Paul R

You guys have some great photos. That last one is kinda eerie!! paul

Very interesting document. I have never seen one before. Is this a standard Drivers License or a military one? Paul

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Here are the Field Division Tabs. Yellow is Recon/Bicycle troops Green is Rifle Divisions.

New tabs. I have just received these babies today. Just wanted to share them with you. The highlights are the ultra rare yellow and green piped Field Division Tabs! I feel VERY lucky to add these beauties to the collection. Paul

These two are for Rifle Regiments(Green piping) and Recon/Bicycle troops.

Amazing!! I would have loved to have seen your collection in it's TR days! Paul

Insignia Air Base Fire Departments- Branch color- Carmine Collar tabs: The collar insignia are made of black cloth, shaped into a 7.5x4cm Rhomboid. The tabs are piped in crimson, although I have seen an undocumeted tab with a bright red piping. Rank on the collar tabs is reflected by a silver gull(identical to those used on regular Luftwaffe collar tabs) and silver colored pips(as seen on Luftwaffe NCO shoulderstraps). Shoulder straps: The straps are made of the same cloth as the tunics. The straps have a pointed tip. They are attached to the jacket by one end being sewn into the shoulder seam of the jacket and the other end being secured with a silver button. Rank was designated by using a silver colored gull and silver colored pips, as described on the collar tabs. There were three possible rankings: Feuerwehrman- Tabs- One gull in center of the tab Shoulder Straps- One gull centered on the strap, bottom of the gull facing the shoulder Oberfeuerwehrman- Tabs- Same as above with the addition on a pip in the lower front corner of the tab. Shoulder Straps- Same as above with the addition of one pip under the gull. Loschmeister- Tabs- Same as Oberfeuerwehrman with the addition of another pip on the upper back corner of the tabs. Shoulder Straps- Same as Oberfeuerwehrman with the addition of another pip above the gull. Visor Insignia: For the Air Base Fire Departments, the visor was piped in carmine. The visor had the State type eagle on the upper front portion and an enlarged badge used by civilian workers of the Luftwaffe on the center capband, where a Cocade would normally go. This badge looks has a center disk of a wreath and swastica with s four feathered wing protruding from the Left and Right sides. These two insignia are normally made of aluminum. The chincord is in a black polished leather(EM style). National Insignia: National emblem was worn on the upper left sleeve, embroidered white eagle on a black disk. Belts: These men were authorized to wear a black leather belt(with or without cross strap) with the silver police style buckle. Officials of the Fire Protection Branch(Brandmeister)- Branch color- Dark Green with Golden Brown Nebenfarbe. They were given the right to wear some officer's accessories, but did not possess full officiers privileges and insignia. Collar tabs: The Brandmeisters utilized the administrative official style tabs. They were dark green in color and had the half oakleaves pattern(like those seen on standard Luftwaffe Junior Officer collar tabs) and triangular pips that were embroidered in a light gray thread. The tabs were piped in an aluminum blue and gray twist cord. Shoulder boards: The shoulderboards were identical to the Meduim Grade Administrative NCO boards. The center braiding had five bends at either side and was made from blueish grey cord with a center cord made from a flat dull aluminum cords. The backing is dark green and a center layer was golden brown. Pips, when used, were the standard silver metal types. Brandmeister candidates wore the uniform of an Air Base Fire Department Loschmeister, with a 5mm twisted blue/gray cord around the base of each shoulder strap. There were three possible Brandmaster rankings until the end of 1937: Unterbrandmeister- EM style Collar Tabs- 1 Pip NCO Shoulder Board- No pips Branmeister- EM style Collar Tabs- 2 pips NCO Shoulder Boards- 1 pip Hauptbrandmeister- EM style Collar Tabs- 3 pips NCO Shoulder Boards- 2 pips. The ranking system from Dec1937- 02Nov1940 Unterbrandmeister- EM style Collar Tabs- 1 Pip NCO Shoulder Board- No pips Brandmeister- EM style Collar Tabs- 2 pips NCO Shoulder Boards- 1 pip Oberbrandmeister- EM style Collar Tabs- 3 pips NCO Shoulder Boards- 2 pips. Hauptbrandmeister- EM style Collar tabs- 4 pips NCO Shoulder Boards- 2 pips The ranking system from 02Nov1940. Nebenfarbe for officers was changed to bright red. Both the Oberbrandmeister and Hauptbrandmeister had the same insignia with the only difference in the two rankings being in the pay Unterbrandmeister- EM style Collar Tabs- 3 pips NCO Shoulder Board- No pips Brandmeister- Officer style Collar Tabs- 1 pips Junior Officer Shoulder Boards- no pips Oberbrandmeister- Officer style collar tabs- 2 pips Junior Officer Shoulder Boards- 1 pip Hauptbrandmeister- Officer style collar tabs- 2 pips Junior Officer Shoulder Boards- 1 pip Visors: The same style of visor worn by the men of the Air Base Fire Departments were worn by the officials. The ranking of Unterbrandmeister was authorized to wear the metallic EM Eagle and cockade. The rankings of Brandmeister and Hauptbrandmeister were authorized to use the Officer style eagle, cockade, and cord. National Emblem: The standard Luftwaffe Enlisted chest eagle was authorized for the rank of Unterbrandmeister. The hand woven wire Luftwaffe Officer's chest eagle was authorized for the ranks of Brandmeister and Hauptbrandmeister. These insignia were applied above the right breast pocket, as the Luftwaffe does. Belts: Underbrandmeister- Luftwaffe EM/NCO belt and buckle was authorized. Brandmeister/Hauptbrandmeister- Luftwaffe Officer's belt was authorized. Photos: 1. A single tab for a Feuerwehrman in the Air Base Fire Department 2. A set of tabs for a 1937-Nov1940 Pattern Hauptbrandmeister

