Luftwaffe Waffenrock dress uniform jacket acquired by US soldier

The Luftwaffe jacket was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1985 by Estelle Cohen, the wife of Bernard B. Cohen. 

Bernard Baruch Cohen was born on June 22, 1920, in Philadelphia, PA, to Simon and Sarah Cohen. His Yiddish speaking parents had immigrated to the United States from Imperial Russia. Bernard was the second of four children. After completing high school, he worked in a restaurant, and then at Sam Gerson’s apparel shop. In 1941, he married Estelle Elias (1922-2008.). In December 1941, the United States entered World War II (1939-1945.) Bernard enlisted in the US Army, Warrant Officers Branch, on February 11, 1943, and entered active service on February 18, He served with the Third Army under General Patton in combat across Europe from late October 1944 - mid-July 1945. Bernard was honorably discharged from the military on November 1, 1945. He returned to Philadelphia. Bernard and Estelle had a son and a daughter. They owned and operated two maternity and baby shops, Dorebel's Maternity and Baby Shops in South Philadelphia and Mayfair. They were members of Adath Shalom synagogue and active in the wider Jewish community. Bernard, 63, passed away on August 23, 1983, in Philadelphia. In 1986, Estelle received the Israel Freedom Award from the State of Israel Women's Division. Estelle, 86, passed away on August 26, 2008. 

Luftwaffe Waffenrock dress uniform jacket acquired by US soldier 

overall: Height: 28.875 inches (73.343 cm) | Width: 19.000 inches (48.26 cm) 

Luftwaffe Waffenrock dress uniform jacket with gold piping, shoulder boards, and gorgets brought back from the war by Bernard B. Cohen, a soldier with the United States Third Army as it fought its way across Europe from the fall of 1944 through the end of the war in May 1945. 

No restrictions on access 

No restrictions on use 

Dark gray, long-sleeved, hip-length, single breasted wool service dress jacket with turned up cuffs. It has 2 shoulder boards with yellow-gold piping and a pebbled, silver colored metal shank button. The notched collar has yellow-gold piping and an angled, rectangular, gold cloth gorget patch on each point with a buttonhole tab and a black plastic button concealed beneath, and a hook and eye closure. The front opening has a placket with 5 larger, pebbled shank buttons, 1 at the top on the lapel, and 5 finished buttonholes with 2 interior black plastic buttons on the left top and 3 on the collar band. There are 2 patch pockets on the breast and 2 bellow pockets with lined flaps at the hip; each have 1 pebbled shank button. The left bellows pocket has an interior black plastic button. Sewn above the left breast pocket is a gray, embroidered 2nd pattern Luftwaffe diving eagle patch. Inserted on each side at the waist is an adjustable, J shaped belt hook. A cloth belt loop is sewn on each side. The back has a 7 inch bottom center vent. The interior is lined with gray twill cloth with a small cloth loop sewn at each armhole. On the interior right breast is a deep welt pocket and near the left bottom opening is a deep, cloth pouch pocket with a black plastic button. front, lower right pocket, flap underside, handwritten, red ink : M