Original German WWII Luftwaffe Flak Artillery Oberleutnant Officer Private Purchase M44 Type Uniform Tunic

Original Item: Only One Available. Towards the end of the Second World War in late 1944, Germany was looking to to cut down on tailoring and production costs as material shortages continued to mount. The Wehrmacht's answer to this issue was the introduction of the M44 pattern uniform. Similar in appearance to the British Battle Dress or the related US “Ike” jacket, the M44 was unlike any other German pattern uniform, and the first major deviation in uniform design since 1936. The front still featured the button front closure, but the the tunic skirt was shortened to waist length, the number of pockets was reduced to two. The tunic could be worn with an open or closed collar.

Some versions also had additional internal pockets as well as an internal belt, but on later examples these were often omitted. Additionally, the rarely used and complicated internal suspension system used on earlier designs was finally dropped. The color was the new Feldgrau 44, a drab greenish-brown. The standard German insignia would still be worn, such as the breast eagle, collar tabs (litzen), and shoulder straps. Except for the elite Panzer-Lehr-Division, which field-tested the new uniform in summer 1944 before its approval for general issue, the M44 was usually seen at the front only in the war’s last months and generally on the greenest of troops. Due to rushed production, many were not even fully outfitted with all the correct insignia.

This is an excellent condition WWII German Luftwaffe Flak Artillery Officer M44 Service Tunic, most likely the first that we have had. We see these very often with the Heer Army, but not with the Luftwaffe, so we believe that it was a Private Purchase example, custom made by a local tailor. It is excellent condition, and looks to have only seen light service during the war. It is made from the correct Luftwaffe Fliegerblau (Flyer's Blue) blue gray wool, which looks to be a bit rougher in weave than what we see on the usual Fliegerbluse (Flyer's blouse) tunics.

It features two un-pleated chest pockets with lightly scalloped flaps, each secured with a magnetic pebbled button. The front closure features five of the same buttons on the right breast flap meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left flap. The buttons are all sewn directly to the fabric, which makes them more prone to tearing off, and the top button does look to have been replaced with a non-magnetic one. They were originally painted the correct Luftwaffe blue, but now show wear and oxidation. We checked the backs of the buttons, and were not able to see any maker marks, which is not uncommon. The interior is unlined save for some reinforcement near the sleeves and tops of the pockets, and there are not any internal pockets. We cannot see any markings of any type on the interior.

The attractive Luftwaffe breast eagle is the correct EM/NCO embroidered type, and is very neatly hand stitched to the chest in a fashion typical of wartime German tailor work. This is a very lovely variant, without any damage to the stitching. The left breast still bears three pairs of award loops, though the awards are unfortunately no longer present. As a later war field tunic, there are no collar tab rank insignia, as they were superfluous when shoulder insignia were present.

The button-attached style Schulterklappen (Shoulder Boards or Epaulettes) have Tiefrot (Deep Red) bases and straps, the correct Waffenfarbe (Corps Color) for Luftwaffe Flak Anti-aircraft troops and other Artillery. They both have four rows of silver "Russia Braid" around the edge with a single gold rank "Pip" added, indicating the rank of Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant), equivalent to a U.S. Army Air Forces First Lieutenant.

Overall condition is excellent, showing very little wear, with just a bit of damage to the shoulder insignia. This would be a perfect item to out fit with some awards on the left chest to increase the display potential. A very interesting late war Private Purchase M44 tunic from the Luftwaffe, which would make a great addition to any collection!

Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 11"
Shoulder to sleeve: 22”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16.5"
Chest width: 23”
Waist: 19"
Hip: 19"
Front length: 25"

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.