BACKGROUND: The Reichsluftwaffe, (National Air-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). 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, Deutscher Luftsport Verband, (German Air Sports Association), the clandestine, civilian forerunner of the Luftwaffe, as early as 1933, with minor modifications. Uniform items adopted from the DLV included visor caps, service tunics, Officer’s dress aiguillette, long pants and breeches. 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. In March 1935 the earlier, "Tellerform", saucer shaped, caps were replaced with a new a "Sattelform" cap with a higher front peak and an oval shaped top. 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. The dress aiguillette was worn suspended from under the right shoulder board, underneath the wearer’s arm across the right breast and secured to the top front closure button on the tunic. The Luftwaffe, utilized a wide variety of long trousers and breeches including mounted and un-mounted breeches, drill and fatigue pants, the standard, straight legged, long pants, and assorted, specialized, pants designed for specific branch of services. Officer’s holding General’s ranks wore long pants and breeches that included adornment stripes. The Luftwaffe pattern national eagle was originally 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. The original first pattern national eagle was utilized until a, slightly modified, second pattern national eagle was introduced in late 1936 or early 1937. Regulations dictated that the national eagle was to be worn on the right breast of almost all uniforms and the front of the headgear with a few minor exceptions. Generally the different branches of service within the Luftwaffe were allocated a specific, identifying, waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), although those holding General’s ranks of Generalmajor to Generalfeldmarschall were an exception to the rule and utilized white as their branch of service color regardless of their actual branch of service. The white branch of service color was generally displayed on the uniform as the base of the shoulder boards and collar tabs and as the adornment stripes on the long pants and breeches. General’s ranks were further distinguished from EM/NCO and Company and Field grade Officer’s ranks by the use of gilt uniform accoutrements and insignia, while lowers ranks used grey or silver accoutrements and insignia. Besides the helmet, the tall, blackened, leather "Jack", boot is probably one of the most instantly recognizable items of the German military. The German’s concern with leather shortages was evident as early as September 1939 when issue of the traditional, tall, leather, boots were restricted to personnel serving in the field although those in possession of the earlier, tall boots continued to wear them. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the Verkaufsabteilung der Luftwaffe, (Sales Department of the Air-Force), system. The Officers and certain senior NCO’s could choose to purchase their uniform items from the armed forces clothing depots or privately purchase garments 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. This uniform grouping consists of nice quality, private purchase, visor cap, a 1935 pattern tunic with a dress aiguillette and three awards, breeches with adornment stripes and tall boots. Of Note: Born in Bielefeld on February 27^TH 1898, Alexander Holle served in WWI and was awarded the Iron Cross 1^ST Class and a silver wound badge. During the Third Reich Holle held increasingly powerful positions including; Chief of Staff of the Luftwaffe Headquarters in East Prussia, (April 1^ST 1938 to January 31^ST 1939), Chief of Staff of the IV. Flight Corps, (February 1^ST 1939 to October 14^TH 1940), Commander of the 26^TH Bomber Squadron and the North East Air Fleet, (October 15^TH 1940 to June 7^TH 1943), Staff Commander of the Luftwaffe Headquarters of the South East Air Fleet, (June 7^TH 1943 to June 14^TH 1943), with overlapping Command of the X. Flight Corps, (January 1^ST 1943 to May 22^ND 1943), Commander of the Luftwaffe Staff in Greece, (June 15^TH 1943 to August 24^TH 1944), Commander in Chief of the 4^TH Air Fleet, (August 25^TH 1944 to September 27^TH 1944), Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe Headquarters in the West, (September 28^TH 1944 to December 11^TH 1944), Commanding General of the German Luftwaffe in Denmark and Commander of the IV. Flight Corps, (December 15^TH 1944 to May 8^TH 1845). Holle’s promotion during the Third Reich consisted of, Oberst on February 1^ST 1940, Generalmajor on February 1^ST 1943 and Generalleutnant on January 1^ST 1944. Holle was awarded the German Cross in Gold on May 26^TH 1942 and the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on December 23^RD 1942. Holle survived the war and died on July 16^TH 1978 in Münich. Of Interest: A search on the internet for "Generalleutnant Alexander Holle" will turn up quite a bit of information including a very intriguing story from March 1941 involving a mission to Iceland.