Original German WWII Afrika Korps Luftwaffe Oberleutnant Officer’s Tan Denim Tropical Uniform Service Tunic Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. Just acquired from a private collection, this is an excellent condition rare World War II Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) Luftwaffe Offiziere (Officer’s) Model 41 Tropical Field Service Tunic, made from what feels like a denim or canvas material. It is definitely of higher quality and weave than the later “Drillich” fabrics used, including the “reed green” HBT used by the Luftwaffe later in the war. It is definitely intended to be a more durable version of the Feldbluse than the wool versions in use during the beginning of the war, and was specifically designed for the hot climate of North Africa, such as in Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt. It is the correct Dunkelgelb (dark yellow) tan color used by other branches in the Tropical campaigns.

The front features 4 pockets with square flaps, each retained by a button. The breast pockets are pleated, while the waist pockets are not, as usually seen on earlier war produced examples. The front closure features 6 pebbled buttons painted with the correct Tropical dunkegelb color, along with a hook and loop collar fastener as well as a smaller button and strap on the right side. The buttons on this tunic are retained by round circlips from the rear, and all are non-magnetic, probably made from zinc. We did not see any maker markings on the reverse. The interior is not lined, and has some lighter tan reinforcements under the sleeves and for the belt hooks. There are original maker and size markings ink stamped on the left interior, but they are quite hard to read due to fading.

The tunic is adorned with the usual rank and branch insignia used on German Luftwaffe tunics. The attractive aluminum Luftwaffe breast eagle is the correct type used in Africa, pinned through the fabric above the right chest pocket. The button-attached style Offiziere Schulterklappen (Officer Shoulder Boards or Epaulettes) are piped in Goldgelb (Gold-Yellow), the correct Waffenfarbe (Corps Color) for Aviator troops such as pilots and ground personnel, as well as Fallschirmjäger (parachute troops). Inside the piping are two rows of silver “Russia Braid” double piping around the edge with a single rank “Pip” added, indicating the Junior Officer rank of Oberleutnant, equivalent to a U.S. Army Air Forces 1st Lieutenant.

Condition is excellent, and there is not much that could be improved upon with this tunic. It shows only light wear overall to the fabric, with very little in the way of fading. There are just a few stitch pulls and wear on the buttons. They are zinc, and as the material oxidizes, it can easily cause flaking.

A great example of a rare Luftwaffe Afrikakorps M41 Service tunic, ready to add to your collection and display!

Approximate Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 9″
Shoulder to sleeve: 25”
Shoulder to shoulder: 15”
Chest width: 18″
Waist width: 16″
Hip width: 17″
Front length: 29.5″

The Afrika Korps or German Africa Corps (German: Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK was the German expeditionary force in Africa during the North African Campaign of World War II. First sent as a holding force to shore up the Italian defense of their African colonies, the formation fought on in Africa, under various appellations, from March 1941 until its surrender in May 1943. The term “Afrika Korps” is pseudo-German (so-called “cod-German”), deriving from an incomplete German title. The German term referred solely to the initial formation, the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK), which formed part of the Axis command of the German and Italian forces in North Africa. The name stuck, with both news media and Allied soldiers, as the name for all subsequent German units in North Africa. The unit is known for having been commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.

The Luftwaffe, the air force of the German military during the Third Reich, was established in 1935. Over the next 10 years, Luftwaffe troops wore a huge variety of uniforms. Enlisted men generally wore uniforms issued from military depots. Most enlisted soldiers had wool trousers and a short jacket with two internal lower pockets, called a Fliegerbluse, as well as a dressier 4-pocket tunic, the Tuchrock. Officers wore the same general uniform styles, but as officers had to supply their own uniforms, they usually wore tailor made versions. There were also myriad varieties of specialized uniforms worn by certain units or in specific situations, from the tuxedo-style “gala” formal wear uniform of the pre-war period, to the plain coveralls worn by crews of anti-aircraft cannons. There were work uniforms, tropical and summer uniforms, and camouflage clothing for airborne troops and other Luftwaffe soldiers in ground combat. Flight crews had their own specialized gear, including leather jackets and warm, electrically heated suits. Most but not all Luftwaffe uniform jackets bore the Luftwaffe emblem of a flying eagle holding a swas.