BACKGROUND: The Luftwaffe field divisions were rapidly mobilized from Luftwaffe ground personnel in late 1942 and early 1943, to replace the massive lose of men on the Eastern front. Due to the lack of training and poor performance in the field, of the twenty-two divisions formed, seventeen were either destroyed or disbanded before the end of the war. When the Luftwaffe field divisions were being formed the need for proper camouflage garments was raised and a design for an inexpensive, easy to manufacture field jacket, suitable for ground combat, was proposed and accepted in late 1942.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Waterproofed cotton construction coat with printed splinter pattern camouflage. Five button vertical front closure (missing one button) has a single metal hook and eye at neck. There are two lower hip horizontal slash pockets with straight edged button down flaps. Vertical outside seam slashes at cuffs with snap closures. Armpits are open vented, with internal stitched on reinforcements. Five stitched eyelets to either side panel by the waistline are for the belt support hooks. Machine embroidered second pattern breast eagle with original stitching to the jacket. Large lay down collar has the correct reinforcement stitching to reverse. A dual button holed closure strap is stitched to the reverse of the front left collar. The reverse of the right front collar has two corresponding buttons for the closure strap. Unlined interior. Interior left breast has a horizontal slash pocket with button closure. The breast and lower hip pocket bags are all of loosely woven blue/grey cotton/rayon blend material. Buttons look to be all original stitching. Coat is roughly size 38" chest. Nice!