BACKGROUND: In late 1940, with the impending German entrance into the North African campaign, the army quickly developed and issued tropical uniforms and equipment in time for DAK, Deutsches Afrika Korps, (German Africa Corps), personnel’s arrival in Tripoli in February 1941. At the same time the Luftwaffe also developed and introduced their own version of the tropical uniform and equipment independently from the other branches of service. Originally the tropical uniforms were only intended for wear in North Africa but that was later expanded to include personnel serving in southern areas of continental Europe during the summer months, (May 1ST to September 30TH). The design of the tropical uniform items were based on the standard continental uniform items but in a different color and material. Due to the hot climate one of the tropical uniform items developed were short pants. As a safety precaution regulations dictated that the short pants were not to be worn during combat but only when personnel were behind the front lines. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the Luftwaffe’s Verkaufsabteilung, (Air-Force Sales Department), system. The Officers and certain senior NCO’s could choose to purchase their uniforms from the armed forces clothing depots or to privately purchase uniform items of higher quality. Although enlisted personnel were issued their uniforms from government supplies they were also permitted to purchase privately tailored uniforms although the price may have been restrictive. 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Luftwaffe Blue Cotton Tropical Tunic. The field blouse features a six button front closure with a single metal hook and eye at the neck, a lay down collar and small fold back pyjama style lapels. The field blouse has two, pleated, patch, breast pockets and two, non-pleated, saddle-bag hip pockets with expanding side panels, all with straight edged button down flaps. The right breast has a machine embroidered, second pattern, national eagle in silvery/grey threads on a cut-out blue/grey wool base. The side panels of the field blouse have three, vertically aligned, stitched eyelets to either side at the waistline for the belt support hooks. The straight cut sleeves have dual-ply, simulated, French cuff with a small vertical slash to the outside seams with dual button fit adjustment. The shoulder strap fabric retaining loops are all intact. The lay down collar has the typical zig-zag reinforcement stitching to the reverse. The field blouse has no collar tabs as per regulations. The interior of the field blouse is partially lined in grey rayon at the shoulder seams, around the arm openings and down the side panels. The lining has a vertical grey rayon strap with six stitched eyelets to each side panel at the waistline for the belt support hooks. The forward right tail skirt has a field dressing pocket with a single button closure. The front closure, exterior pocket and shoulder strap buttons are all the removable Luftwaffe blue/grey painted, pebbled alloy type and are secured to the field blouse by opened "S" rings. The cuff, field dressing pocket and collar closure buttons are all the molded composite type and appear to have their original stitching. The field blouse is roughly size 34" chest. Rare tunic.