Germany, Luftwaffe. An Officer’s Breast Eagle, First Pattern consisting of a blue enamelled Romanian Cross with clusters of nine gilt rays in eac and which bears an intact

and which bears an intact NSRKB insignia

11 - Interlude in the Apennines

5) An Iron Cross 1939 Second Class

with collar insignia clearly visible in addition to a handwritten name applied to a unit vehicle

grayish-green paper backer

Germany, Luftwaffe. An Officer’s Breast Eagle, First Pattern consisting of a blue enamelled Romanian Cross with clusters of nine gilt rays in eac and which bears an intact(Luftwaffe Brustadler fr Offiziere 1. Form). Constructed of dark blue grey wool, the obverse bearing a hand embroidered silver aluminum wire droptrail style Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika, the reverse retaining an intact paper backer unmarked, measuring 85 mm (w) x 45 mm (h), demonstrating oxidation throughout the wire, an unusual variant in very fine condition.