L001558 FLIGHT FELWEBEL'S TROPICAL TUNIC. (Tropen Feldbluse)

BACKGROUND: The Reichsluftwaffe was official established on February 26^TH 1935 as the third branch of service of the 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. In late 1940, with the impending German entrance into the North African campaign, the army quickly developed and issued tropical uniforms and equipment in time for DAK, Deutsches Afrika Korps, (German Africa Corps), personnel’s arrival in Tripoli in February 1941. At the same time the Luftwaffe also developed and introduced their own version of the tropical uniform and equipment independently from the other branches of service. Originally the tropical uniforms were only intended for wear in North Africa but that was later expanded to include personnel serving in southern areas of continental Europe during the summer months, (May 1^ST to September 30^TH). The design of the tropical uniform was based on the standard continental uniform but in a different color and material. The Luftwaffe tropical uniform remained basically unchanged for the duration of the war with minor modifications. 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 Color), with golden yellow being chosen for personnel serving with the Flieger, (Flight), units which was generally displayed as piping on the shoulder strap/boards of the tropical field blouses and service tunics.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Light weight, woven, brushed, tan cotton/rayon blend construction field blouse features a vertical, six button front closure with small, fold back lapels and a single metal hook and eye positioned at the forward neckline. The top front closure button is absent. The field blouse has two, pleated, patch, breast pockets and two, non-pleated, saddlebag, hip pockets with expanding side panels, all with straight edged, button down flaps. Breast eagle has been removed. The front of the field blouse has two, small, vertical, tapering darts. The straight cut sleeves have dual-ply, simulated, French cuffs and a small, vertical, slash to the outside seams with dual fit adjustment buttons. The waistline side seams each have three, vertically aligned, stitched eyelets for the belt support hooks. The belt support hooks are absent. The reverse of the field blouse has a central, vertical, tail skirt vent. The field blouse has light weight, tan cotton construction, slip on shoulder straps featuring a single, stamped, natural aluminum rank pip, subdued, tan rayon, waffle patterned NCO’s tress to all the outside edges and golden yellow rayon waffenfarbe piping. The bottoms of the shoulder straps and the slip on retaining tongues are also in light weight, tan cotton. The shoulder straps fabric retaining loops and buttons are intact. The lay down collar has the typical zig-zag reinforcement stitching to the reverse. The field blouse has no collar tabs as per regulations. The unlined interior has small, tan cotton, reinforcement panels to the shoulder panels, the armpit openings and down the side seams. The side seams also have small, vertical, tan cotton straps with six stitched eyelets to each for the belt support hooks. The right, front, tail skirt has a tan linen field dressing pocket with a single button closure. The interior left breast is well marked with black, size inkstamps and the manufacturer’s name/acronym and location, "Almi Luxemburg". The field blouse is in overall very good condition with a few small picks and pulls and minor age and usage toning. The front closure, exterior pocket and shoulder strap buttons are a combination of the, mid-brown painted, pebbled, alloy, and magnetic sheet metal, removable types with metal "S" ring retainers. The buttons retained the majority of their mid-brown paint. The cuff and field dressing pocket buttons are the molded, tan, bakelite type, and appear to have their original stitching. The field blouse is roughly size 40" chest.

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