BACKGROUND: The Reichsluftwaffe was official established on February 26TH 1935 as the third branch of service of the 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. The standard pattern service uniform was adopted by the Luftwaffe in March 1935, and was based on the uniform worn by personnel in the Deutscher Luftsport Verband, (German Air Sports League), a civilian forerunner of the Luftwaffe, as early as 1933, with minor modifications. The 1935 pattern uniform tunic was designated Tuchrock, (Cloth tunic), and was worn open at the neck. On November 11TH 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.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Private purchase, 1935 pattern, Luftwaffe blue/grey, wool/rayon blend construction tunic with a pronounced whipcord weave. The tunic features a vertical, four button front closure with small, upswept, fold back lapels and a lay down collar. The tunic has four, pleated, patch, front pockets with straight edged button down flaps. The right breast has a hand embroidered Luftwaffe eagle in bright silver/aluminum wire threads with grey cotton thread accents on a cut-out blue/grey wool base. The eagle is neatly handstitched to the tunic. Original award loops for two breast badges and a ribbon bar. The straight cut sleeves have deep fold back French cuffs which are tacked in the upright position at both the inner and outer sleeve seams. Geschwader Immelmann cufftitle handsewn to the lower right sleeve. The Geschwader Immelmann, (Immelmann Squadron), Commemorative Honor cufftitle was one of a series of commemorative honor cufftitles introduced by the Luftwaffe to honor fallen comrades and heroic pilots of WWI. The Geschwader Immelmann cufftitle was introduced on April 18TH 1935 for wear by all personnel of Fliegergeschwader Schwerin, (Flight Squadron Schwerin). The cufftitle was to be worn by all ranks on the lower right sleeve of the service tunic and officer were also authorized wear of the cufftitle on the lower right sleeve of the flight blouse and the optional white summer tunic. Oberleutnant Max Immelmann a WWI German fighter ace and winner of the coveted Pour le Mérite was credited with fifteen official aerial victories before he was killed in battle on June 18TH 1916. Of Note: During the war Fliegergeschwader Schwerin was renamed Stuka. Geschwader 162 and eventually Stuka. Geschwader 2, but personnel retained the right to wear the cufftitle. Original Krim shield also hand stitched to the upper left arm. The tunic has sewn on shoulder boards of bright silver/aluminum Russian braid on golden yellow wool waffenfarbe bases. The forward edge of the collar is trimmed in bright, twisted, silver/aluminum cording. The collar has golden yellow wool collar tabs with a single hand embroidered rank "gull" and oak-leaf wreath all in bright silver/aluminum wire threads. The collar tabs are also trimmed with bright, twisted, silver/aluminum cording and are hand stitched to the collar. The interior of the tunic is fully lined in grey rayon with off-white, striped sleeves. The buttons are all the bright, silver washed, pebbled magnetic sheet metal type and appear to have their original stitching. The tunic is roughly size 34" chest. One tiny sewing repair to the lower left pocket. Very decent example with all original insignia application. Also included is a Company and Field grade Officers dress aiguillette.