Original Item: Only One Available. This very nice German Luftwaffe Flight Branch Mannschaften (Enlisted Man's) Two Pocket Fliegerbluse (Flyer's Blouse) Service Tunic is in lovely honest service used condition. This great piece is produced in blue grey wool and still retains the original colors very well. It has a "hidden" button main closure with 4 dark blue bakelite buttons, all of which are still present and securely attached. There is also a smaller fifth button for if the wearer wanted to close up the front of the collar, as well as a hook and loop fastener. The two hip pockets have forward edge curved flaps, secured with blue pebbled aluminum buttons. It has a silver gray thread embroidered EM/NCO Luftwaffe Eagle sewn on the top of the right breast pocket, which is correctly sewn to the outer layer of fabric, and in great shape.

The interior of the tunic is partly lined with gray light cotton canvas, which shows age toning and wear, including some tears, particularly on the liner for the left waist pocket. There are button secured pockets on the inner chest on both sides, and there is also the usual bandage pocket on the lower right. There are straps for belt hooks to be attached, however none are installed.

The attached Kragenpatten (Collar Flaps) are in Goldgelb (Gold-Yellow), as is the collar piping, the correct Waffenfarbe (Corps Color) for Aviator troops such as pilots, air crew, and ground personnel, as well as Fallschirmjäger (parachute troops). The button-attached Schulterklappen (Shoulder Straps or Epaulettes) have the same color piping, correct simple style for an enlisted man, and show no attached devices. There are three metal "gull wing" insignia on the Collar Flaps, indicating the enlisted rank of Obergefreiter (Senior Exempted), equivalent to a USAAF Airman first class. There are two silver bullion tresse chevrons on the left sleeve, confirming the rank.

There is an embroidered Fallschirmschützenabzeichen (Parachutist Badge) on the left side of the tunic, confirming that the wearer was a Fallschirmjäger paratrooper. We can also the ribbon for an Iron Cross Second Class 1939 installed on the second butthole from the top, indicating receipt of the award.

Overall condition is really very nice on this tunic, with no mothing or major damage that we can see. It is however a bit stained overall on the exterior, and the fuzzy "nap" that the fabric originally had has been worn away, now only preserved in protected areas such as under the collar and pocket flaps. This is definitely a tunic that saw lots of use during the war, which has given it a great "been there" look!

A great chance to pick up a lovely service used condition Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger Paratrooper enlisted tunic with a great fabric Fallschirmjäger Badge. This would display great as is, or could be dressed up with additional items like a cap and trousers.

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.