BACKGROUND: The Reichsluftwaffe, (National Air-Force), was officially established on February 26TH 1935 as the third branch of service of the Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces). On March 9TH 1935 the formation of the new Reichsluftwaffe was announced to the foreign press and on March 16TH conscription was reintroduced for all three branches of service. On May 21ST 1935 the Reichsluftwaffe designation was altered to Luftwaffe, (Air-Force). On April 14TH 1935 collar tabs were adopted by the newly formed Luftwaffe which followed the basic pattern of the collar tabs that had been utilized by the DLV, Deutscher Luftsportsverband, (German Air Sports Association), the Luftwaffe’s clandestine civilian forerunner. The collar tabs were worn in matching pairs and indicated the branch of service and rank of the wearer. In late 1942 and early 1943 Luftwaffe field divisions were rapidly mobilized from excess Luftwaffe personnel, primarily flight ground crew, signals and anti-aircraft personnel, to replace the massive lose of men on the Eastern front. Due to the lack of training and poor performance in the field, of the twenty-two divisions formed, seventeen were either destroyed or disbanded before the end of the war. Originally personnel serving with the Luftwaffe field divisions utilized their basic waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), which was generally displayed on the shoulder straps/boards and the collar tabs. Regulations of January 1943 introduced, new, distinctive, "Jäger-Grün", (Hunter/Rifle-Green), collar tabs with the basic branch of service piping. The January 1943 regulations also adopted some of the army’s branch of service colors which hadn’t existed within the Luftwaffe before which were also utilized as piping on the collar tabs, with golden yellow being chosen for Aufklärungs und Radfahr, (Reconnaissance and Bicycle), personnel. Due to their poor performance in the field the Luftwaffe field divisions were transferred to control of the, (Heer), Army on September 20TH 1943 and regulations of July 10TH 1944 introduced white as the branch of service color for some Luftwaffe field division Jäger, (Light Infantry), and Füsilier, (Infantry Reconnaissance), personnel, which was also to be displayed as piping on the Rifle-Green collar tabs. Of Note: The both the January 1943 and the July 1944 regulations also introduced army rank designations to replace the previously used Luftwaffe designations. The golden yellow branch of service piping was also allocated to rifle regiment personnel serving in the 20TH Luftwaffe Field Division. Also Of Note: Further production of collar tabs was discontinued by regulations of October 12TH 1944, although on hand stocks were to be issued and collar tabs already issued continued to be worn.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Hunter/rifle-green wool construction collar tabs with golden yellow rayon piping and a single rank pip. The collar tabs are mounted on a tan buckram backing and is in overall very good, unissued, condition with minimal nap wear and age toning. Nice clean pair.