Original Item: Only One Available. Here we have a lovely German Luftwaffe Air Force Handbook, titled Der Dienſtunterricht in der Luftwaffe 1942 (Service Training in the Air Force 1942) on the spine. Written by Generalmajor E. Tschoeltsch, this was part of the HANDBÜCHER DER LUFTWAFFE (Air Force Manuals) series of books intended to be used by service members. Inside the book is pretty much everything a Luftwaffe soldier would need to know, from basic information such as marching, saluting, marksmanship, and even how to wash yourself, to more advanced information about how to use specific weapons.

The manual measures 5 3/8" x 7 5/8" x 3/4", and definitely looks to have seen long use during the war. The rear cover is missing, possibly along with some pages, as the last page is 300. A great piece of WWII militaria, ready for translation and research!

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.