Original German WWII 1941 Dated Framed Portrait Painting of Luftwaffe DAK Flight Branch Obergefreiter in North Africa by Felix Otto Von Rossen – 16″ x 20 1/2″ Original Items

Original Item: One-of-a-kind. We’ve had quite a few personal photo albums and similar German WWII items previously, but this is probably only the second period personal portrait painting that we have had! In the frame it measures 22 1/4″ x 26 1/4″, with the exposed canvas measuring 17″ x 23″. The frame is painted gold, and it looks to be original WWII period, most likely from pine. There is unfortunately no way to know who the subject of the painting is, as it is not marked anywhere, but they look to be a fairly typical German WWII Soldier.

They are wearing a standard Deutsches Afrikakorps Tan Uniform with an M38 Shiffchen Side Cap, showing clear Luftwaffe Eagles and other correct insignia. The uniform is equipped with enlisted level schulterklappen (shoulder straps) that have goldgelb (Gold-Yellow) color piping around the edge. This is the Waffenfarbe (Corps Color) for the flight branch of the Luftwaffe, which included Aviator troops such as pilots and ground personnel as well as Fallschirmjäger (parachute troops). They have a silver double rank chevron on the left sleeve, indicating the enlisted rank of Obergefreiter, equivalent to a U.S. Air Force “Airman First Class”.

Behind the soldier we can see tan stone city ramparts, as seen in many locations in North Africa. Behind the walls is what looks to be a wooden tower with a small German NSDAP flag flying. The painting is very well done, and definitely looks to be oil on canvas. The painting is signed on the lower left side with:

F.O. v. Rossen
1941

There is also a partly torn away tag on the upper right side of the frame, with the remaining text reading:

Fliegerkorps. Afrika 1941
Felix Otto von Rossen

We have unfortunately not been able to find much on the painter himself, however they were definitely a known German WW2 period painter, seen on other examples of portraits.

Definitely an interesting and unique piece of WWII Memorabilia! Ready to research and display!