BACKGROUND: In March 1933 the DLV, Deutscher Luftsport Verband, (German Air Sports League), was established by incorporating all civilian flying clubs into the one organization. The DLV was utilized as a clandestine, civilian organization to train personnel for the future Luftwaffe. As a civilian organization it was able to circumvent the restrictions imposed by the Versailles Treaty, which prohibited a German military air service. In February and April 1934 respectively the DLV introduced a dagger for Officer’s and a knife for all other ranks. Later in 1934 members of the Fliegerschaft, (Pilot Base), the secret military branch of the DLV, adopted both sidearms for wear. Shortly after the unveiling of the Luftwaffe in March 1935 a modified version of the DLV’s Officer’s dagger was adopted for wear by Luftwaffe Officer’s and EM/NCO’s personnel who held a valid pilots licence. On July 15^TH 1937 a second pattern Luftwaffe dagger was introduced for wear by Officers, Senior Officer Candidates and Officials with the equivalent of Officers ranks and the first pattern dagger was discontinued. With the introduction of the second pattern dagger new, corresponding, dagger hangers were also established. Of Note: Additional regulations of March and August 1940 extended wear of the second pattern dagger to senior NCO’s, senior reserve NCO’s and Officials with the equivalent of NCO’s ranks.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, Luftwaffe Officer’s dagger hangers consisting of two, machine woven, Luftwaffe blue/grey rayon straps with a central, waffle pattern weave, flanked by fine, parallel, vertical, bright, silver/aluminum edges stripes. The straps are both roughly, 3/4" wide, with one being 10 1/4" long and the other being 9" long. The reverse of the hanger straps are backed with a age and usage darkened, protective blue/grey velvet. The hangers have silver washed, stamped and molded alloy fittings consisting of a friction, attachment clip to the top, with dual, cut-outs for securing the hanger straps. The top of the hanger straps are machine stitched to the cut-outs of the top friction clip. Both of the hanger straps also have rectangular framed, opened, pronged buckles and spring loaded pressure clips to the bottom ends for attaching the hangers to the scabbard hanger rings. The top attachment clip has a smooth finish while the buckles have ornate, embossed, oak-leaf patterns and the bottom pressure clips have a pebbled finish. The reverse of the top friction attachment clip is well marked with the embossed initials, within an oval recess, "D.R.G.M.", indicating, Deutsche Reichs Gebrauchs Muster, (German National Registered Design). The hanger straps show light age and usage toning and the interwoven silver/aluminum edges stripes show light to moderate oxidization spotting. The top friction clip has reverted to the flat matte grey of the base alloy with some light surface spotting while the buckles and the bottom pressure clips have mostly reverted to the natural aluminum.

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $238.00