About the item:
Attractive pair of original Luftwaffe collar tabs (Kragenspiegel), intended for an Oberleutnant of Flak Artillery. These tabs feature the bright red Truppenfarbe, clearly indicating service within the Flakartillerie branch.
Each tab uses high-quality wool construction. In addition, they display two hand-embroidered rank “gulls” positioned above an oak leaf half-wreath. The embroidery is executed in bright silver/aluminum wire, giving the insignia a sharp and detailed appearance. Furthermore, the edges are neatly piped with matching silver/aluminum cord.
The tabs are mounted on a light tan buckram backing, which reflects correct wartime manufacturing methods. Moreover, their crisp condition shows that they were never issued or worn.
About the Luftwaffe:
The Luftwaffe was the air warfare branch of the Wehrmacht before and during World War II. It served as Nazi Germany’s official air force and played a central role in early military campaigns.
Origins and Early Restrictions
After World War I, Germany’s air forces—the Luftstreitkräfte of the Imperial Army and the Marine-Fliegerabteilung of the Imperial Navy—were dissolved in May 1920. This action followed the Treaty of Versailles (1919), which prohibited Germany from maintaining an air force.
Secret Training and Formation of the Luftwaffe
During the interwar period, Germany secretly trained pilots in violation of the treaty. Training operations took place at locations such as Lipetsk Air Base in the Soviet Union.
With the rise of the Nazi Party, Germany openly rejected the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty. As a result, the Luftwaffe was officially established on 26 February 1935, marking the beginning of rapid rearmament and military expansion.
Combat Experience and Growth
The Luftwaffe gained valuable combat experience through the Condor Legion, a unit deployed to support Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War. This conflict allowed German forces to test new aircraft, tactics, and strategies in real combat conditions.
As a result of this experience, the Luftwaffe developed into one of the most advanced and battle‑experienced air forces at the start of World War II in September 1939.
By the summer of 1939, the Luftwaffe had organized twenty-eight Geschwader (air wings) and operated a specialized airborne force known as the Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers).
