Visor cap, tunic, long trousers and greatcoat. Visor cap for Luftwaffe generals, circa 1940/41. Soft elegant saddle form, made of fine Luftwaffe cloth, complete with all insignia. The national eagle and cap wreath in metal thread embroidered execution, the cockade with ventilation mesh. The cap piping in gold, golden cap cord. Inside brown sweatband, laterally with embossed stamp of the firm “Erel Stirnschutz Patent”, yellow silk lining, the celluloid diamond undamaged, beneath it manufacturer's designation “Verkaufsabteilung der Luftwaffe Berlin SW, Puttkammerstr. .. Erel Privat”. Size approximately 58. Worn cap with signs of use, on top of the crown a few small moth damages, in good overall condition. The tunic in fine officer quality, complete with all insignia. Gold metal thread hand-embroidered breast eagle, the collar patches hand-embroidered in celleon/metal thread, the surrounding cord in celleon, the collar patches hand-sewn, sewn-in shoulder boards with large silver rank stars. Through the promotion to General der Flakartillerie in January 1942, the shoulder boards were “promoted along”, the two upper rank stars therefore somewhat different from the lower ones. On the chest loops for the long ribbon bar, including Iron Cross 1914 1st Class with repeat clasp “1939”, Flak Badge, Wound Badge World War I as well as 1 additional pin badge. Inside with tailor label “Averbeck & Bröskamp, Berlin W.”, the handwritten wearer designation only faintly recognizable. Clearly worn piece, 2 old repair spots, the sleeves likewise with old repair locations. In addition the matching long trousers for generals. Manufacturing in same cloth quality as the tunic, laterally with broad white lampasses. Inside with the same tailor label “Averbeck & Bröskamp, Berlin W.”, handwritten wearer designation “Gen. v. Axthelm.. 7.6.1944”. Worn piece in good condition. In addition the greatcoat for generals, manufacturing in heavy cloth quality, complete with collar patches and shoulder boards in heavy gold embroidery, white collar facings, gilt buttons. Inside the tailor label in the neck worn through, however in the inner pocket with inscribed wearer label of the same tailor as the uniform “Major v. Axthelm .. 1935”. Worn piece in good condition. In addition a very fine original photograph of General v. Axthelm with freshly awarded Knight's Cross and personal ink signature “v. Axthelm”, reverse with inscription of the recipient (Received on 11.3.43 Property of ...”.
A fine worn ensemble. This was a donation from Herr v. Axthelm during his lifetime to a military museum, which was dissolved by us in 2007. The last years the uniform together with his visor cap was located in the “Eyewitness Museum” in Beek, Netherlands, which was closed this year.
The uniforms for the generals of the Luftwaffe are considerably rarer than those of the Wehrmacht. The Luftwaffe had in total only 688 generals. In this completeness however probably unique.

Walther von Axthelm (* December 23, 1893 in Hersbruck; † January 6, 1972 in Traunstein) was a German General der Flakartillerie of the Luftwaffe in World War II.
Axthelm entered on September 15, 1913 as Fahnenjunker in the 8th Field Artillery Regiment “Prinz Heinrich von Preußen” No. 8 of the Bavarian Army in Nürnberg. With the outbreak of World War I he participated as battery officer in the fighting in Lorraine, the trench warfare between Moselle and Meuse as well as in the Battle of Verdun. On December 16, 1916 Axthelm transferred to the staff of the II. Abteilung, where he received until January 20, 1917 an introduction as Abteilungsadjutant. He held this function subsequently until September 8, 1917 and was then employed until beyond the war's end as battery commander on the Western Front. His achievements during the war were honored by the award of both classes of the Iron Cross, the Wound Badge in Black as well as the Military Merit Order IV. Class with Swords and with Crown. After war's end and return to garrison his regiment was demobilized from December 28, 1918 and finally dissolved.

From demobilized parts various free formations formed, among them the Sicherheitsbatterie 2. It was also known under the name Volkswehr-Batterie “von Axthelm” and formed into four batteries. Axthelm functioned from March 25 until October 20, 1919 as commander of this unit, was transferred into the Provisional Reichswehr and assigned to Reichswehr-Artillerie-Regiment 24. From January 1, 1921 until September 30, 1923 he was Abteilungsadjutant in the 7th (Bavarian) Artillery Regiment. There Axthelm then functioned until September 30, 1931 first as platoon leader, battery commander, later battery chief and completed a motor vehicle technical as well as an anti-aircraft training. Here Axthelm was from September 20 until October 2, 1931 detached to the Swedish Army. On October 1, 1931 he was then transferred to the Reich Ministry of War.

On April 1, 1935 Axthelm transferred as Major to the Luftwaffe, where he was employed until August 12, 1936 as group leader at the Inspection of Flak Artillery in the Reich Aviation Ministry. On the following day he was appointed commander of the Luftwaffen-Regiment “General Göring”, which from October 28, 1939 bore the cover designation Stab Flak-Regiment 103. During World War II Axthelm relinquished command on May 31, 1940 to Generalleutnant Paul Conrath and became on June 1, 1940 commander of the newly established 1st Flak Brigade, which after the end of the Western Campaign had been established for the flak protection of the greater Paris area. On December 8, 1940 the brigade staff was relocated to Dessau, where it assumed the flak protection of the Junkers Aircraft and Engine Works. On March 11, 1941 the brigade staff was expanded and converted into the newly established General Command of I. Flak Corps. Axthelm was in this connection charged with the command of I. Flak Corps.

