Bundesluftwaffe Uniforms

[Gordon Craig]

SprogCollector,

The pattern of the jacket is correct. That was never really a question. Perhaps I wasn't clear about that. I have received additional pictures of the jacket and there is no doubt that it is grey. In the Heer und Luftwaffe the collars were unpipped for the ranks of Soldat, Gefreiter, Obergefreiter and Hauptgefreiter. For the ranks of Unteroffizier to Oberstabsfeldwebel the collar was piped in a metalic braid the same colour as the rank stripes.
From the fotos I have the braid on the shoulder boards looks more silver than the metal rank chevron attached to the shoulder boards. The rank insignia itself looks like that worn on the early sandfarben uniforms and would be for Feldwebel. The rank chart in my reference material for the sandfarben uniforms is dated 1963 so that would fit. I just lost an auction on a very early sandfarben uniform and I am very unhappy about that!

Regards,

Gordon

Here is a closer foto of the shoulder boards on this uniform.

[speedytop]

Hi,

the jacket in grey, the cuff titles and the metal rank chevrons for Feldwebel (bronze) = introduced 1955 (the cuff titles added later, why?),

the collar tabs = added 1957,

the braid on the shoulder boards = added 1959.

That is a several times adapted jacket, absolut normal in the first years of the Bundeswehr.

Regards
Uwe

[Gordon Craig]

Uwe,

Thanks for the dates. The type of information I was hoping for when I started this thread. I would be suspicious of one of these jackets if it had not been modified at different times as regulations changed. The cuffbands are one of the things that made me curious.

Regards,

Gordon

[SprogCollector]

Was there a final wear-out date for the early uniforms (Affenjacke and Ausgehenanzug)? With the modifications illustrated on Gordon's latest jacket, it seems these were around well after the introduction of 4-pocket, service dress jackets.

[Gordon Craig]

Hi,

I had to wear the "Affenjacke" last in 1965.

We had normally to wear the work uniform (Arbeitsanzug), and when we went to the canteen, for breakfast, lunch or supper, we had always to coat the "Affenjacke".

Regards
Uwe

Sprogcollector,

Thereoretically, as I am sure you are aware, they would normally have had a wear out period of a specified date but I am not aware of any regulations that gave a specific wear-out date. Perhaps Uwe can quote the official regulation for us.
I was sucessful in being the winning bidder on the auction for this jacket. Cost me more than I had first thought it would but after losing the sandfarben I wasn't taking any chances and made sure I bid high enough to be guaranteed a win. That meant I had to limit my purchases on that auction to one uniform but I can live with that! When the jacket arrives and if it has anything interesting not already pictured, I'll post it.

Regards,

Gordon

[speedytop]

Hi,

uniform imply homogeneous, but...

October 1957:
Before this date: only Officers and NCO's (Feldwebel) have to wear the new uniform as dress uniform.
From now on all have to wear the new uniform as dress uniform.
But: EM and "Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee" have to wear the old uniform, until all new uniforms were supplied!
All soldiers, who have the new uniform, have to wear the old uniform as service uniform/battle dress, inside the barracks.
But: On the way to the service in the morning or in the evening back home, they could wear the old uniform.

November 1959:
New regulations with the new ZDv 37/10 "Anzugordnung für die Streitkräfte", I think, with no reference to the old uniform; but the regulations for the old uniform remain into force, the old uniform as service uniform/battle dress [see my Post about the "Affenjacke"].

Regards
Uwe

[Gordon Craig]

Here is a cap, it just arrived today, that we discussed on the Bundeswehr lovers thread as a Bundesluftwaffe Flecktarn cap. It is quite different in design from the standard BW Flecktarn cap. The peak appears to be a little shorter although I do not have another cap to compare it to. The shape is contoured to the head rather than following the classic lines of the WWII M43 type hat. It has two grommets on the sides for air flow and an elastic back to hold it firmly on the head.

Regards,

Gordon

a front view.

[Gordon Craig]

A side view.

[Gordon Craig]

The back.

[Gordon Craig]

The interior lable.

[Klaus1989]

Gordon:
Do you know anything about the LW cap's manufacturer Albert Kempf GmbH (formerly KG)? They seem to made caps for West German military and paramilitary forces for years - I have Heer Feldmütze from 1990s and BGS Schirmmütze from 1960s made by them.

regards
Klaus

[Gordon Craig]

Klaus,

Sorry but I don't have any information on Albert Kempf. I have put out some questions re this firm though and I'll let you know what I find out, if anything.

Cheers,

Gordon

[Gordon Craig]

Klaus,

I have many answers to your question. I was sure I knew the answer before asking other collectors your question and I would have been correct. Albert Kempf made hats in Germany for a long time. Prewar, war time and after the war. The name ALKERO is probably very familiar to you. Do a search on the WAF for either Albert Kempf or ALKERO and you will find lots of information.
Here is a photo from the hat forum showing a prewar Albert Kempf label.

Regards,

Gordon

[Gordon Craig]

Now that I have received the tunic pictured in post #106 I can add some photos. First the back of the tunic. Single seam down the back and you can see the the metalic braid gores right around the collar.

[Gordon Craig]

There are two inside breast pockets. Inside the left breast pocket is the makers label shown below. The label indicates a manufactured date of November (11) 56.