More Luftwaffe uniform questions - attaching Shoulderboards?

[Red Baroness]

Ladies, Gents, esteemed members;

Some of you might know I'm trying to recreate a uniform for my husband - and here is the best place I thought to get questions answered as I go along.

On the M40 fliegerbluse, how would I go about attaching a pair of Major shoulderboards? Does the shaft of the button go through the braid, the yellow felt tab and then be attached to the fabric of the shoulder, or is there a pin that I should be using?

Many thanks for all your help, you guys are wonderful!

Cori

[David Ransome]

Hi,
Yes, the shaft/ring of the button is stitched directly to the fabric on the shoulder. Also, particularly on some private purchase tunics, there was a screw on button option where the base part was stitched to the fabric and the visible button with a male thread went through the strap and screwed into the base.

On some tunics you could also find sewn in straps. When I had my collection they were usually on the pre and early war items. On one tunic, a 1944 herringbone fabric version, the buttons were all held on with removable S shape steel rings, including those for the shoulder straps. Where the latter were used the fabric would have a properly finished hole, like a very small circular buttonhole, through which the ring attached to the button.

Hope this helps,

David

[Red Baroness]

Thank you, David!

Good - I just will sew them in then - let me tell you, attaching the collar tabs was no small task either.

Many many thanks again,

Cori