Paul R

After reviewing all of my references, there remain some huge questions for me... 1. What is the difference between the duties and roles of the Reich Supreme Courts Martial and the Justice Service. It must be significant as it requires separate branch and nebenfarbe colors. 2. What were the various jobs of the differing career levels I am guessing by stating: Lower Career- Bailiff/Courtroom Guard, file clerk Middle Career- Secretary/Field Investigator Elevated Career- Paralegal High Grade Career- Attorney/Judges. Can anyone add any clarity? As usual, anything pertinent to the topic is welcome... period photos, insignia, uniforms, documents... anything pertinent to the topic!

Shoulder boards The Judicial Officials utilized the standard Luftwaffe Administrative shoulder board system. Officers- The base layer had the Administrative Dark Green color. The specialty color(nebenfarbe) was one of the two fore-mentioned colors... Bordeaux Red for the Luftwaffe Supreme Reich Court Martial (Reichskreigsgericht) and Wine Red for the Luftwaffe Justice Officials(Justizdienst). The board was topped with the typical LW Russian braid. The use of pips was the same as that of the Regular Luftwaffe. NCOs(lower Career only)- The shoulder boards are identical to those used by the other officials with the Oberfeldwebel ranking. The base color was that of the branch color(dark Green) and the center color was that of the nebenfarbe. The upper layer consisted of a blue/grey cord, twisted to loop at the buttonhole. Pips were used to differentiate between Feldbwebel and Oberfeldwebel.

Collar tabs The collar tabs used the embroidered wreath/Triangular pip system of ranking, like the standard Luftwaffe Administrative Officials. The difference was in the branch color. As stated above, the Luftwaffe Judicial system had the two branch colors. Bordeaux Red for the Luftwaffe Supreme Reich Court Martial (Reichskreigsgericht) and Wine Red for the Luftwaffe Justice Officials(Justizdienst)The collar tabs had an outer piping to correspond with their career level. As stated before, the career level was determined by the level of education and experience held by the Official. Lower Career- No Piping- Grade school education without further education/qualification was required. Medium Career-green/silver twist Piping- High School Diploma and an apprenticeship of a trade was required. Elevated Career-Silver Piping- Educational level between High School and College, with an addition two-three years of practical training required. High Grade Career-Gold Piping- University degree is required. NOTE: In accordance with page 45 on "The Luftwaffe", by Roger James Bender, 1972- There is mention on a table that both the Luftwaffe Supreme Reich Court Martial and the Luftwaffe Justice Officials also wore dark green tabs with the shoulder boards noted below as well. There is no explanation on whether this was for some specialties within the judicial organizations or if this was a service wide change(either from or to the red tabs). Nothing like a little mud to make things clear! Below, please see my examples. The first is for an Oberstleutnant- Reichskriegsgerichtsrat. Notice the High Grade Career piping. The second is for a Oberleutnant- Reichskriegsgerichtsinspektor. Notice the Elevated Career piping.

Thanks for the information! I look forward to seeing the photos! BTW, I meant "feeding" LOL

Wow! That is a powerful one! I am surprised that they could give an Olympic skater the same award. Paul

That is a great find, Kev! What era is this uniform? I for one, am in favor of the "chaingangs". It costs a lot of money to house and feel these criminals. At least the public is finally getting something back from them! Paul