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Very nice quality, private purchase, slightly mottled, Luftwaffe blue/grey, doeskin wool construction visor cap features a black, horizontally ribbed, interwoven, mohair centerband, and bright, interwoven gilt wire piping to the crown edge and both the top and bottom edges of the centerband. The internal crown stiffening wire, a vertical stiffener to the internal front center and the internal padding are all intact and give the cap a nice, "Sattelform", shape with a high, forward, central peak, an oval crown and overlapping side panels. The front center of the cap features a hand embroidered, second pattern, (circa 1936/1937-1945), Luftwaffe eagle clutching a canted, swastika in it’s talons in bright, gilt wire threads with bright, gilt bullion wire and golden yellow cotton accent threads, mounted on a cut-out Luftwaffe blue/grey wool base. The eagle is neatly handstitched to the cap. The front center of the centerband has a hand embroidered, winged, oak-leaf wreath in bright, gilt wire threads with bright, gilt bullion accent threads, encompassing a hand embroidered, national tri-color cockade all mounted on a cut-out, black wool base. The hand embroidered national tri-color cockade consists of a black wire base, a silver wire roundel and an inserted red felt centerpiece. The wreath and cockade base are also neatly handstitched to the cap. The cap has a bright, heavy, twisted gilt braid chin cord which is secured in place by two, small, gilt washed, pebbled, magnetic sheet metal buttons. The cap has an extended, forward, black lacquered, vulcanfibre visor with a machine stitched, simulated leather lip to the forward edge. The interior of the cap is fully lined in subtly ribbed, golden yellow rayon. The lining to the interior crown has a machine stitched, clear celluloid, sweat rhomboid fully intact. The rhomboid doesn’t have the usual, opened ended "pocket". The lining beneath the sweat rhomboid has faint, illegible remnants of a silver printed manufacturer’s logo. The interior of the cap also has a machine stitched in, wide, grey leather sweatband with ventilation perforations to the front forehead section fully intact. The cap is in overall very good condition with minimal age and usage toning. The cap has no visible size markings but is roughly size 55.5cm, (21 3/4"), interior diameter. The visor cap comes with a very nice quality, private purchase, 1935 pattern, Luftwaffe blue/grey, wool/tricot blend construction tunic with a subtly ribbed, whipcord, (gaberdine), weave. The tunic features a vertical, four button, front closure with small, fold back, lapels and a lay down collar. The top, front closure, button eyelet has a Iron Cross 2^ND class ribbon inserted and neatly handstitched in place. The tunic has four, pleated, patch, front pockets with straight edged, button down flaps. The right breast has a very nice quality, hand embroidered, second pattern, (Circa 1936/1937-1945), Luftwaffe eagle clutching a canted swastika in it’s talons, in bright gilt wire threads, with bright gilt bullion and golden yellow cotton accent threads, mounted on a cut-out, blue/grey, wool base. The eagle is neatly handstitched to the tunic. The right breast pocket has four, horizontal, thread loops for wear of an award, presumably the German Cross in gold. The right breast and shoulder also have a bright, gilt wire cord construction, General’s dress aiguillette which is attached to the top front closure button and a single, molded tan bakelite, retaining button positioned under the right shoulder board. The aiguillette consists of dual strands of gilt wire cord with a slip knot to each end and two, central, interwoven gilt wire cord sections. The aiguillette is still very clean and bright and is fully intact with all the components and appears to be suspended from the tunic in the correct manner. The left breast has eleven, horizontal and four, vertical thread loops for wear of a ribbon or medal bar and awards. The awards included consist of a WWI Iron Cross 1^ST class, a WWI Silver Wound Badge and a Silver DRL ,Deutscher Reichsbund für Leibesübungen (German National Union for Physical Training), Sports Badge. All three awards retain the majority of their original finishes with the Iron Cross 1^ST class frame showing moderate age tarnish. The front of the tunic has a vertical, tapering, seam to each side of the front closure, running from the bottom edges of the breast pockets to the top edges of the hip pockets. The left side of the tunic has a small, sheet metal hook inserted and stitched in place at the waistline, to help secure the belt in place. 