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. The Luftwaffe Evening Dress uniform was introduced on April 1^ST 1935, with the design of the tunic being based on the Kriegsmarine’s Mess tunic. Prior to the introduction of the Evening Dress uniform Luftwaffe personnel had worn the Full Dress uniform of its civilian forerunner the DLV, Deutscher Luftsport Verband, (German Air Sports League). The Evening Dress uniform was utilized as both the Formal and Informal Dress uniform by all Officer and Officials ranks with different colored accouterments distinguishing the different forms of dress. The Luftwaffe also adopted the DLV’s, Officer’s dress aiguillette. The dress aiguillette was worn by all Officer ranks with the Parade, Formal Day and Formal Evening Dress uniforms. Originally the DLV style aiguillette was constructed in matte silver/aluminum braiding for Company and Field grade Officers and in gilt braid for General rank Officers. Regulations of April 1935 altered the early matte silver/aluminum braid aiguillette to a bright silver/aluminum braid aiguillette for the Company and Field grade Officers with the ranks of Leutnant to Oberst inclusively. The dress aiguillette was worn suspended from under the right shoulder board, underneath the wearers arm across the right breast and secured to the top front closure button on the tunic. 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 Verkaufabteilung, (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 garments of higher quality. The different branches of service within the Luftwaffe were allocated specific identifying waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), with light brown being chosen for personnel serving with the Signals units which was generally displayed as the base of the shoulder boards. Personnel on Reserve status were distinguished by the addition of a mid-blue nebenfarbe, (Secondary Color), which was also displayed on the shoulder boards.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Very nice quality, private purchase, Luftwaffe blue/grey, doeskin wool construction waist length, Bolero/Spencer style, double breasted tunic with a subtle whipcord weave features upswept peak lapels and a lay down collar. The tunic has a vertical row of four, small, ornamental buttons positioned to each side of the front opening. The tunic was designed to remain open and has two, horizontal, slash button eyelets at the forward waistline, with a corresponding retaining shackle chain with dual, small, closure buttons. The right breast has an early, first pattern, (Circa 1935-1936/1937), hand embroidered, "droop-tailed" Luftwaffe national eagle with out-stretched wings, clutching a canted swastika in one talon, in bright, silver/aluminum wire and bullion threads, mounted on a cut-out Luftwaffe blue/grey wool base. The eagle is neatly handstitched to the tunic. The right breast also has an Officer’s dress aiguillette that consists of bright, heavy, interwoven silver/aluminum braid and an additional two, straight, silver/aluminum braids. The aiguillette has a small silver/aluminum, button holed panel joining both the interwoven and straight braids and an additional button loop to one end to secure it to the tunic. The aiguillette is suspended from a button positioned beneath the right shoulder board and secured by an additional button situated beneath the right lapel. The aiguillette is still very clean and bright and is fully intact with all the components. The tunic has straight cut, non-adjustable, sleeve cuffs with small, vertical, slashes to the outside seams. The reverse of the tunic has a subtle downward scalloped tip to the center. The tunic has sewn on shoulder boards in bright, silver/aluminum Russian braid with a mid-blue wool nebenfarbe underlay mounted on light brown wool waffenfarbe bases. The shoulder board retaining buttons are intact. The forward edge of the lay down collar is trimmed with twisted, bright, silver/aluminum cord. The collar has no collar tabs as per regulations. The interior of the tunic is fully lined in blue/grey rayon with off-white, sleeves. The lining has a vertical slash pocket to the left breast panel. The tunic has no visible size or manufacturer’s markings. The tunic is in overall excellent condition with minimal age and usage toning. The aiguillette retaining buttons are the molded, tan, bakelite type while the balance of the buttons are the bright, silver washed, pebbled, magnetic sheet metal type and all appear to have their original stitching. The tunic is roughly size 42" chest. The tunic comes with a white cotton construction, waist length, vest with repeating, vertical ribbing to the front panels and a smooth finished back panel. The vest features a low "U" shaped front opening with rounded, shawl collar lapels and a short, vertical, three button front closure positioned at the waistline. The front closure buttons are absent. The vest has two, small, horizontal slash pockets with dual-ply, top edge, trim with one positioned on either side of the waistline. The vest also has a small, horizontal slash pocket with a dual-ply, top edge, trim to the upper right breast panel. The side seams each have a small inverted "V" slash positioned on the bottom edge. The reverse of the vest has dual, horizontal, white cotton fit adjustment straps with a corresponding, small, nickel/silver plated, magnetic sheet metal, open rectangular, dual prong buckle. The reverse of one of the fit adjustment straps has a small, white rayon label with faint, illegible green script, machine stitched in place. The interior of the vest is fully lined in fine white cotton. The vest is in overall very good condition with minor age and usage toning. The vest is also roughly size 42" chest.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $1,300.00