L000587 MEDICAL MAJOR’S EVENING DRESS TUNIC & DRESS AIGUILLETTE.
BACKGROUND:
The Reichsluftwaffe, (National Air-Force), was official established on February 26TH 1935 as the third branch of service of the Wehrmacht, (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, (Air-Force). The Luftwaffe Evening Dress uniform was introduced on April 1ST 1935, with the design of the tunic being based on the Kriegsmarine’s, (War Navy), 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 Association). The Evening Dress uniform was utilized as both the Formal and Informal Dress uniform by all Officers and Officials ranks with different colored accoutrements 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. The dress aiguillette was worn by all Officer ranks with the Parade, Formal Day and Formal Evening Dress uniforms. The Formal Dress uniform was worn with the Officer’s dress aiguillette, all medals, orders and decorations and included a white vest while the Informal Dress uniform was worn without the Officer’s dress aiguillette, with the medal and/or ribbon bars and included a blue/grey vest. The insignia utilized on the Formal and Informal Dress uniform consisted of a breast eagle and shoulder boards but no collar tabs were worn, as per regulations. Regulations also prescribed wear of white gloves with the Formal dress uniform.PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Very nice quality, private purchase, Luftwaffe blue/grey, wool construction waist length, Bolero/Spencer style, double breasted tunic with a subtle whipcord weave features upswept, peak lapels and a small, lay down collar. The tunic has a vertical row of four, small, silver washed, pebbled, magnetic sheet metal, 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, silver washed, pebbled, magnetic sheet metal closure buttons. The right breast has a nice hand embroidered national eagle with out-stretched wings, clutching a canted swastika in one talon, in bright, silver/aluminum wire threads with bright, silver bullion and pale grey rayon accent threads, mounted on a cut-out Luftwaffe blue/grey wool base. The eagle is neatly handstitched to the tunic. The right breast also has a post-April 1935, 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. Original loops for a ribbon/medal bar and one breast badge. 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 pointing, scalloped tip to the center. The tunic has sewn on shoulder boards in interwoven, bright, silver/aluminum Russian braid with dark blue, wool waffenfarbe bases. The shoulder board’s silver washed, pebbled, magnetic sheet metal, retaining buttons are intact. The forward edge of the small, 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 dark, ribbed, blue/grey rayon with off-white, rayon sleeve lining. The lining has a vertical slash pocket to the left breast panel. The lining has a tan, rayon tailor’s label neatly handstitched to the nape of the neck. Original owners tag to the inside pocket. Roughly a size 40" chest. Nice!
GRADE ****1/4 PRICE $
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