The present Luftwaffe calendar from Messerschmitt AG from the personal possession of Knight's Cross recipient Walter Oesau represents a remarkable testament to the intertwining of German aviation industry and military elites during World War II. Such calendars were distributed by Messerschmitt AG, one of Germany's most significant aircraft manufacturers, as prestigious objects and promotional gifts to high-ranking officers, test pilots, and distinguished members of the Luftwaffe.

Messerschmitt AG, under the leadership of Willy Messerschmitt, ranked among the most innovative and productive aircraft manufacturers of the Third Reich. The company produced legendary fighter aircraft such as the Bf 109 and the Me 262, the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. Such calendars served not only practical purposes but were also prestige objects intended to demonstrate the company's technological superiority and innovative spirit.

Oberstleutnant Walter “Gulle” Oesau (1913-1944) was one of the most successful and renowned fighter pilots of the German Luftwaffe. With 127 confirmed aerial victories, he belonged to the most highly decorated pilots of World War II. Oesau received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on August 20, 1940, for his achievements during the Battle of Britain. Subsequently, he was awarded the Oak Leaves on July 5, 1941, and the Swords on October 26, 1943, making him one of the most highly decorated fighter pilots.

Oesau began his military career in 1934 with the Reichsmarine but transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1936. He fought during the Spanish Civil War in the Legion Condor, where he gained his first combat experience. During World War II, he served on all major fronts: in the Western Campaign of 1940, during the Battle of Britain, in the Mediterranean theater, and later on the Eastern Front. From 1943, he assumed leadership positions as Geschwaderkommodore, first of JG 1 and later of JG 2 “Richthofen”.

The connection between Oesau and Messerschmitt AG was both practical and symbolic. As a fighter pilot, Oesau primarily flew the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Luftwaffe's standard fighter aircraft. His successes were directly linked to the performance of this machine. Messerschmitt AG therefore had a great interest in honoring successful pilots like Oesau and demonstrating their connection to the Luftwaffe's best fighter pilots. Such calendars were part of a propaganda strategy that linked military success with technical superiority.

The calendar itself, measuring approximately 34 x 48.5 cm, was a large-format wall object that presumably hung in Oesau's service quarters or private possession. The fact that the first pages were removed indicates that the calendar was actually used and not merely kept as a collector's item. This lends the object particular authenticity, as it documents daily use by its prominent owner.

Such company calendars from the armaments industry were common during World War II and served multiple purposes: they were advertising materials, tokens of appreciation to important customers and partners, and they strengthened the bond between industry and military leadership. The calendars typically contained technical drawings, photographs of aircraft, portraits of successful pilots, and patriotic motifs. They represented the pride of the German aviation industry in its technical achievements.

Walter Oesau was killed on May 11, 1944, in aerial combat over Saint-Vith, Belgium. He was shot down by American P-38 Lightning fighters while attacking a bomber formation in his Focke-Wulf Fw 190. His death meant the loss of one of the Luftwaffe's most experienced fighter leader at a critical point in the war.

The present calendar is thus not only a document of the armaments industry but also a personal relic of one of Germany's most famous fighter pilots. It connects the history of technological innovation with the individual biography of a war participant and offers insights into the relationships between industry, propaganda, and military elite in the Third Reich. The condition of the object with stains and creases underscores its authenticity as a used everyday object rather than a subsequently preserved museum piece.