BACKGROUND: The Reichsluftwaffe, (National Air-{Weapon}, Force), was official established on February 26^TH 1935 as the third branch of service of the Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces). On March 9^TH 1935 the formation of the new Reichsluftwaffe was announced to the foreign press and on March 16^TH conscription was reintroduced for all three branches of service. On May 21^ST 1935 the Reichsluftwaffe designation was altered to Luftwaffe, (Air-Force). Visor caps were a standard item for all military personnel during the Third Reich period, (Circa 1933-1945), and regulations dictated the form of dress they were to be worn with, based on the individual’s rank. On its inception on February 26^TH 1935, the Luftwaffe, adopted most of the uniform items of the earlier DLV, Deutscher Luftsport Verband, (German Air Sports Association), the clandestine, civilian forerunner of the Luftwaffe, including the visor cap. In March 1935 the earlier, "Tellerform", saucer shaped, caps were replaced with a new a "Sattelform", saddle shaped, cap with a higher front peak and an oval shaped top. The insignia utilized on the visor caps consisted of the Luftwaffe style national eagle as introduced for wear by Fliegerschaft, (Pilot Base), personnel of the DLV on August 18^TH 1934 and was officially adopted for wear by all Luftwaffe personnel on March 1^ST 1935 along with a new, winged, wreath and the national tri-color cockade. The original, first pattern, Luftwaffe style, national eagle was utilized until a slightly modified, second pattern national eagle was introduced in late 1936 or early 1937. The visor caps for Company and Field grade Officers, holding the ranks of Leutnant up to Oberst were distinguished from EM/NCO’s caps by bright, silver/aluminum piping and a silver/aluminum chin cord while Officers holding Generals ranks of Generalmajor up to Reichsmarschall utilized gold colored fittings. EM/NCO ranks visor caps utilized the appropriate waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), piping and blackened leather chinstraps. The standard pattern service uniform was adopted by the Luftwaffe in March 1935, and was based on the uniform worn by personnel in the DLV, as early as 1933, with minor modifications. The 1935 pattern uniform tunic was designated Tuchrock, (Cloth tunic), and was worn open at the neck. On November 11^TH 1938 a new pattern tunic was introduced that had allowances for it to be worn closed at the neck. The 1938 pattern tunic was designated Anzugrock, (Uniform tunic), and was intended to replace the 1935 pattern Tuchrock and the Fliegerbluse, (Flight Blouse). The 1938 pattern tunic eventually did replace the Tuchrock, but not the Fliegerbluse. Regulations dictated that the national eagle was to be worn on the right breast of almost all uniforms with a few minor exceptions. The different branches of service within the Luftwaffe were allocated a specific, identifying, waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), with golden yellow being chosen for personnel serving with Flieger, (Flight), units which was generally displayed as collar piping for EM/NCO’s, (discontinued in March 1940), on the collar tabs and as piping on the shoulder strap/boards of the service tunic. Although the use of the branch of service collar piping for EM/NCO’s was discontinued by order of March 20^TH 1940 it did continued to be worn for the duration of the war, on a limited basis. Officer‘s holding the ranks of Leutnant up to and including Oberst utilized a silver/aluminum collar piping while the ranks of Generalmajor to Reichsmarschall utilized a gold collar piping through-out the war. The Officer’s brocade dress belt was also adopted from the DLV and originally the brocade belt was worn with the circular, DLV political style, belt buckle until the Luftwaffe Officer’s belt buckle was introduced on May 20^TH 1935. The brocade belt and the new style belt buckle were for wear by Officers when in parade, or formal dress and service dress when full decoration were ordered. The new Officer’s belt buckle was produced in two, slightly different versions with the first version featuring the early, "droop tailed" pattern Luftwaffe eagle, (Circa 1935-1936/37), while the later version featured the second pattern, flare-tailed Luftwaffe eagle, (Circa 1936/37-1945). During the Third Reich there was a prescribed form of wear of the belt and buckle with the buckle being positioned on the right side. Regulations of February 12^TH 1940 discontinued wear of the brocade belt and buckle but it was still worn on formal occasions when ordered. