Germany, Luftwaffe. A Uniform And Visor Cap Set To Oberleutnant Schnabel, Condor Legion Veteran

(Luftwaffe Uniform mit Schirmmütze). An interesting and complete uniform issued to a Luftwaffe Leutnant (later Oberleutnant) who served with the Condor Legion before continuing in active service during the Second World War. It consists of:

1. A service tunic, constructed of classic dark grey-blue wool. It features a turned-down collar, fully trimmed with twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire piping, transitioning into double breast lapels. The collar is flanked by tabs constructed of golden-yellow wool with buckram cores, trimmed with twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire piping, and bearing dual wire gulls situated above oak leaf wreaths of identical construction. The shoulders are flanked by boards constructed of golden-yellow wool with card stock cores, topped by four bands of silver aluminum wire piping, and pinned with a single silvered rank pip. The boards are secured in place with machine stitching at the outer edge and with pebbled magnetic metal buttons on the inner edge. Each cuff is rolled up to a depth of 14 cm and secured in place with machine stitching. The breast flaps have four pleated pockets, all closing with scalloped flaps with reinforced buttonholes meeting pebbled magnetic metal buttons. Stitched onto the upper right flap just above the corresponding pocket is an insignia consisting of a dark grey-blue wool bearing a hand-embroidered silver aluminum wire Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika, measuring 88 mm (w) x 38 mm (h). Stitched onto the upper left pocket is a ribbon bar featuring three decorations, including a War Merit Cross II Class with Swords, a Wehrmacht Long Service Decoration with Luftwaffe Device, and a Spanish Medal for the Campaign of 1936-1939, the latter commonly awarded to Condor Legion personnel. The ribbon bar measures 48 mm in total length. The tunic closes with four pebbled magnetic metal buttons on the right flap meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left flap. Stitched through the uppermost buttonhole is a 1939 Iron Cross II Class ribbon. The interior is fully encompassed by a multi-piece grey rayon liner which transitions into a pinstripe pattern through the arms. A pocket is set into the upper half of the left breast flap, and opens to reveal a label bearing the partially-legible mark of a Dresden-based tailor, with an additional clearly-legible typewritten owner’s name of “LT. SCHNABEL” and a date of “DEZ. 39”. The tunic measures approximately 44 cm across the shoulders, with an arm length of 52 cm, and an overall body length of 62 cm when folded on a flat surface. The exterior wool demonstrates moderate soiling and material fatigue, with mothing throughout the reverse of the collar, and extensive soiling and material fatigue throughout the interior liner. Demonstrating the unmistakable signs of wartime wear with no evident modifications, it remains in a very fine condition.

2. A pair of breaches, constructed of dark blue-grey wool. The waistband features six belt loops, as well as an integral belt fastening closed with a black bakelite button. Two side pockets set into the upper thighs close with black bakelite buttons meeting reinforced buttonholes, while an additional back pocket set into the upper right leg closes with a horizontal flap. The breeches close with a French fly featuring four dark grey-blue bakelite buttons meeting an equal number of hidden, reinforced buttonholes. A vertical slit is set into each ankle, closing with eight pairs of reinforced eyelets through which are looped original drawstrings. The interior retains a fully-intact label bearing a Luftwaffe clothing store mark. Measuring approximately 35 cm across the waist, with an inseam of 27 cm, and an overall length of 66 cm when folded on a flat surface, the breeches demonstrate moderate soiling and material fatigue, and remain in a better than very fine condition.

3. A visor cap, constructed of dark grey-blue whipcord wool. The cap features reinforced side walls, fully liner on the exterior with a ribbed black mohair cap band. Both the top and bottom edges of the cap band are trimmed with silver aluminum wire piping, while an additional band of identical piping trims the outer edge of the crown. Stitched onto the peak is an insignia consisting of a dark blue-grey wool backer bearing a hand-embroidered silver aluminum wire Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika. Directly below the eagle, the centre of the cap band bears an additional insignia consisting of a silver aluminum wire oak leaf wreath, surrounding a tri-colour cockade and flanked by stylized wings. It measures 130 mm (w) x 42 mm (h) overall. The cap band is flanked by pebbled aluminum buttons securing in palace a chinstrap constructed of multiple rows of twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire piping, adjusted with functional sliding knots. The exterior features are completed with a protruding pressed blackened leather visor. A light brown leatherette sweatband surrounds the interior of the side walls, and is perforated along the forehead with ventilation holes. The interior is also fully encompassed with a light beige rayon lid, with the crown retaining a transparent plastic moisture, covering a “SCHA-SCHA” maker’s mark. The cap measures approximately 22.5 cm (w) x 25.5 cm (l) x 15 cm (h). Issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include sporadic material fatigue of the exterior wool, fatigue of the wire insignia, minor deterioration of the leather features, and slight soiling to the interior liner. It remains in a very fine condition.