L006995 LUFTWAFFE FORESTRY OFFICIAL’S/OFFICER’S BREAST EAGLE. (Hoheitsabzeichen für Luftwaffe Forst Dienstbeamte)

BACKGROUND: Forestry and hunting in Germany enjoys a long, illustrious history and tradition that continues to the present day. On July 8TH 1933 Hermann Göring was appointed as Reichsforst und Jägermeister, (National Forestry and Hunting Master). In his position as Reichsforst und Jägermeister Göring was in charge of the, Reichsforstamt, (National Forestry Department), with the mandate of administration of all aspects of forestry and hunting including the development, maintenance and conservation of all the forests and wild game within Greater Germany. Originally each individual German state had their own forestry service with different mandates and regulations which were to become standardized after the NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), established the Reichsforstamt. The Reichsforstamt was sub divided into four main branches of service consisting of the, Gemeinde Forst Dienst, (General Forestry Service), the Privat Forst Dienst, (Private Forestry Service), the Heeres Forst Dienst, (Army Forestry Service), and the Luftwaffe Forst Dienst, (Air Force Forestry Service). The Reichsforstamt would be comparable to most nation’s forest ranger and game warden services. Each of the four forestry branches of service basically provided the same functions with the main difference being the particular parcels of land, and the corresponding wild life, each was responsible for. As the designations indicate the Heeres Forst Dienst and the Luftwaffe Forst Dienst were responsible for parcels of land owned by the respective branches of service while the Gemeinde Forst Dienst was responsible for all other public/government owned properties. The Privat Forst Dienst was responsible for all privately owned property with the main difference being that all services were charged to the particular property owner. Personnel serving with the assorted forestry services were organized into two, basic, authoritative positions consisting of Operational Officials and Administrative Officials. The two positions were sub divided into career levels with Operational Officials being classed as medium and elevated career levels and Administrative Officials being classed as high career level personnel. Of Note: The career level was determined by the education and/or experience of the individual. Regulations of March 18TH 1936 dictated that personnel serving with the Air Force Forestry Service were to wear the same type of uniform as the Army Forestry Service but with Luftwaffe insignia, including a breast eagle. Originally the breast eagles for the Air Force Forestry Service were worked in a combination of dark green and bright silver/alum9num threads on a grey/green fabric base for all ranks. On June 1ST 1939 the Air Force Forestry Service introduced new uniforms and as a result the breast eagles also underwent minor modifications. The 1939 pattern Air Force Forestry Service breast eagles were machine embroidered in silver/grey for medium and elevated career personnel while high grade career officials breast eagles were hand embroidered in bright, silver/aluminum wire. Both of the 1939 pattern, Air Force Forestry Service were on green bases to match the uniforms they were worn on. Of Note: The Luftwaffe pattern national eagle was originally introduced for wear by Fliegerschaft, (Pilot Base), personnel of the DLV, Deutscher Luftsportsverband, (German Air Sports Association), the clandestine, civilian, forerunner of the Luftwaffe on August 18TH 1934 and was officially adopted for wear by all Luftwaffe personnel on March 1ST 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 almost all headgear and on the right breast of almost all uniforms with a few minor exceptions.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, hand embroidered Luftwaffe eagle, with out stretched wings, clutching a canted swastika in it’s talons, in bright, silver/aluminum wire threads, with bright silver bullion wire and pale grey cotton accent threads, on a cut out, dark green wool base. Scarce eagle. 

GRADE ****1/4                             PRICE $

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