Description
Product Description: This is a great example of a relatively scarce M39 Heer Breast Eagle, in very appealing, uniform removed condition. This attractive patch is the standard Bevo machine woven style, as was commonly factory applied to enlisted issue M36 and M40 German Army tunics in 1939-40. It features the German Army eagle and swastika emblem nicely executed in gray thread on a dark green backing. This patch was factory folded and stitched to a uniform. This was very carefully removed, resulting in no damage to the eagle, and some of the original application thread remains present. This patch shows some obvious wear, with some toning and slight soiling as well as light rubbing, but no significant damage to note. The reverse shows the neatly folded and trimmed thin rayon backing fabric as well as typical details of the machine woven construction. This M39 Heer Breast Eagle displays very nicely and has a great “been there” look. These eagles are getting much harder to find, especially in this condition. This one rates as excellent.
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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