Original German WWII Luftwaffe Flak Artillery Oberleutnant Officer’s Dutch Made Fliegerbluse Tunic with Medal Bar Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent condition WWII German Luftwaffe Flak Artillery Officer Four Pocket Fliegerbluse (Flight Blouse) Service Tunic, tailor made in the Netherlands, which at the time was occupied by Germany. It is excellent condition, and looks to have only seen light service during the war. This great piece is produced in blue grey wool and shows only fading from age and light exposure. All buttons are silver finished pebbled aluminum and back marked. The pocket flaps are nicely scalloped, an option available on privately-purchased examples and those made early in the war. The back of the collar bears the original Dutch makers tag, still fully legible:

Marco’s
Kleeding-Mÿ N.V.
R’DAM
TEL: 10933 ZUIDBLAAK 40

The collar of this officer’s tunic has a twisted bullion border, correct for a Luftwaffe fliegerbluse. The attached Kragenpatten (Collar Flaps) are in Tiefrot (Deep Red), the correct Waffenfarbe (Corps Color) for Luftwaffe Flak Anti-aircraft troops and other Artillery, and the collar has the correct silver bullion trim for an officer. The Schulterklappen (Shoulder Boards or Epaulettes) have the same color piping, and have four rows of silver “Russia Braid” around the edge with a single rank “Pip” added, indicating the rank of Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant). This is confirmed by the collar insignia, which each show two “gull wing” insignia over a wreath.

The top buttonhole on the tunic has a Red / White / Black ribbon installed, indicating that the officer had received the Iron Cross 2nd Class Award. There is also a medal bar above the left pocket indicating that the officer had received four awards: the Iron Cross 1939, the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords, the Eastern Front Medal, and the Italian – German Africa Campaign Medal. There are some loops on the left pocket where awards were once attached, very possibly an Iron Cross 1st Class.

The interior of the tunic is lined in fine blue gray rayon, and does show some light wear. There are no markings that we can see aside from the maker mark, indicating that it was a bespoke example made for this specific officer, not one issued through military channels. There is some fraying of the lining around the seam areas, some of which have pulled out a bit.

Overall exterior condition is excellent, showing only light wear. We cannot see any real mothing, and the colors are vibrant and well retained. The Bullion is still bright, and the buttons are lovely. Really a choice example here!

A great chance to pick up an excellent condition Dutch Tailor made Luftwaffe Flak Artillery Officer’s tunic. This would display great as is, or could be dressed up with some medals on the left side.

Approx. Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 9”
Shoulder to sleeve: 24.5”
Shoulder to shoulder: 15.5”
Chest width: 17”
Waist width: 16”
Hip width: 18.5”
Front length: 27″

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.