History

The Technische Nothilfe (Technical Emergency Help), often abbreviated to TN or TeNo, was founded on September 30, 1919. Its stated purpose was to maintain vital infrastructure and facilities, and protect them during a time of economical and political turmoil. When the economy improved and political tensions became less pronounced during the mid to late 1920s, the TeNo was able to shift its focus to disaster relief, roadside assistance, and general civil defence, including civil air protection. In 1936, the organisation came under the control of the German police as an auxiliary force of the Ordnungspolizei (Order Police). During the war, TeNo units were deployed to virtually all occupied countries and front lines for technical support.

The Service Tunic was introduced in 1932. It was made of navy blue cloth. Lower ranked members wore it with the collar closed at the neck, officers wore it with an open collar. It is single-breasted with a fall-down collar. There are four patch pleated pockets, the breast pockets with angled flaps, the hip pockets with straight flaps. Sleeves could come either with or without turned up cuffs. The tunic was worn with a black neck tie and a white shirt underneath.

In 1933, appointments were indicated by twist cord piping on the collar. Reichsführer and Landesführer wore gold-coloured piping, and officers attached to the Reichsführung or the Landesgruppen, Ortsgruppen, and Untergruppen wore silver-coloured/black piping.
Officers of the service branches wore twist cord piping around the lower left sleeve: members of the Technischer Dienst (technical service) in silver-colour and blue, members of the Luftschutzdienst (air raid protection) in silver-colour and red, and members of the Allgemeiner Dienst (general service) in silver-colour and green.

The 1934 pattern is similar to the one used before, but now all ranks wore the tunic with open collar and the uniform buttons featured the TN emblem.

The 1935 pattern was introduced on January 25, 1935. It is the same in every aspect as the 1934 pattern, except that twist cord aluminum piping was added to the collar.