Luftwaffe Judicial Official The Luftwaffe Supreme Reich Court Martial was constituted on 01October1936 and introduced two weeks later. Luftwaffe Judicial Officials wore the basic Luftwaffe uniform, with insignia designated for the Luftwaffe Judicial Officials. These men were included in a14Oct1936 order that required the wear of the uniform, as Soldiers were, while on duty. However, unlike soldiers, while off duty civilian clothes could be worn without permission. There were two different branch colors used within the Luftwaffe Judicial System: Bordeaux Red- Luftwaffe Supreme Reich Court Martial (Reichskreigsgericht) Wine Red- Luftwaffe Justice Officials(Justizdienst) The rankings were published on the 30th of November 1936 as follow: Lower Career(no piping): Feldwebel- Reichskriegsgerichtswachtmeister Oberfeldwebel- Oberbotenmeister beim Reichskriegsgericht(changed to Reichskriegsgerichtsoberwachtmeister between 1937-8) Medium Career(broken blue/silver piping, replaced in Jan40 with dk green and silver piping): Leutnant- Reichskriegsgerichtssekretar Oberleutnant- Reichskriegsgerichtsobersekretar Elevated Career(Silver piping): Oberleutnant- Reichskriegsgerichtsinspektor (Changed to Kanzleivorsteher beim Reichskriegsgericht on 09Aug1938) Hauptmann- Reichskriegsgerichtsoberinspektor Major- Amtsrat beim Reichskriegsgericht (Changed to Amtmann beim Reichskriegsgericht on 09August 1938) Oberstleutnant- Burodirektor beim Reichskriegsgericht High Grade Career(Gold piping): Oberstleutnant- Reichskriegsgerichtsrat Oberst- Oberkriegsgerichtsrat beim Reichskriegsgericht Generalmajor- Reichskreigsanwalt, Reichskreigsgerichtsrat Generalleutnant- Oberreichskreigsanwalt, Senatsprasident beim Reichskreigsgericht In April, 1944, in an effort to offset manpower shortages within the Luftwaffe, the Luftwaffe TSD (Truppensonderdienst) Administration and Judicial Services were instituted. Please see the below link for the discussion on the TSD, for more details. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=16844

Dave, Thank you for sharing your pieces with us! You have some very rare pieces there! The 1935-8 Signals Oberfeldwebel(Musikleiter) board is really something! I have been trying to find a 1935 Musikleiter pattern board for a long time. It seems as if the Political style lyre was used freely, as my tunic is utilizing the same style. Your post-1939 Flak Superintendent board is also awe-striking. It is the first Flak piped music board I have seen. I would love to see these boards on a tunic! One that I am surprised in not seeing is the black piped insignia. It would seem that the RLM black would be more common. Remember, any Musik related items are welcome! Lets keep 'em coming!

Some great examples you have there!! I have just sold my Rider's badge in Gold! It was the lightweight zinc version. Very impressive collection there!

That is an absolutely wonderful book. I have never seen another, with awards included!! Lets see some post war pics too?

Absolutely beautiful piece! Nothing like a worn item!

I have never seen a KM Bread bag before!! Is the leather M marked? Lets see more!!!!

Hi!! You have some great pieces there! Can you please make a bigger photo of the EM buckle and tab? Paul

Any data or militiaria related to Luftwaffe Musicians will be greatly appreciated. As usual, anything pertinent to the topic is welcome... period photos, insignia, uniforms, instruments, documents... anything goes! Regards Paul

Photo... This time of a Drum and Fife Corps. These were usually lead by a Musikleiter(senior NCO).

photos... Notice the Musiker(bandsmen) swallows nests on the tunics of the musicians. Nice shot of the Musikmeister.

Another... it's Miller time! Notice the sheet music pouches on the belts.

Next, performance at a funeral.

I will post some photos I found on Ebay. Sadly, they are part of a larger grouping that the seller decided to break apart and sell individually. There were about 50 photos, and I was able to get 5. mad.gif

The next photos is of a full uniform of a Luftwaffe Musikmeister(Leutnant). As you can see, he is assigned to a Flight unit. The uniform was a private purchase set made in Gent Belgium. Unfortunately, it is not named! Note the post 1938 insignia and the silver collar braid. As a side note, the ribbon bar, aguillette, and buttonhole ribbons have always been with the tunic. I placed the DRL badge into the chest loops. Musikmeisters were compelled to purchase their own uniforms with their own funds.

Swallow's nests... The swallow's nests were worn by the rank and file musicians. These pieces were detachable pieces of insignia that were placed over each shoulder. They were the color of the waffefarbe of the base unit, trimmed with a thick tresse of aluminum braid. There were three variations, based upon the role of the musician. 1. Musiker(bandsman)- The swallows nest is in the appropriate color, trimmed in aluminum braid. 2. Stabshornisten(Bugle Major)- Same as musiker, except for the addition of a 7cm aluminum braid. 3. Spielleute(fife and drum member)- Same as musiker except trimmed in a gray braid instead of aluminum. Musicians wore no other identifying insignia. Their uniforms and insignia were identical to those assigned to the branch unit.

