Germany, Luftwaffe. The Service Tunic Of General Der Flieger Helmuth Wilberg, By Strigel & Wagner

(Luftwaffe Dienstrock für General der Flieger). A scarce and well-preserved Luftwaffe service tunic belonging to General der Flieger Helmuth Wilberg. Constructed of dark grey whipcord wool, the tunic features a turned-down collar trimmed along the outer edge with twisted and rolled gold bullion wire piping, which transitions into double breast lapels. The collar is flanked by tabs constructed of white wool, trimmed with twisted and rolled gold bullion wire piping, and bearing three gold bullion wire gulls situated within an oval oak leaf wreath. Each tab measures 45 mm (w) x 60 mm (l). The shoulders are topped by boards constructed of white wool with card stock cores, topped by lengths of interwoven silver aluminum and gold bullion wire piping, and pinned with two silvered pips. Each measuring 40 mm (w) x 120 mm (l), the boards are secured in place with machine stitching at the outer edge and with pebbled, gilded buttons on the inner edge. The cuff of each sleeve is rolled up to a depth of 14 cm and secured in place with machine stitching. The breasts have four pleated pockets, all closing with scalloped flaps perforated with reinforced buttonholes meeting pebbled, gilded buttons. Stitched onto the upper right breast just above the pocket is an insignia consisting of a dark grey wool backer bearing a hand-embroidered gold bullion wire Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika, measuring 90 mm (w) x 40 mm (h) overall. Both of the top pockets are overlaid by threaded loops for the accommodation of awards. The interior is fully encompassed by a multi-piece slate-grey rayon liner which transitions into a pinstripe design through the arms. Two pockets are set into the upper left breasts. An additional narrow slit set into the left flap accommodates an optional dagger hanger. The collar retains a manufacturer’s label reading “STRIWA” for the firm of Striegel & Wagner, Lichtenfels. Otherwise unmarked, the tunic measures approximately 48 cm across the shoulders, with an arm length of 63 cm, and an overall body length of 79 cm. Minor issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include minor material fatigue and soiling to the base material, in addition to slight wear of the wire elements. This rare tunic to a noted Luftwaffe General is in a near extremely fine condition.

Footnote: Helmuth Wilberg was born on 1 June 1880 in Berlin, Germany. He joined 80. Fusilier-Regiment “von Gersdorff” on 18 April 1899 and was quickly promoted to Leutnant before working as an instructor at various cadet schools over the next decade. A visionary in the field of military aviation, Wilberg authored a paper in 1911 on the value of aircraft over cavalry in battlefield reconnaissance, and appropriately transferred to the Luftstreitkräfte in 1913. He was promoted to Hauptmann by the start of the First World War and served as commander of 11. Fliegerabteilung. He finished the war as Commander of Aviation of the Fourth Army. Following the end of hostilities, Wilberg remained in military service with the Reichswehr and later held administrative positions with the Ministry of Defence. After circulating through various positions with the Infantry, he returned to the Reichswehr air staff in the late 1920s. Recognizing Wilberg’s talents, Hermann Göring initially planned to appoint him as Chief of Staff of the Luftwaffe, but the revelation that his mother was Jewish barred him from such a high profile position. However, Göring later had Wilberg declared an honorary Aryan so as to retain his services, with the latter assisting in the creation of the Luftwaffe’s war doctrine. He subsequently oversaw the creation of air schools in Germany and was responsible for collecting and synthesizing data on the performance of the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War. He was appointed head of aviation training at the outbreak of the Second World War, and was killed in a plane crash on 20 November 1941 while travelling to the funeral of Ernst Udet.