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the Luftwaffe’s Verkaufsabteilung, (Air-Force Sales Department), system. The Officers and certain senior NCO’s could choose to purchase their uniforms from the armed forces clothing depots or to privately purchase uniform items of higher quality. Although enlisted personnel were issued their uniforms from government supplies they were also permitted to purchase privately tailored uniforms although the price may have been restrictive.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, private purchase, Luftwaffe blue/grey, wool/rayon blend construction visor cap with a very subtle, whipcord weave features a black, horizontally ribbed, interwoven, mohair centerband, and bright, interwoven silver/aluminum piping to the crown edge and both the top and bottom edges of the centerband. The internal cap crown stiffening wire has been removed but a vertical stiffener to the front center and internal padding give the cap a nice, relaxed, Sattelform shape with a overlapping side panels and a high, central, forward peak. The front center of the cap has a small, hand embroidered, first pattern, (Circa 1935-1936/1937), "droop-tailed", Luftwaffe eagle, clutching a canted, swastika in one talon, in bright, silver/aluminum wire threads with bright, silver/aluminum bullion and tan accent threads mounted on a cut-out, Luftwaffe blue/grey wool base. The eagle is neatly handstitched to the cap. The eagle is missing a couple of stitches to one wing tip revealing the underlying, tan cardboard template. The front center of the centerband has a hand embroidered, winged, oak-leaf wreath in bright, silver/aluminum wire threads with bright, silver/aluminum bullion and tan accent threads, encompassing a highly vaunted, hand embroidered national tri-color cockade. The national tri-color cockade is constructed in black and silver/aluminum wire threads with a red wool center dot. The winged wreath and cockade are mounted on a cut-out, black wool base which is also handstitched in place. The cockade’s roundel has tarnished to a rich, coppery tone. The cap has an interwoven, twisted, silver/aluminum, braid, chin cord which is secured to the cap by two, small, silver washed, pebbled, magnetic sheet metal buttons. The cap has a forward, extended, blackened lacquered, vulcanfiber visor with a machine stitched, simulated, leather trim to the forward edge. The simulated, leather trim has a small tear at the bottom edge of the visor and the visor shows light to moderate surface cracking to the black lacquered finish. The interior of the cap is fully lined in silvery/grey rayon which shows moderate to heavy age and usage toning resulting in a light to dark brown appearance. The interior crown lining has a the stitch outline of a removed sweat diamond. The interior of the cap also has a wide, age and usage darkened, grey leather sweatband with ventilation perforations to the front forehead section. The cap has remnants of an orange, foam rubber, padding beneath the sweatband at the forehead section and additional small, pieces of a thin, natural cork padding beneath other parts of the sweatband. The cap has no visible size or manufacturer’s markings. The cap is in overall very good condition with light age and usage toning to the exterior. The cap is roughly size, 55 with a 21 3/4", interior diameter. Included with the cap is a nice quality, 1935 pattern, Luftwaffe blue/grey, wool/rayon, blend construction tunic with a subtle, whipcord weave. The tunic features a vertical, four button, front closure with small, fold back, lapels and a lay down collar. The tunic has four, pleated, patch, front pockets with straight edged, button down flaps. The right breast has a hand embroidered, first pattern, (Circa 1935-1936/1937), "droop-tailed", Luftwaffe eagle, clutching a canted, swastika in one talon, in bright, silver/aluminum wire threads with bright, silver/aluminum bullion and tan accent threads mounted on a cut-out, Luftwaffe blue/grey wool base. The eagle is neatly handstitched to the tunic. The left breast has five vertical and five horizontal thread loops and comes with both a three and a two place ribbon bar. The ribbon bars feature a WWI Iron Cross 2^ND class ribbon, a Combatants Cross of Honor 1914/18 ribbon with gilt washed, stamped alloy crossed swords cypher, a Hungarian Fire Cross ribbon and two Luftwaffe Long Service Decoration ribbons with gilt and silver washed Luftwaffe eagle cyphers. The straight cut, non-adjustable, sleeves have deep, fold back, French cuffs which are tacked in the upright position at the inner sleeve seam. The reverse of the tunic has a short, central, vertical, tail skirt vent. The tunic has sewn on shoulder boards in interwoven, bright, silver/aluminum Russian braiding with a single, gilt