Germany, Luftwaffe. A Pair of Unissued Riding Breeches

(Luftwaffe Reithose). A pair of breeches constructed of Luftwaffe blue-grey wool, similar to the long trousers as the thigh portion of the legs are balloon shaped (measuring 62 cm across), with a button-up fly with four bakelite buttons meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes, the waist (measuring 44 cm) is lined with eight additional buttons for suspenders, there are diagonal-slit pockets with bakelite buttons on either side of the front of the breeches, a single horizontal-slit pocket beside the right diagonal pocket and a loop for pocket watch attachment, the rear presents a single horizontal-slit pocket on the right side, also secured with a bakelite button, the portion from the knee down is close-fitting with a 20 cm long lateral slash, the rear edge of the slash reaches 2 cm wide underneath the front edge with the edges reinforced by a lining of blue-grey twill, with three reinforced buttonholes positioned on the front edge meeting three plastic buttons accordingly sewn to the rear edge, the leg ends approximately at mid-calf being 99 cm in total length, the front interior waistband is stamped with the numbers 50 109 96 80 106 and 13, the breeches present minimal signs of wear, with only one small spot of soiling on the left thigh, and are in overall better than extremely fine condition.

Footnote: For a detailed explanation of Luftwaffe trousers and breeches, see John R. Angolia and Adolf Schlicht, Uniforms and Traditions of the Luftwaffe Volume 1 (San Jose: R. James Bender Publishing, 1996), 314-325.