Uniforms The basic uniform of both branches were the same they differed only in the insignia. The tunic was referred to as the Rockbluse. The material was dark blue in color. The tunic consisted of eight 2cm silver color metal buttons on the front. The two breast pockets had the center pleats with an upper flap, each secured in the closed postion with a smaller silver metal button. There were also two diagnal slash hip pockets(one on each side). The collar was the stand up/lay down type. Both branches used collar tabs and shoulder straps(Sew in types) to designate rank. I will get into more detail on these later. Starting in 1940, the Officer level Officials were ordered to wear the standard Blue/Gray Luftwaffe Style uniform. The visor is of the same cut and pattern as the standard Luftwaffe, but made in the same type of dark blue material as the uniform.

Any information or photos would be greatly appreciated!! Kind regards Paul

Insignia The breast insignia is a metallic LW style eagle superimposed over a cogwheel. This badge typically has three prongs, which are designed to go through the tunic. Period photos show this badge placed where the standard LW eagle is placed. Uniform regulations do not seem to have been enforced at all, as these insignia have been seen on the Left chest with the LW on the right chest, and ect. Collar tabs. These too seem to come in many varieties. Cloth collar tabs were gray/blue rectangular shaped patches of cloth with an outer red piping and the letters "GL" embroidered in red thread. There would be one tab per collar. Other varieties have been metallic letters "GL" punched through each collar and even patches with "G" on the right collar and another patch with the letter "L" on the Left collar. The same has been seen with the metallic cyphers(one in each collar). Shoulder Straps seem to be the standard LW issue, but piped in Red. There is a cloth breast eagle that consists of the eagle and cogwheel pattern embroidered in black on a yellow cloth triagle(pointing down). The letter G on the viewers left and the L on the right corners. This insignia is thought to be for the work coveralls and other work garments.

Was that the highest rank you know of? I know someone who MIGHT be able to help. Regards Paul

Uniforms] Photograpic evidence suggests that members of this organization were authorized to wear the Luftwaffe field blue enlisted style fliegerbluse, with the GL chest eagle(and often seen with both the LW and GL eagles). Despite the availablity of the visor cap with the GL insignia, no photographic evidence shows visor caps in use with the GL. The only caps seen are the LW Flight caps. The standard EM LW belt and buckle are a constant in period photographs. Uniforms of different types have been seen as well, but are yet unidentified.

Luftwaffe General Luftzeugmeister "GL" This branch was thought to have been established in May of 1941. Documentation has not been found on this organization and all information that is used in the reference books has come from photographs and militaria. The Luftwaffe General Luftzeugmeister consisted of civilian personnel who acted as Comptrollers of the weapons factories in Germany as well as in the occupied territories.

Who is awarded this medal?

I can understand why they would not be too popular. I dont think that it would be too pleasant to wear a saltwater soaked wool cap for very long.

I had no idea that an American was the top tank ace of WW2. I wonder what became of him after the war.

More?

Just completed a deal on these babies!!

Amazing stuff, Jim. I have not seen too many photos of the Shermans with the rocket lauchers.

Astounding! Sorry about that.

Did Luftwaffe medics qualify with the K-98? If so, were they allowed to wear the marksmanship lanyard on their parade tunics? The question is because I have a lanyard and the only EM touchrock that I have belongs to a medic. I want to check to be sure that this would make a realistic display. Paul

This is what I like to see. Not only the medals, but what they were actually awarded for, as wel!! Thanks for posting them.

Would these be worn on a military uniform or are they strictly commemorative "trinkets"? Paul

I dont think that anything has taken out an M1A1 yet.