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. The different branches of service within the Luftwaffe were allocated specific, identifying, waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), with dark blue being chosen for personnel serving with Sanitäts, (Medical), units which was generally displayed as the base color of the collar tabs. 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: Dark blue wool construction rhomboid collar tab with two stamped aluminum alloy rank "gulls" mounted on a tan buckram backing. The collar tabs signify the medical rank of Sanitätsgefreiter which was the equivalent of the standard rank of Gefreiter.