GERMAN LUFTWAFFE FLAK DIVISION OFFICER SHOULDER BOARDS

This is a reproduction set of Luftwaffe Flak (Anti-aircraft artillery) Division Officers shoulder board for ranks Leutnant to Hauptmannen.  Silver tress on red wool. 

The Officer's shoulder boards were worn in matching pairs and indicated the branch of service and rank of the wearer. The different branches of service within the Luftwaffe were allocated specific identifying Waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), with bright red being chosen for those serving with the Flakartillerie, (Anti-Aircraft Artillery).

The Luftwaffe, initially known as the Reichsluftwaffe was established on February 26, 1935, as the third branch of service of the Armed Forces.  It adopted the shoulder board/strap rank insignia that had been utilized by its civilian forerunner the Deutscher Luftsport Verband or German Air Sports League.

On May 21, 1935 the Reichsluftwaffe designation was changed to Luftwaffe.

Originally the Officers shoulder boards utilized a bright silver/aluminum Russian braid until April 1942 at which time a less visible matte Russian braid was introduced. The bright silver/aluminum braid though continued to still be worn for the duration of the war.