Early Luftwaffe Bullion Breast Eagle

Product Description: This Early Luftwaffe Bullion Breast Eagle is a high quality, hand embroidered piece, that was worn on a uniform. This is the prewar “droop tail” style of eagle, in the bullion embroidered form typically worn by officers on dress and service tunics as well as field uniforms. This one has an impressive look, with tight and very detailed embroidery. All of the original bullion wire is intact, with some slight areas of powdery oxidation here and there from age. The backing material is a typical light blue Luftwaffe wool, and there is some slight insect tracking as well as a few munches out of the top of the right wing. The back of this handsome eagle shows the many hand stitches used to keep the intricate bullion work in place. Stitch holes around the edge of the backing show where this piece of insignia was once neatly stitched to a uniform. This style of early Luftwaffe Bullion Breast Eagle is a scarce and desirable bird to find.

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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