World War II in Europe caused the NSKK ranks to be recruited to serve in the transport corps of various German military branches. There was also a French section of the NSKK, which was organized after the German occupation of France began in 1940. The NSKK was the smallest of the NSDAP Party organizations.

Originally part of the SA, members of the NSKK originally wore the same \”Brown Shirt\” tunics and uniforms of that organization. After becoming an independent organization, they began wearing the NSKK-Feldbluse service tunic, which were much more similar to the standard military uniform.

This lovely NSKK Service Tunic most likely belonged to an enlisted man, and does not have any devices attached to either of the collar patches, so there is unfortunately no way to identify which unit they were from, or their rank. It may have been a spare that they no longer used and stripped the rank and unit insignia from. It is made from olive brown wool, with a dark brown collar and has adjustable sleeve ends with a two buttons and a hidden buttonhole. It features a 4 button front closure with pebbled magnetic buttons, and there is a smaller plastic button and strap at the very top for the collar closure, which would not often be used. The front of the tunic has two pleated breast pockets with scalloped flaps over two slash waist pockets with scalloped flaps, all secured by pebbled magnetic silver buttons matching the front closure. These are all sewn directly to the fabric, and are in excellent condition.

The interior of the tunic is mostly unlined, except for tan twill canvas used to reinforce the areas around the sleeves, sides, and front closure. There is also the same material lining the upper third of the back marked with the number 50, and the lower right front has the standard bandage pocket as seen on military uniforms. There are also the straps with eyelets on either side for the attachment of hooks to keep the service belt in place, with steel hooks still in place. The left side strap still bears its original fabric RZM tag, which is in very good shape. The tag identifies the tunic as an Feldbluse NSKK, aus Tuch (NSKK Cloth Tunic), and features the ((RZM)) logo as well as the ink stamped numerical designation of the Hersteller (manufacturer) D19 / 738 over lot number 160668.

The kragenpatten (collar tabs) remain fully stitched on with most devices still properly attached, and are the correct black color. After separating from the SA the NSKK did away with the district colors on the collar insignia. As mentioned previously, there are no unit or rank indicators, which would indicate the lowest rank of Mann in the NSKK.The tunic has the correct insignia for member of the NSKK, including a high end wool and rayon multi-piece NSDAP / SA armelbinde (armband) on the left sleeve. Lower down on the sleeve is a 2nd Pattern aluminum bullion machine embroidered NSKK drivers diamond insignia. The right sleeve features a Bevo aluminum bullion embroidered NSKK rmelabzeichen (Sleeve Insignia), indicating pre-1939 issue, when this badge was moved to the left sleeve. Additionally, there is a Bronze Grade SA Defense Team Sports Training Badge on the left breast pocket, indicating that the wearer had taken part in the Sturmabteilung-Wehrmannschaft (Storm Division Military Team) training.

Included with the tunic are a lovely pair of the correct black wool breeches, which were used by the NSKK, Allgemeine SS, and other NSDAP groups that utilized black trousers as part of their uniform. These have the classic look, and feature three button closures on the end of the legs that go inside the boots. They feature a button fly front closure, and most of the original buttons are still intact, except for one of the suspender buttons on the rear right. The have the usual complement of pockets we see on these, two diagonal slash waist pockets with button closure, a \”pocket watch\” pocket next to the fly, and a button closed horizontal slash pocket on the right seat. Condition is very good, with no major mothing or signs of use.

A lovely NSKK uniform set, ready to outfit with some insignia and display!

Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 10\”
Shoulder to sleeve: 26
Shoulder to shoulder: 17\”
Chest width: 20
Waist: 18.5\”
Hip: 21\”
Front length: 28\”

History of the NSKK
The National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK) was a successor organization to the older National Socialist Automobile Corps (NSAK), which had existed since being formed on 1 April 1930. Legends about the actual emergence of the NSKK go back as far as 1922, when the publisher of the Vlkischer Beobachter (People\’s Observer) and founding member of the German Workers\’ Party (DAP), Dietrich Eckart, allegedly purchased trucks so the SA could perform their missions and transport propaganda materials. Martin Bormann founded the NSAK, which itself was the successor to the SA Motor Squadrons (Kraftfahrstaffeln). AH made the NSAK an official NSDAP organization on 1 April 1930. The NSAK was responsible for coordinating the use of donated motor vehicles belonging to party members, and later expanded to training members in automotive skills. Adolf Hhnlein was appointed Korpsfhrer (Corps Leader) of the NSAK, which was to serve primarily as a motorized corps of the Sturmabteilung (SA). Hhnlein became the organization\’s \”nucleus\”.

The organization\’s name was changed to the National Socialist Motor Corps (Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrkorps; NSKK), becoming official on 1 May 1931. It was essentially a paramilitary organization with its own system of paramilitary ranks and the smallest of the NSDAP organizations. Despite its relatively smaller size, when the NSDAP celebrated Braunschweiger SA-day on 18 October 1931, the NSKK had upwards of 5,000 vehicles at its disposal to move men and materials.

The primary aim of the NSKK was to educate its members in motoring skills or what was called \”fitness in motoring skills\” (Motorische Ertchtigung), but it also transported NSDAP and SA officials. In the mid-1930s, the NSKK also served as a roadside assistance group, comparable to the modern-day American Automobile Association or the British Automobile Association.

Membership in the NSKK did not require any prior knowledge of automobiles. It was thought that training in the NSKK would make up for any previous lack of knowledge. Under the guidance of the police, numerous NSKK men were stationed at traffic junctions and trained in traffic control.

On 20 July 1934, weeks after the major purge of the SA in what became known as the Night of the Long Knives, the NSKK was separated and promoted into an independent NSDAP organization. From 1935 onward, the NSKK also provided training for Panzer crews and drivers of the Heer (German Army). The NSKK had two sub-branches within the organization known as the Motor-HJ (Motor-HJ Motor-HJ) and Naval NSKK (Marine-NSKK). The Motor-HJ branch was formed by Reichsjugendfhrer (HJ Leader) Baldur von Schirach after he became a member of the NSKK. It operated 350 of its own vehicles for educational and training purposes. The Naval NSKK trained men in the operation and maintenance of boats.

During the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, the NSKK assumed responsibility for a variety of transport tasks, proving themselves effective at political propaganda by transporting foreign visitors around on designated tours. By 1938, NSKK members were undergoing mechanical and operational training for both civilian and military type vehicles. Over time, the training at NSKK schools became primarily focused on military related tasks. For services to the NSKK and due in part to the general success of the NSKK, Hhnlein was promoted to the position of a Reichsleiter of the NSDAP in 1938. Hhnlein was NSKK Korpsfhrer from 1931 until he died in 1942, when Erwin Kraus took over.