Bullion Police Sleeve Eagle

Product Description: This Bullion Police Sleeve Eagle is the finest example we have ever owned. This pattern of insignia was worn by officers, on dress, service and field uniforms. This one is gorgeously executed in beautiful hand embroidered two-tone bullion wire. The toning to some of the wire used for the eagle’s wings and chest detail suggests that it likely has a real silver content. The backing fabric is made of wool, as is typical, with a very attractive, slightly mottled blue-green Polizei color. The swastika is embroidered in black thread. All of the original stitching is present, with no corrosion and no evident wear. The reverse of this incredible bullion Police sleeve eagle retains the textbook original black paper backing, as well as what may be a trace of an original price tag. There are some stitch holes around the edge from when this was once mounted to an Officer’s tunic. Some small traces of the stitching thread are still present. The condition of this eagle is excellent plus, with no mothing to the wool, no damage of any kind. It would be very hard to find a nicer one.

Historical Description: The German Armed Forces (Wehrmacht), as formed in 1935, and as they existed until the end of World War 2, consisted of the Army (Heer), the Air Force (Luftwaffe) and the Navy (Kriegsmarine). The Waffen-SS fell under the command of the Wehrmacht during the war. Each of these branches of service had a unique eagle design that was worn on both the formal dress and parade uniforms, and the field uniforms, of the members of that branch. These eagles were worn on soft headgear, including service and field caps, as well as on the uniform jacket. In the Heer, the Luftwaffe, and the Kriegsmarine, this eagle was worn on the chest of the tunic; collectors have termed these “breast eagles.” The Heer and the Luftwaffe generally used the same eagle style, though variations in color of the eagle or the backing distinguish between the two. The Luftwaffe used their own flying eagle emblem. The Waffen-SS sleeve eagle (and cap eagle) had wings that came to a distinctive tapered point. The cap, breast and sleeve eagles used by the various military branches were manufactured in many variations. There were machine-woven and machine embroidered versions, usually used by officers and NCOs. Hand-embroidered bullion wire eagles were typically for officers. There were metal eagles, for caps, or for uniforms that were intended to have detachable insignia. There were even eagles embroidered on camouflage fabric, intended for use on special field uniforms. There were also eagles in specific colors for use on tropical uniforms. Some of these eagles were mass-produced and are still common today. Others were, and are, very rare.

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