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 reverse of the tunic has a central, vertical, tail skirt vent which has been professionally handstitched closed. The tunic has sewn on shoulder boards consisting of a single, silver/aluminum braid, interwoven with dual, gilt wire braids with a single, silver washed, stamped alloy rank pip to each, mounted on white wool waffenfarbe bases. The shoulder board’s retaining buttons are intact. The small lay down collar features matching, white wool collar tabs with hand embroidered, vertically oval, closed top, oak-leaf wreath encompassing dual rank "gulls", all in bright, gilt wire threads with bright, gilt bullion wire accents. The outer edges of the collar tabs are piped in twisted, gilt wire and are machine stitched to collar. The shoulder boards and collar tabs indicate the rank of Generalleutnant. The forward edge of the collar is trimmed in twisted, bright, golden yellow celleon braiding which is neatly handstitched in place. The interior of the tunic is fully lined in subtly ribbed, gray rayon with a white rayon lining to the sleeves. The lining has a horizontal, slash pocket to left breast panel and a small, blue/grey wool reinforced, horizontal slash to the reverse of the exterior left hip pocket with a stitched on, nickel/silver plated, "D" ring intended for the sword or dagger hanger. The interior of the left breast pocket has a small, white, fabric label machine stitched in place with faint printed and handwritten script, including the owner’s name with rank prefix, "Gen. Maj. A Holle", and the date that appears to be, "Febr. 1943". The lining at the nape of the neck has a small, machine woven, white rayon tailor’s label with blue, machine woven script consisting of the tailor’s name, establish date of his firm and the location, "Albert Kühl gegr. 1909 Münster-Essen". The tunic is in overall very good condition with minimal age and usage toning and minor chafe wear to the cuffs and collar edges. All the buttons, excluding the molded tan bakelite, aiguillette securing button, are the gilt washed, pebbled, magnetic sheet metal type and all retain the majority of their gilt wash. The buttons all appear to have original stitching. The tunic is roughly a size 36", (91.4cm), chest. Also included are a pair of breeches with adornment stripes constructed in the same high quality wool/tricot blend material as the tunic with a subtly ribbed, whipcord, (gaberdine), weave. The breeches feature a vertical, four button French fly with an additional, metal hook and eye and eye situated on the narrow, horizontal waistband. The breeches have a small, horizontal slash watch pocket positioned at the bottom seam of the right waistband and two, vertical slash, side seam, front pockets. The reverse of the breeches have a single, horizontal slash pocket to the right seat with a single button closure, two, short, vertical, tapering darts and two, horizontal, fit adjustment straps with a blued, dual prong, open rectangular, sheet metal buckle, situated just below the waistband. The reverse waistband rides slightly higher then the obverse and has the typical, central, small "V" slash. The breeches balloon outwards at the thighs and taper inwards to the cuffs. The outer leg side seams each feature narrow, vertical, white wool piping, flanked on either side by roughly, 1 1/2", (3.7cm), wide white wool, adornment stripes, all machine stitched in place. The lower, outside, vertical, calf seams each have a roughly, 11", (28cm), long, natural alloy zipper closures. The "Rapid", zippers are slightly "sticky", but still function. The interior waistband lined in black and grey striped, off-white rayon while the internal pocket bags are in plain white rayon. The waistband lining has six, evenly spaced, suspender attachment buttons intact. The breeches have no visible size or manufacturer’s markings. The breeches are in the same overall very good condition as the tunic with minimal age and usage toning and some small spots of minor nap wear. The buttons are all the molded, olive drab and brown bakelite type and all appear to have their original stitching. The breeches are roughly size 30", (76.2cm), waist. A nice quality pair of multi-panel, blackened leather construction boots complete the uniform. The boots are roughly 16 1/4", (41.2cm), tall from the top edge of the heel to the top edge of the reverse calf section. The reverse calf has a central, vertical, overlapping, machine stitched reinforcement seam. The foot portion of the boots are constructed of two leather panels with a large forward panel and a smaller rear panel covering the heel area. The boots have their original stacked leather heels and soles intact. The interior of the boots are lined in a fine grade, natural tan leather. The interior of each boot has a handwritten numeral, "13 8 40.", which could possibly be a date. The interior top edge of the boots have all four of the original, vertical, yellow striped, greyish/tan, canvas pull tabs with an HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), weave intact. The interior reverse, vertical, reinforcement seams both show small, handstitched repairs. The boots are in overall very good condition and the leather is still quite supple and pliable with light wrinkling. The boots are roughly North American size 8, or European size 41. Excellent, high ranking Officer’s uniform grouping in outstanding condition and a real, traceable, piece of history.

GRADE ****1/2                             PRICE $-POR (Price on Request) (Preis: auf Anfrage)