In the course of the beginning Eastern Campaign from June 1941 his corps was component of Army Group Center and was employed within the framework of 2nd Panzer Army. There followed operations at the encirclement battle at Białystok and Minsk, the encirclement battle at Smolensk, the Battle of Kiev, as well as the double battle at Vyazma and Bryansk and ultimately at the Battle of Moscow. The latter Axthelm led from November 25, 1941 as Commanding General of I. Flak Corps. Previously he had already received for his tactical leadership on September 4, 1941 the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. On December 20, 1941 Axthelm relinquished command of the corps to Generalmajor Richard Reimann, who was charged with the command. Axthelm himself returned to Berlin to the Reich Aviation Ministry, where he from January 12, 1942 until end of March 1945 performed the function of General der Flakwaffe (Inspector of Flak Artillery). Simultaneously he functioned during this time from April 1, 1943 until end of March 1945 as Inspector of V 1, which initially still bore the cover designation Flakzielgerät 76.

On March 31, 1945 Axthelm relinquished the office of General der Flakwaffe to Wolfgang Pickert, who had already been trained in since March 20, 1945 and became Commanding General of Flak Training. With the unconditional capitulation of the Wehrmacht Axthelm fell on May 8, 1945 into U.S. captivity, from which he was released again on July 1, 1947.

435492

Luftwaffe Large Uniform Ensemble from the Estate of Knight's Cross Recipient General der Flakartillerie von Axthelm

This uniform ensemble of a General of Flak Artillery of the Luftwaffe represents an exceptionally rare and historically significant testimony to German military history during the Second World War. The completeness of this outfit – consisting of service cap, tunic, trousers, and overcoat – makes this ensemble a virtually unique object that documents both the development of uniforming practices and the military career of a highly decorated officer.

The Luftwaffe and Its Generals

The Luftwaffe, officially established in 1935, was the youngest of the three Wehrmacht branches. Unlike the Army with its thousands of generals, the Luftwaffe had only 688 generals throughout its entire existence. This relatively small number explains the extraordinary rarity of Luftwaffe general uniforms compared to those of the Wehrmacht. The Luftwaffe developed its own uniform system distinct from the Army, characterized by its distinctive blue-gray color and specific rank insignia.

The General's Service Cap

The service cap for Luftwaffe generals, here in the typical form circa 1940/41, represents the highest quality level of military headgear. The characteristic “saddle form” was a development of traditional German military caps. The national eagle and cap wreath in metal thread embroidery, along with the gold piping and cording, unmistakably identified the general's rank. Manufacture by the firm Erel, which held a patent for the sweatband, and distribution through the Luftwaffe sales department on Puttkammerstrasse in Berlin-Südwest, document official procurement through service channels. The size 58 corresponds to a head circumference of approximately 58 centimeters.

The Tunic

The tunic in officer quality displays all characteristic features of the Luftwaffe general's uniform. The breast eagle hand-embroidered in gold metal thread and the collar patches in celleon/metal thread hand embroidery were elaborate works that could only be executed by specialized military tailors. The firm Averbeck & Bröskamp in Berlin was one of the renowned tailoring establishments that supplied Wehrmacht officers. Particularly noteworthy are the shoulder boards with large silver rank stars showing a later “promotion” – the two upper stars differ from the lower ones, indicating the promotion to General of Flak Artillery in January 1942. The loops for ribbon bars document decorations from both world wars: the Iron Cross 1914 1st Class with the repetition clasp “1939,” the Flak Badge, and the Wound Badge of the First World War.

The Dress Trousers and Overcoat

The dress trousers with broad white Lampassen (general's stripes) complete the parade uniform. The handwritten designation with the date “7.6.1944” offers a rare insight into documentation practices. The general's overcoat in heavy cloth quality with collar patches and shoulder boards in heavy gold embroidery, as well as the characteristic white collar facings, represents service dress for colder seasons. The designation “Major v. Axthelm .. 1935” in the coat lining documents the early phase of the career with the newly established Luftwaffe.

Flak Artillery in the Second World War

The Flak artillery (Flugabwehrkanone – anti-aircraft gun) developed during the Second World War into one of the most important branches of service. With increasing Allied air superiority from 1943 onward, Flak became the central defensive weapon of the homeland. Flak artillery encompassed not only stationary air defense but also mobile units that accompanied ground forces. Leadership of this complex branch required highly specialized officers with experience in both artillery and air warfare.

I Flak Corps in the Eastern Campaign

The I Flak Corps played a central role in the great encirclement battles of 1941. At Białystok and Minsk, Smolensk, Kiev, and Vyazma and Bryansk, Flak units served not only for air defense but were increasingly employed in ground combat. The 8.8cm Flak proved to be a highly effective anti-tank weapon, significantly increasing the tactical importance of Flak formations. The Knight's Cross awarded on September 4, 1941, recognized this successful tactical leadership.

The General of Flak Arm

The position of General of Flak Arm (also Inspector of Flak Artillery) in the Reich Air Ministry from January 1942 was a key position for the entire German air defense. In this function, the office holder was responsible for organization, training, equipment, and tactical doctrine of all Flak units. With the increasing Allied bomber offensive from 1943, this position gained even greater importance. The additional function as Inspector of V1 from April 1943 shows the connection to the development of new weapon systems. The V1, initially camouflaged as “Flakzielgerät 76,” was one of the “revenge weapons” whose employment against England began in June 1944.

Provenance and Museum Significance

The documented provenance of this ensemble – donation during the owner's lifetime to a military museum, later exhibition at the Eyewitness Museum in Beek, Netherlands – underscores its historical importance. The accompanying original photograph with personal signature and the notation dated March 11, 1943, provides a rare personal connection. Such complete uniform ensembles with assured attribution to a named wearer are of extraordinary scholarly and museum value, as they personalize abstract military history and make the career paths of individual officers traceable.