History

During the Second World War, German troops stationed in northern Africa are generally referred to as the Afrikakorps. Technically, this is not entirely correct, since some German units operating in Africa were not actually part of the DAK (Deutsches Afrikakorps), and some units of it were, in fact, Italian ones. However, for the purpose of collecting so-called “tropical” uniforms and insignia, collectors have simplified the meaning of the term.

The first German troops were sent to northern Africa in February of 1941, to support their Italian allies against the British. The climate of the African continent made it necessary to wear specialised uniforms and gear that not only supported the soldiers in serving in a hot and arid environment, but also helped them in blending in with the landscape, which, in general, presented itself as brown, olive, khaki, or sand/tan in colour. Worn over long periods of time under the blistering desert sun, some uniforms were eventually bleached to white or off-white. Uniforms and insignia in these colours are often referred to as “tropical”, and it is worth noting that they weren’t just worn by members of units stationed in Africa, but in the entire Mediterranean theatre of war, including southern France, Italy, the Balkans, and Greece, as well as in southern Russia during the summer months. Tropical uniforms were worn by members of all three branches of the Wehrmacht: the Heer (army), the Kriegsmarine (navy), and the Luftwaffe (air force). Members of the Waffen-SS stationed in southerly regions also wore tropical-style uniforms, and even though they technically have no connection to the DAK, all tropical uniforms and insignia of all branches of the German military are listed here.

The Afrikakorps Luftwaffe blouse is similar in design to the Afrikakorps Heer Field Tunic. It is single-breasted and composed of several main elements, including the cloth, the pockets, the buttons, and the additional insignia.

The tunic is made of cotton, twill, or linen cloth, and it features four pockets with rectangular flap covers, each closed by a button. One of the differences between the Luftwaffe blouse and the Heer tunic is the fact that while the breast pockets are pleated, the hip pockets are not.

There are six buttons along the front of the tunic, which are generally silver-coloured or coloured to match the fabric of the tunic.

There are several types of insignia worn on these tunics, including the embroidered silver-coloured Luftwaffe pattern national emblem breast eagle on a tan or brown backing located on the right breast. The breast eagle for NCO/EM ranks (Non-Commissioned Officers/Enlisted Men) is composed of cotton thread, while the breast eagle for Officers may be hand-embroidered from bullion wire, but many Officers preferred to use the NCO/EM breast eagle.

The shoulder boards on these tunics are generally slip-on and are the main way through which to identify the rank of the wearer. These tunics may also feature collar tabs, but these insignia are not always present.

At times, NCOs wore tunics with a brown collar Tresse (braiding).

A tropical blue-grey version of the blouse exists, but it is extremely rare.