Original Item: Only One Available. The National Socialist Flyers Corps (Nationalsozialistisches Fliegerkorps; NSFK) was a paramilitary organization of the NSDAP Party that was founded 15 April 1937 as a successor to the German Air Sports Association; the latter had been active during the years when a German air force was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles. The NSFK organization was based closely on the para-military organization of the Sturmabteilung (SA). A similar group was the National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK).
During the early years of its existence, the NSFK conducted military aviation training in gliders and private airplanes. Friedrich Christiansen, originally a Generalleutnant then later a Luftwaffe General der Flieger, was NSFK Korpsführer from 15 April 1937 until 26 June 1943, followed by Generaloberst Alfred Keller until 8 May 1945.
As they were modeled after the SA and NSKK, they started out using the same "Brown Shirt" tunics, and even adopted a nearly identical rank system. Like the NSKK, they did not use the Gruppe system, and to differentiate themselves used the same Goldgelb (Gold-Yellow) color for insignia piping that the Luftwaffe used for their flight branch troops. To further link themselves to the Luftwaffe, collar patches and shoulder straps were made from the same Fliegerblau (Flyer's Blue) material that the Luftwaffe used.
This is a very nice example of a German WWII NSFK "Brown Shirt" uniform tunic, complete with an original armband. The is outfitted with some lovely insignia, which are totally correct. There is no maker tag, but there is a 48/38 ink stamp on the inside of the collar, which probably gives the size. The tunic features a 5 button front closure, with three circlip-retained pebbled silver buttons in the middle, and plastic waist and collar buttons. It has two pleated chest pockets with scalloped flaps, also retained by silver buttons. The interior is unlined except for the rear shoulder area, which has some white cotton lining.
The shirt has all the correct insignia for the period, including a multi-piece wool and rayon NSDAP armelbinde (armband) on the left sleeve, which is pinned in place. The right chest bears a lovely BeVo machine embroidered NSFK "Icarus" insignia, which is in excellent condition. The kragenpatten (collar tabs) have the correct gold-yellow piping around flyer's blue backgrounds, and the collar is also piped in gold-yellow, indicating that they are an NCO. The right collar tab is the unit tab, and the 4 / 55 metal numbers most likely indicates the 4th "Sturm" (company), 55th "Standarte" (Regiment), or whatever the NSFK equivalent is. The left collar tab has a single rank "pip", indicating the rank of Scharführer (Squad Leader), and NCO rank equivalent to an Unteroffizier (Sergeant). The right shoulder has a very nice NCO Schulterstück (shoulderboard), which shows the same colors as the collar tabs.
Overall condition of the tunic is very nice, showing light wear from service, and some minor staining and wear. There is a repair on the upper right sleeve, probably originally a tear from a sharp object. A very nice example of an NSFI "Brown Shirt" NCO uniform tunic with some lovely insignia and an original armband. Ready to research and display!
Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to sleeve: 24”
Shoulder to shoulder: 15”
Chest width: 20”
Waist width: 17.5"
Hip width: 17.5”
Front length: 21.5"
Brown was to become the official color of the N.S.D.A.P. and S.A. by circumstance rather than design. A large stockpile of discounted, surplus WWI tropical brown shirts and fabric, intended for wear in East Africa, were located in Austria in 1924 and purchased by the NSDAP as a temporary measure to bring uniformity of dress to their party members. In November of 1926 the brown shirt was officially introduced, and retained, as the basic uniform item for the N.S.D.A.P. and S.A., and was eventually adopted by other political organizations such as the H.J., D.A.F., and the N.S.K.K..
