A Luftwaffe Oberfeldwebel Pioneer Tunic 1940

The tunic is fabricated from a coarse dark gray wool. The shoulders are adorned with Oberfeldwebel (Flight Sergeant) shoulder straps, each strap incorporating a 9 mm wide strip of fine silvered wire threading, sewn in place via white threading upon a dark gray wool upper, the edges trimmed in black cord piping indicating the branch to be Pioneer, each strap with three silvered pips surrounding a silvered number "6", with a blackish-gray wool underside, a button hole for uniform attachment at the neck end, each of the straps secured in place by a silvered aluminum button with a pebbled upper and comes with a magnetic metal core that is marked "EXTRA FEIN" (Extra Fine) on the reverse. The collar is trimmed in a 9 mm wide strip of fine silvered wire threading, with both sides of the collar adorned with Hauptgefreiter (Senior Aircraftman) collar tabs, each of the tabs bearing four silvered stylized eagles on a black wool field, each of the eagles secured in place on the underside of the collar via dual prongs, the black again representing Pioneer. There is a single black finished metal hook and eye at the opening of the collar, ensuring a snug fit at the neck line. There are four pockets on the front, one on each breast and larger ones at the waist on both sides, each designed with a fold over flap with reinforced button hole and a silvered aluminum button with a pebbled upper, each of the buttons with a magnetic metal core, two are maker marked "OVERHOFF & Cie", marked "20 1/2", "M" and marked with the company's insignia incorporating the initials "OLC" within a diamond-shaped border on the reverse, one is marked "EXTRA FEIN" (Extra Fine) and maker marked "O. & Cie." (Overhoff and Cie) on the reverse, while the other is marked "BESONDERS HALTBAR" on the reverse, the underside of all four flaps lined in a blackish-purple rayon. The right breast is enriched with a Luftwaffe eagle insignia in white and bluish-gray embroidery, on a dark gray wool base. There are silvered aluminum hooks on either at the waist for the placement of a belt, that has since been lost to time. The front has a vertical row of five silvered aluminum buttons with pebbled uppers on the right side, each housing a magnetic metal core, three of the buttons marked "EXTRA FEIN" (Extra Fine) and maker marked "O. & Cie." (Overhoff and Cie) on the reverse, one of the buttons maker marked "OVERHOFF & Cie", marked "20 1/2", "M" and marked with the company's insignia incorporating the initials "OLC" within a diamond-shaped border on the reverse, the other button marked with a stylized "A" (F.W. Assmann & Söhne, Lüdenscheid) and maker marked "ASSMANN & SÖHNE LÜDENSCHEID" on the reverse, facing an equal number of reinforced button holes on the left side, the top button placed under the right side collar, the top reinforced button hole placed in the left side collar. The sleeves have vented button down cuffs, each with two black plastic buttons and a single reinforced button hole on a discreetly hidden light brown cotton flap in a thatched pattern, while the rear of the tunic is single-vented. The inside utilizes the same light brown cotton thatched patterned fabric in select locations: behind the top of each of the four exterior pockets, behind the rear venting and around the armpits, with straps extending downward from the armpits, each with three reinforced holes in gray threading and housing the aforementioned silvered aluminum belt hooks that appear on the exterior at the waist. There are three gray plastic buttons sewn in place in the collar and a light brown cotton loop sewn in place in each of the armpits. The tunic has one pocket on the interior, stitched in place just inside the opening on the right side at the bottom, again in the same light brown cotton thatched patterned fabric, stamped in black ink "VII 52" and dated "1940". The tunic measures 500 mm across the shoulders and 720 mm in length overall, exhibiting edge wear and warping on two of the gray buttons in the collar, without interruptions in the fabrics on both the interior and the exterior, displaying a nice texture in the wool, quality workmanship, intact stitching and is very clean. Extremely fine.