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L000960 FLAK ARTILLERY EM'S SERVICE TUNIC. (Dienstbluse)
BACKGROUND: The Reichsluftwaffe was official established on February 26TH 1935 as the third branch of service of the Armed Forces. On March 9TH 1935 the formation of the new Reichsluftwaffe was announced to the foreign press and on March 16TH conscription was reintroduced for all three branches of service. On May 21ST 1935 the Reichsluftwaffe designation was altered to Luftwaffe. The standard pattern service uniform was adopted by the Luftwaffe in March 1935, and was based on the uniform worn by personnel in the Deutscher Luftsport Verband, (German Air Sports League), the clandestine, civilian forerunner of the Luftwaffe, 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 11TH 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 Fliegerbluse, (Flight Blouse). The 1938 pattern tunic eventually did replace the Tuchrock, but not the Fliegerbluse. 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. The different branches of service within the Luftwaffe were allocated a specific, identifying, waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Colors), with bright red being chosen for personnel serving with the Flugzeugabwehrartillerie, (Anti-Aircraft Artillery), 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. Of Note: The Flak arm is often viewed as a secondary arm of service within the Luftwaffe when in fact during the war between half and two thirds of all Luftwaffe personnel served in a Flak unit.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, unissued, 1938 pattern, Luftwaffe blue/grey wool/rayon blend construction tunic features a vertical, five button front closure with small fold back lapels and a single, magnetic metal hook and eye positioned at the forward neckline. The tunic has four, pleated, front pockets with straight edge, button down, flaps. The breast pockets are the basic patch type while the hip pockets are the saddle bag type with expandable side panels. The right breast has a machine embroidered, second pattern, (Circa 1936/1937-1945), Luftwaffe eagle, clutching a canted swastika in one talon, in silvery/grey rayon threads, mounted on a cut-out blue/grey wool base. The eagle is neatly handstitched to the tunic. The straight cut, non-adjustable, sleeves have deep, fold back, French cuffs which are tacked in the upright position at both the inner and outer sleeve seams. The side panels at the waistline each have four, vertically aligned, horizontal, thread loops and a central, vertical, slash for the belt support hooks. The bent, natural aluminum, wire belt support hooks are included. The reverse of the tunic has a short, central, vertical, tail skirt vent. The tunic has the shoulder straps retaining buttons intact but no fabric loops or shoulder straps are included. The tunic has a lay down collar with the typical zig-zag reinforcement stitching to the reverse. The reverse of the right hand side of the collar has a small, extended, button holed, fabric tab with a corresponding button on the reverse of the left-hand side lapel, allowing for a secure closure in inclement weather. The forward edge of the collar is trimmed in twisted bright red cotton waffenfarbe cording. The collar has bright red wool collar tabs without any rank "gulls" or any evidence of any ever having been applied. The waffenfarbe cording and the collar tabs are machine stitched in place. The interior of the tunic, including the sleeves, are fully lined in ribbed, grey cotton twill and has a horizontal, slash, pocket to the left breast and a field dressing pocket with a single button closure to the lower, right, front, tail skirt. The interior side panels at the waistline each have a vertical, ribbed, grey cotton twill strap with six stitched eyelets to each to secure the belt support hooks. All five collar liner retaining buttons are intact. The left breast lining is well marked with the black inkstamped manufacturer’s name, "E. Priebe", black size inkstamps and, "LBA39", indicating the tunic passed through a Luftwaffenbekleidungsamt, (Air-Force Clothing Depot in 1939). The lower, left, front, tail skirt has a light weight, tan paper, tailor’s label, with black inkstamped and printed script. The script to the label includes the matching size markings as found on the lining, the tailor’s name and location, "Ernst Priebe, Berlin SW68 Brandenburgstraße 72/73", and, "Voranmeldung", (Preliminary Notice). The tunic is in overall, excellent, unissued condition with minimal age toning. The front closure, exterior pocket and shoulder strap buttons are all the bright silver washed, pebbled alloy type and they retain all of their bright silver wash. The reverse left lapel, field dressing pocket and the collar liner buttons are all the molded brown glass type and all the buttons appear to have their original stitching. The tunic is roughly size 39" chest.
GRADE ****1/4 PRICE $1,275.00
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