Ex-Imperial NCOs Commissioned in the Wehrmacht 02

Atypical (for a presumed Prussian), South German style ribbon bar=

1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class
1939 War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords
Hindenburg Cross for WW1 Combatants
October 1938 Sudeten Annexation Medal (should FOLLOW the long services--common period error)

Luftwaffe Long Service (12)
Luftwaffe Long Service (4)
Third Reich 25 Years Civil Service "Treudienst" Cross

Bulgarian WW1 Commemorative Medal


HOW could anyone be in the Luftwaffe for 12 years AND the civil service?


They couldn't.


This is a perfect example of the holder of an Imperial military long service award "updating" it per regulations to the CURRENT Wehrmacht equivalent(s).

This flying NCO has properly exchanged his old army XII Years Service Medal of XV Years Service Cross for the Luftwaffe 12 and 4, since that is his SECOND war assignment. This "update" applied ONLY to the Wehrmacht (some confusion exists as to whether it was also applied to the Waffen SS) but NOT for ex-Imperial veterans in the police, National Labor Service, etc etc etc.

In his case, we can tell absolutely that he was a reservist and not an Erg?nzungs (E) officer because of the civil service cross following the position of his former Imperial long service award.

See the "Nazi Kriegsmarine Officer" scans for similar overlapping service claims.


As a peculiar side note-- check out the WW2 Bulgarian INFANTRY badge barely visible at the former pilot's elbow.


Courtesy of Ulsterman.