Generalleutnant Ludwig Keiper Uniform

[Mike H]

Pants

An overall view of the pants. These are really quite incredible. First of all, though you can't notice it in the photos, these are made of a corded material and of a completely different color than the tunic --- more of a royal blue.

Mike

[Mike H]

More pants

Here is a close-up of the pants. Note the zippers and the beautiful silk material at the bottom which made it much easier to slide the pants into the boots.

Mike

[Mike H]

And more pants

Again, another view of the pants. Here you will note a rust-colored cloth pocket. I can only assume this was for a hankerchief but a nice touch, nonetheless.

Mike

[Mike H]

The General himself

And for those of you who don't remember the previous thread, here is a photo of General Keiper taken in Bratislava around 1944 with two Slovak fighter pilots.

He wears the most incredible array of decorations I have seen for a Luftwaffe officer other than the head man himself.

Mike

[Mike H]

And another ...

Here is a closer view of the previous showing Keiper's medals and decorations. This photo was featured in the Czech "L+K" magazine a few months ago in a special article on Slovak fighter pilots.

Mike

[Bryan Poon]

Hi Mike

Wonderful information and collection. I am not a tunic collector but it is very nice to me to learn more from this thread.

Thanks
BP

[merdock]

tunic

Hi,
Fantastic tunic,pity it's not the tunic in the photo that would be something i also have a general leutnants tunic but not as good as yours the moths had mine.
Merdock

[TJ Suter]

Mike, very interresting uniform. I have a Luftwaffe Feldwebel of Flak tunic that I have long suspected was a French tailor made uniform. It has the same black lining and the odd cut lapels. With the NCO tress the collar tabs really stand out.

I wonder why my guy didn't think to have the collar tabs reversed? Perhaps that is why my guy was an NCO and your guy was a general.....

[Mike H]

Thanks ...

PD and all,

Thanks for your comments. I was intrigued by PD's uniform with the cut of the lapels. I guess we will never know why the French tailors did it this way but I suspect there must have been some tradition with it in their own military.

I will run some detailed photos of other pieces I have in my collection from time to time --- see the thread on the EREL Luftwaffe Officer's Visor, for example --- as "the devil is in the details" with collecting and it may help someone in the future.

I only wish there was a Forum like this when I started. I have missed good pieces and bought bad ones over the years --- this would have helped to prevent both situations.

My best for the Holidays!

Mike