Generalleutnant Ludwig Keiper Uniform

[Mike H]

Gentlemen,

At long last, I have taken the time to take a few photos of my collection and in this thread I will feature the Generalleutnant Ludwig Keiper uniform. I obtained this uniform grouping, which includes an unusual set of breeches, from George Petersen. It resided in his collection for many years.

General Keiper had an interesting career. He was stationed in Turkey at the end of World War I with the Flieger-Abteilung there and interned by the British. At the end of the Second War, he was Chief of the Luftwaffe Mission to Slovakia in Bratislava. I have only seen two photos of this officer --- one in the Luftwaffe Generals Volumes and another in a Czech aviation magazine which I featured in a previous thread. In that photo, he is shown wearing a vast array of German, Slovak, and Turkish awards, which accounts for the huge number of loops on the uniform. He died in the early 1980's in Munich.

The first shot is a general, though not well done, photo of the uniform on a mannequin. The overseas hat for a General is a real one but not included in the grouping nor was the belt and the aguillette which are later featured in this photo series.

I will try to focus on some of the interesting features of the uniform, keeping in mind the incredible detail and expense these Generals went to when they had the uniform tailored. This one was tailored by Petitdemange of Saumur-Paris, France. Keiper had a brief stint in Paris and apparently made contact with this tailor while there.

The uniform appears to have never been worn or only lightly. The photo which I had run in another thread is not of this uniform --- the one taken in Bratislava of the officer along with two Slovak pilots.

Enjoy the photos.

Mike

[Mike H]

Tunic only

Here is a view of the tunic only. The color is somewhat washed out in this photo. The uniform is slightly darker in color which comes across in subsequent photos. But I wanted you to see an overall view of the tunic before I get into closeups.

Mike

[Mike H]

Tabs

Here is a view of the right Generalleutnant collar tab. Note the two-tone color of the tab. Now for you collectors with a really sharp eye who are saying, "Hey, the tab is on backwards!" Well, you are right --- it is hand sewn on, by the way.

Here is why. Please note the cut of the lapel and remember this uniform was done by a French tailor and which varied from the more common German-tailored varieties. If you look at the cut of the "V" in the lapels, you will see that the upper part of that "V" angles up. On German tailored uniforms, that upper line is normally horizontal. Hard to explain --- I hope the photos show what I am talking about.

Subsequently, the tab had to be mounted the other way to make it work on this lapel cut. In my view, this is a particularly interesting touch and the French way of doing the uniform is very interesting.

Mike

[Mike H]

Breast Eagle

A nice view of the breast eagle. The real ones really talk to you -- so I hope this is helpful for those who collect insignia so you can see the difference between fakes and original. You can see a bit of the aguillette here as well.

Mike

[Mike H]

The Shoulder Boards

Here is a view of the right shoulder board. Again note the detail and the high-quality pip which was added after the uniform was made when Keiper was promoted. Under the board is the button to attach the aguillette.

Mike

[Mike H]

Photo of the Board

Here is the photo.

[Mike H]

Aguillette Button

Here is a view of the small button to which the other end of the aguillette is attached. This is under the right lapel.

Mike

[Mike H]

Ribbon and Medal Bar Loops

Here is a view of the ribbon and medal bar loops. Now if I could only find the bars which would be correct for Keiper. That might take another lifetime.

Mike

[Mike H]

Left pocket

Here is a view of the left breast pocket with its plethora of loops. The EK1 and spange are original to the uniform and are a perfect fit. General Keiper wore a Prussian Commemorative Flyer's badge, a Rider's badge, and a Third Reich era Pilot/Observer badge on this pocket. The set of loops to the left (looking from the front) is for a Slovak War Victory Cross.

Mike

[Mike H]

Right Pocket

Here is the right pocket. The hole is for a screwback version of the Turkish Star. Below that is a set of loops for the Turkish Pilot's Badge. The loops to the right (from your view) of the screwback are for a Slovak Pilot's badge (small version). There is yet another set of loops to the right of the pocket itself but the photo of Keiper taken in Bratislava is not clear enough to determine with some certainty as to what this award may have been. I am on the hunt right now for a clearer copy of the original photo which is in Prague.

Mike

[Mike H]

Lower left pocket

Here is a view of the lower left pocket interior. Note the smaller, buttoned pocket on the left for change or whatever. Also shown is the slit for the dagger hanger.

Mike

[Mike H]

Button

A close-up of one of the tunic's buttons.

They are marked "Gebr. W. L." on the reverse.

Mike

[Mike H]

Lining

Here is an overall view of the black silk lining in the interior of the tunic.

Mike

[Mike H]

Tailor Label

Here is the French tailor label which appears in both the tunic and the pants.

Mike

[Mike H]

Dagger hanger

A close-up view of the dagger hanger.

Mike