Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Luftwaffe Signals Feldwebel four-pocket Tuchrock service tunic, constructed from fine Fliegerblau, or Flyer’s Blue, wool and retaining a particularly attractive combination of early and branch-specific insignia. The tunic is configured for an NCO of the Luftnachrichtentruppe, or Signals branch, and also carries a Luftwaffe motor vehicle driver trade badge on the left cuff.

The tunic has a four-button front closure and four square pleated pockets with square buttoned flaps. The pebbled buttons are non-magnetic and appear original to the garment. The front closure buttons are aluminum. Maker markings are present on the reverses of the buttons.

The interior is lined in brown cotton blend material, with striped white rayon sleeve linings. A horizontal slash pocket is present on the left inner chest, above which are the size markings:

43    43
96
73    65

Under this are the stamps:

Ln-Ers. Z. St. 11/12
LBA37.

The “Ln-Ers. Z.St. 11/12” marking stands for “Luftnachrichten-Ersatz-Zentralstelle 11/12”. It designates an administrative or central office within the Luftwaffe’s Signals Replacement and Training system, serving specific regional military districts. LBA is the abbreviation for Luftwaffenbekleidungsamt, the Luftwaffe clothing office responsible for processing and issuing uniform garments. The 37 marking is consistent with 1937 processing or acceptance. Further below this marking is a boxed stamp reading 5. Komp., for the 5th Company.

The tunic is adorned with the usual rank and branch insignia used on German tunics. On the right breast is a desirable machine embroidered First Pattern Luftwaffe “Droop Tail” eagle, worked in silver gray thread on a blue gray wool backing. It is very neatly sewn above the right breast pocket in a manner consistent with period tailor work and is attached only through the outer tunic fabric.

The collar is edged completely in approximately 10mm wide silver NCO Tresse, correct for an NCO Tuchrock. The attached Kragenpatten (Collar Flaps) are in Braun (Saddle Brown), the correct Luftwaffe Waffenfarbe (Corps Color) for the Air communications corps (Luftnachrichtentruppe), usually referred to as "Signals". There is also a brown braid around the outside of the collar, usually only seen early issue or private-purchase tunics such as this. The sew-in style Schulterklappen (Shoulder Boards or Epaulettes) have the same color piping, and a single row of 10mm NCO tresse around the entire perimeter with no pips, indicating, usually the rank of Untereldwebel (Field Usher), however we can see evidence that they may have each had a single pip previously, which would have indicated the rank of Feldwebel (Field Usher), equivalent to a U.S. Technical Sergeant. This is further supported by the collar insignia, which each correctly show three "gull wing" insignia for a Feldwebel.

Stitched onto the left cuff is a Luftwaffe Motor Vehicle Driver Trade Badge (Kraftfahrpersonal Tätigkeitsabzeichen). The badge is in very good service-used condition, with the colors well retained but showing age toning.

Overall condition is very good, with strong retention of the Flyer’s Blue color, but there are some spots of moth damage, including behind the collar The interior lining remains in very good condition overall with normal service wear.

The combination of the early Droop Tail eagle, 1937 Luftwaffe clothing-office marking, Ln-Ers. Z. St. 11/12 unit association, boxed 5. Komp. stamp, brown Signals Waffenfarbe, Feldwebel rank insignia, full NCO Tresse, and Motor Vehicle Driver trade badge makes this a particularly interesting early Luftwaffe Signals tunic. Its surviving interior markings provide unusually useful evidence for issue and organizational history, while the branch, rank, and trade insignia remain especially strong for display and further research.

Approximate Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to sleeve: 26.5"
Shoulder to shoulder: 16"
Chest width: 17.5"
Waist: 17"
Hip: 21"
Front length: 31"

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.