washed, stamped alloy, rank pip to each mounted on golden yellow wool waffenfarbe bases. The shoulder board’s retaining buttons are intact. The forward edge of the lay down collar is trimmed in twisted, bright, silver/aluminum cording. The collar has golden yellow wool construction, rhomboid collar tabs with two, hand embroidered rank "gulls" encompassed by a closed top oak-leaf wreath in bright, silver/aluminum wire threads to each. The collar tabs are piped in fine, twisted, bright, silver/aluminum, cord. The collar cording is handstitched in place with a few missing stitches, while the collar tabs are machine stitched to the collar. The interior of the tunic is fully lined in subtly ribbed, grey rayon with a grey striped white rayon lining to the sleeves. The lining has a horizontal, slash, pocket to both the left and right breast panel and a small, horizontal, slash to the reverse of the exterior left hip pocket with a stitched on, nickel/silver plated "D" ring, for the dagger/sword hanger. The interior side panels at the waistline each have a short, horizontal, grey rayon "belt" strap with a nickel/silver plated, inserted buckle to each, for a neat fit appearance. The nape of the neck has a mid-blue rayon tailor’s label, handstitched in place, with the machine woven, tailor’s name and address, "Petersen & Co. München", in white rayon threads. The interior of the left breast pocket has a white oilcloth label, machine stitched in place, with the black printed tailor’s name and address, "Petersen & Co. München" and the handwritten owner’s name with rank prefix that appears to be, "Hptm. Raechl", and the date, "III 1937". Of Note: The shoulder boards and collar tabs indicate the rank of Oberstleutnant which would seem to indicate that Hauptmann Raechl was promoted after purchasing the tunic. The tunic is in overall good condition with light age and usage toning, light chafe wear to the cuffs and collar edges, a couple of small handstitched patch repairs to both hip pockets and about a half dozen small rips and tears. The buttons are all the bright, silver washed, pebbled, alloy type and retain various amounts of their silver washed finishes. Most of the buttons appear to have been restitched. The tunic is roughly a size 40", (101.6cm), chest. Also included is an Officer’s brocade dress belt and buckle. The roughly, 1 7/8", (4.7cm), wide, 44 3/4", (113.7cm), long, nice quality, vertically ribbed, woven, bright, silver/aluminum construction brocade belt features two, roughly, 1/8", (3mm), wide, evenly spaced, parallel, charcoal grey, horizontal stripes and a central, fine, red, horizontal stripe. The belt has two, sliding, vertical, loops in the same brocade as the belt. The reverse of belt is lined in ribbed, blue/grey wool and has nine, evenly spaced, inset, bronzed alloy, length adjustment grommets. One end of the belt is slightly pointed and has a, silver washed, opened rectangular, molded, alloy, buckle catch inserted and stitched between the obverse brocade and the reverse wool. The other end of the belt is also slightly pointed and has a stitched on, alloy hook that was designed to be inserted into the appropriate, length adjustment grommet on the reverse. When the hook is inserted into one of the grommets it creates a closed loop which secures the buckle to the belt. The belt is in overall good condition with light age and usage toning and numerous small moth nips to the blue/grey wool backing. The belt would fit sizes ranging from a roughly, 34", (86.3cm), to a 38", (96.4cm), waist. The belt comes with a die struck, alloy construction belt buckle with silver washed and fire gilted finishes. The horizontally oval, buckle features an embossed, oak-leave wreath to the outside edge encompassing a slightly domed, pebbled field, with a separate, fire gilted, first pattern, (Circa 1935-1936/1937), "droop-tailed", Luftwaffe eagle, clutching a canted, swastika in one talon, to the center. The eagle is secured to the buckle by a single soldered spot which is visible on the reverse. The buckle retains about 80% of it’s age dulled, frosty, silver wash while the eagle only retains hints of its fire gilted finish and has mostly reverted to the rich coppery tone of the base, (tombac), alloy. The eagle stands out in nice high relief with a strong contrast to the buckle. The reverse of the buckle is a mirror image of the obverse excluding the separately attached eagle and has a brazed on, crimped buckle catch and a closed looped, buckle bar retaining catch both intact. Also included is the silver washed, opened rectangular, molded, aluminum alloy, buckle retaining bar. Neither the belt or buckle have any visible manufacturer’s markings. Nice set.