Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice German WWII Luftwaffe Air Force Eagle insignia from a Regimental Flag Pole Finial or Topper (Fahnenstange Endstück). Originally there would have been oak leaves and a socket underneath the swas, however it looks like the area was broken and repaired in the past, and then broke again. It is constructed of nickel plated alloy of some type, most likely zinc based, which is unfortunately not very strong, and cracks easily. It has suffered some plating loss and oxidation on the eagle, giving it a great patinated look.
The design is the standard Luftwaffe "Eagle Perched on a Swas", and looks to be an early design close to a "droop tail". These would be used on the tops of regimental flags, though unfortunately this also made them prone to damage if the flag pole was dropped. The eagle measures 9 3/4" wide by 4 1/4" tall, though it was probably a few inches longer when intact.
These Flag Pole Finials are extremely hard to find, as most were destroyed or melted back down as scrap. This is one in very nice condition, even with the missing bottom portion, and is ready to add to any collection!
The Luftwaffe, the air force of the German military during the Third Reich, was established in 1935. Over the next 10 years, Luftwaffe troops wore a huge variety of uniforms. Enlisted men generally wore uniforms issued from military depots. Most enlisted soldiers had wool trousers and a short jacket with two internal lower pockets, called a Fliegerbluse, as well as a dressier 4-pocket tunic, the Tuchrock. Officers wore the same general uniform styles, but as officers had to supply their own uniforms, they usually wore tailor made versions. There were also myriad varieties of specialized uniforms worn by certain units or in specific situations, from the tuxedo-style “gala” formal wear uniform of the pre-war period, to the plain coveralls worn by crews of anti-aircraft cannons. There were work uniforms, tropical and summer uniforms, and camouflage clothing for airborne troops and other Luftwaffe soldiers in ground combat. Flight crews had their own specialized gear, including leather jackets and warm, electrically heated suits. Most but not all Luftwaffe uniform jackets bore the Luftwaffe emblem of a flying eagle holding a swas.
