History

The German Wehrmacht was composed of three main branches, the Heer, the Kriegsmarine, and the Luftwaffe. The Heer and Kriegsmarine uniforms were based upon the designs utilized by their predecessor organizations, the Deutsches Heer and the Kaiserliche Marine. Conversely, the Luftwaffe uniforms were based upon the uniforms worn in the sports and para-military organizations that were the forerunners of the Luftwaffe. The Luftwaffe uniforms were specifically designed to deviate from the designs of the other Wehrmacht service branches. It was also necessary that the uniforms differentiate between military and civilian pilots.

There were two main organizational precursors of the Luftwaffe, the German Air Sports Association (DLV or Deutscher Luftsportverband), and the National Air Raid Protection League (RLB or Reichs Luftschutzbund). The DLV included both a civilian group and a secret military sub-group called the DLV-Fliegerschaft (Pilot Base).

The DLV and the RLB were officially founded in 1933, and they were used to secretly train members for future roles in the Luftwaffe. The DLV became obsolete after Hitler’s official introduction of the Luftwaffe in 1935, and it was disbanded in 1937.

The Fatigue Trousers were part of the fatigue uniform (Drillichanzug). It was made of grey (often bleached to an off-white colour over time) or black herringbone twill. It was worn by enlisted men and recruits for basic training activities and indoor duties. Sometimes it was worn by NCOs as well.

The design of the Fatigue Trousers is similar to the design of the Long Trousers. The Fatigue Trousers have a six button fly closure. There are two pockets in the front and one in the back, on the right side. It features four pairs of buttons along the rim below the waist to secure suspenders.

The first pattern fatigue uniform was replaced by a reed-green fatigue uniform in 1943. From then on, this was also used as a summer uniform. The reed-green Fatigue Trousers are in the same cut as before, but the rim was cut with a straight edge and has belt loops and inside suspender buttons, similar to the Flight Trousers.