German WWII Fire Police Sleeve Eagle, Schweinfurt, Cut From Uniform

Original era manufacture. Pink cotton embroidery on dark blue wool, still sewn to the sleeve material of the uniform it was cut from.The Schweinfurt Raids by the USAAF 8th Air Force in August and October of 1943, were occasions of great loss of life and aircraft of the B-17 crews flying in the raids. The targets being the ball-bearing plants in Schweinfurt. The October raid is often referred to as the 'Black Day' of the 8th Air Force, as they suffered the loss of over 600 aircrew participating in the aerial raid of the 3000 involved.  Below, in the target area below the bombers, the German Fire Police had their hands full dealing with the immense destruction wrought by the B-17's.