Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Luftwaffe two pocket Fliegerbluse service tunic configured for a Fallschirmjäger Oberfeldwebel and retaining an especially appealing assortment of period insignia and decorations. The tunic features Gold Yellow branch color, full NCO collar and shoulder board tresse, four gull collar insignia, an embroidered Fallschirmjäger badge, AFRIKA campaign cuff title, and a three ribbon medal bar. It is presented in honest service used condition with wear and age matching throughout.

The tunic is constructed from standard Luftwaffe Fliegerblau wool and has the streamlined two pocket configuration characteristic of the Fliegerbluse. The front closes with four concealed Bakelite buttons, all of which remain present and securely attached. A smaller fifth button allows the upper front to be closed at the neck, supplemented by a hook and loop collar fastener.

The two waist pockets have forward curving flaps secured by painted pebbled magnetic buttons. The pocket flaps can be tucked inside for a cleaner appearance, contributing to the short, streamlined profile of the garment.

The interior is partially lined in blue gray rayon and shows only light wear. The lining covers most of the back and reinforces the sleeve seams. Button secured interior chest pockets are present on both sides, along with the standard field dressing pocket at the lower right. Internal straps for belt support remain present, together with black painted steel belt hooks. No maker, size, or depot markings were observed.

The right breast carries the correct Luftwaffe EM/NCO machine embroidered eagle. It is neatly attached with hand zig-zag stitching and remains in very good condition, with the application and wear consistent with the remainder of the tunic.

The collar is edged completely in approximately 10mm wide silver NCO Tresse, correct for an NCO Fliegerbluse. The attached Kragenpatten collar tabs are in Goldgelb, the Gold Yellow Waffenfarbe used by Luftwaffe flying personnel and Fallschirmjäger troops.

Each collar tab carries four aluminum gull wing devices, identifying the rank of:

Oberfeldwebel

The button attached Schulterklappen shoulder boards have matching Gold Yellow piping and a single row of approximately 10mm silver NCO tresse around the perimeter. Each carries two rank pips, again corresponding to Oberfeldwebel, equivalent to a U.S. Army Air Forces Master Sergeant.

On the left breast is an embroidered Fallschirmschützenabzeichen paratrooper badge. Its presence identifies the tunic with a qualified Fallschirmjäger wearer. Three pairs of additional thread loops are visible around the badge for decorations that are no longer present.

Above the badge is a three ribbon medal bar indicating awards corresponding to:

Iron Cross 1939 2nd Class, EKII
War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords, KvKII
German-Italian Africa Campaign Medal

The left sleeve carries an original style AFRIKA campaign cuff title. It shows age related wear and staining consistent with the tunic. The piping, embroidery, and stitching pattern are appropriate to the type, and its aged appearance is consistent with long term attachment.

Overall condition is very good for a service used uniform. No significant moth damage or major structural damage was observed. The exterior shows scattered staining, and areas of the wool nap have worn down from use. The insignia and decorations show comparable age and wear and appear to have been installed for a considerable period.

With its Oberfeldwebel rank insignia, Gold Yellow Fallschirmjäger branch color, embroidered paratrooper badge, AFRIKA cuff title, three ribbon medal bar, complete concealed button front, belt hooks, and convincing service wear, this is a particularly appealing Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger Fliegerbluse. The overall staining, loss of wool nap, empty award loops, and absence of readable interior markings are all fully disclosed. It would display especially well in a Fallschirmjäger uniform, North Africa campaign, Luftwaffe NCO, Oberfeldwebel rank, or advanced German WWII airborne collection.

Approximate Measurements
Collar to shoulder: 9.5"
Shoulder to sleeve: 24"
Shoulder to shoulder: 15"
Chest width: 17"
Waist: 17"
Hip: 18"
Front length: 28.5"

The Africa Cuff Title, or Africa Cuff Band, (Ärmelband Afrika) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to members of the Wehrmacht who took part in the North African campaign of 1941–43. On 15 January 1943, the Africa cuff title was instituted by Adolf H as a formal campaign decoration, and was to replace the previous cuff titles used by the Heer and Luftwaffe.

The final terms of this award required at least six months service in the North African theatre of operations, or any lesser period if the recipient was decorated for bravery, was wounded or if killed – in which case a posthumous award was made. Those who contracted a debilitating illness which required evacuation required three months active service prior to illness. After 6 May 1943, the qualifying period of service was reduced from six to four months. The deadline for applications for the cuff title was 31 October 1944.

The cuff title is a 32mm wide mid-brown camel hair band, bearing the word AFRIKA flanked on both sides by an image of a palm tree and edged top and bottom with a 3mm strip, all embroidered in silver-grey braid or cotton. The design was the same for all three armed services. The band was worn on the lower left sleeve of the uniform, including on greatcoats. Where two or more campaign cuff titles were awarded, the earliest qualified for was correctly worn above later awards, although this regulation was not always followed.

The Parachutist Badge (Fallschirmschützenabzeichen) was a badge awarded to qualified parachutists of the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS of NSDAP Germany. The badge was first established by order of Hermann Göring on 5 November 1936. It was originally awarded to Luftwaffe personnel after completion of the required number of six jumps. After this they were eligible to become a Fallschirmjäger (paratrooper).

The badge depicted a diving eagle with a swas in its claws surrounded by a silver wreath. The original construction was made of "gold-finished bronze" for the eagle and "oxidized silver plate" for the laurel leaves. In 1937, the construction of the badge changed to aluminium. In late 1942, the construction was changed again to a metal alloy. A cloth version of the badge was also authorized in 1937, to be worn on a flight jacket. A recipient had to re-qualify for the badge each year.

An army version (Fallschirmschützen-Abzeichen des Heeres) was later introduced (1 September 1937), with the swas relocated to the top of the wreath and surmounted by a smaller upright eagle. As with the Luftwaffe, a recipient had to re-qualify for the badge each year. In 1936, the army ordered the institution of its own parachute company, which was expanded to a battalion in 1938. When the army parachute units were transferred over to the Luftwaffe in 1939, the former army soldiers continued to wear the army version of the Parachutist badge. The Waffen-SS personnel of the 500, 501 or 502 SS-Parachute Battalions were awarded the Luftwaffe badge after they passed the jump and other test requirements

The term Fallschirmjäger, often written Fallschirmjaeger in English, is from the German Fallschirm "parachute" and Jäger, the light elite infantry of the Prussian army. This term was then applied to all German paratroopers. Fallschirmjäger of Germany in World War II, were the first to be committed in large-scale airborne operations. They came to be known as the "Green Devils" by the Allied forces they fought against and were some of the best trained most lethal troops of the German war machine.

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.