Unusual Luftwaffe Sleeve Chevron . . .

[Diane]

According to all my references the Luftwaffe did not use this rank:




I have examined it thoroughly and there is no doubt that it is made of original period materials and construction techniques.

Could this have been used by a member of the Heer that transfered to the Luftwaffe?



Diane

[Gene]

No evidence of a second piece of V shaped tresse?

[Diane]

On closer examination . . .

Hi Gene,

The chevron is backed on the reverse and after careful examination I see no sign that there was ever another stripe sewn to this chevron.

It does not appear to have been used. A manufacturers goof perhaps?

BTW - I showed this to another dealer who also acquired one of these in a vet lot he picked up in the early 1980's from a guy that was going into a retirement home.

So, what do you make of this oddity? Unauthorized design, prototype, transitional (army to Luftwaffe) or just a manufacturing error?


Diane

[Johnny R]

chevron

No evidence of a second piece of V shaped tresse?

That would be my thought too. Odd, maybe just not completed? Could it be a variant or prototype of the NSFK old fighter chevron? I know that is a long-shot but nothing else is really close? Odd piece.

[Willi Z.]

What color is the base wool? It looks very dark.

[Diane]

Abzeichentuch color . .

Hi Willi,

The chevron is embroidered on LW Blue-grey Abzeichentuch. There is no reaction to UV light and a loosened thread passes the burn test.

I feel confident this is a period example.

Johns idea that it might be some kind of an NSFK "Old Fighters chevron" has some merit.

Another idea postulated is that perhaps an Army Paratrooper transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1938 would have been allowed to keep his rank.

Anyway, it is an interesting piece.

MfG,

Diane



.

[JPhilip]

as i don't know much about the Luftwaffe, i just want to ask a question concerning the ranks within it. Didn't they use the rank of Obergefreiter with more than six years of service ?
The base wool appears darker than usual grey blue Luftwaffe wool, maybe this is the scan

[cemifor]

The NSFK old fighters chevron looked very much like the LW Gefreiter chevron, but worn on the upper right arm of the uniform.

Never seen this version of a LW chevron.

LW used rank chevrons from 1938:

Hauptgefreiter: 3 chevrons (1944 replaced by Stabsgefreiter)
Stabsgefreiter: (from 1944) 2 chevrons and a wowen pip
Obergefreiter: 2 chevrons
Gefreiter: 1 chevron.

[JPhilip]

In the Heer until 1942, they used this chevron for the the rank of Obergefreiter with more than six years of service (not on a gray/blue base of course).
Was it the same in the Luftwaffe ?