Shoulder Board.... The shoulder boards authorized for Band Leaders and Music Superintendents were very distinctive, when compared with those of the normal Luftwaffe. The shoulder boards were constructed in the same manner as the shoulder boards being used by the regular Luftwaffe, with the exception of the center braid consisted of a red cord of bright artificial silk, flanked by two smaller cords of aluminum braid on both sides. These boards had gold colored lyre cyphers fixed to them. As with the standard Luftwaffe ranking system, rank was noted by the type of shoulder board and the number of pips. Rankings: Musicians wore swallows nests on each shoulder. I will get into more detail on these shortly. Music Leader Oberfeldwebel- Musikleiter- Apr1935-Apr1938- Woven shoulder "knot" as seen on the NCO shoulder insignia for Luftwaffe officials, except done using red cord instead of blue-gray. The underlay was the branch color of the host unit(same as seen on the tabs). Post 1938- Standard Feldwebel-Stabsfeldwebel straps with a Lyre in the center. Band Leader Leutnant- Musikmeister- No Pips Oberleutnant- Obermusikmeister- One pip Hauptmann- Stabsmusikmeister- Two pips Music Superintendent Major- Musikinspizient- No pips Oberstleutnant- Obermusikinspizient- One pip Here is an example of a Musikmeister(leutnant) board for a leader assigned to a Flight unit.

Collar tabs... The collar tabs were piped in the branch color of the unit the Musikmeister was assigned. 24March1935- Musikleiter(Oberfeldwebel)- Blank collar tabs with a silver metal lyre cypher fixed to each, instead of gulls. Overcoat tabs had the thin aluminum tress along the outer and lower edges, as with the regular luftwaffe for NCOs. As before, the lyre cypher replaced ranking gulls. MusikMeister(Leutnant/Hauptmann)- Collar tabs consisted of the half wreath, with a lyre instead of wings. There was no distinctive rank designation on the collar tabs. The rank was specified on the shoulder boards. Music Superintendents(Major/OberstLt)- Collar tabs consisted of a full wreath with a lyre. Again, rank was specified on the shoulder boards, alone. 12Apr1938- Musikleiter(Oberfeldwebel)- No change from above. Musikmeister(Leutnant/Hauptmann)- Collar tabs consisted of half wreath and rank was specified by the introduction of wings(gulls). The lyre was reduced in size and embroidered above the upper gull. Music Superintendents(Major/OberstLt)- Like the Musik Meister, the tabs introduced the use of gulls, with the lyre being reduced in size and being embroidered above the upper gull. Here are some examples of some post 1938 Band Leader collar tabs. 1. Flight piped Musikmeister 2. Flight piped Obermusikmeister 3. Signals piped Obermusikmeister

Any data or militaria related to Luftwaffe Air Traffic Controllers will be greatly appreciated. As usual, anything pertinent to the topic is welcome... period photos, insignia, uniforms, documents... anything pertinent to the topic!

Luftwaffe Musical Bands and Drum Corps All regiments, independent battalions, and units of an equal size(except for Medical Battalions) had a Band and a Fife and Drum Corps. Battalions within a Regiment did not have a band, unless they were stationed in a garrison, detached from Regimental Headquarters. In the case of a detached Battalion, a small band was allowed. In other words, it was planned that every Garrison have at least one band. In the unit organization, the Musikkorps were part of the unit's Headquarters Company. There was no standardized billet structure. Each band varied in strength and instruments. As an illustration, the following are some examples of band and drum corps strengths in 1939, excluding Musikmeisters and Drum Majors- 1. Regiment Hermann Goering- Band- 60(later that year, 70) NCOs and men. Corps - 48 NCOs and men. 2. Reichs Air Ministry(Stabsmusikkorps)- Band- 54 NCOs and men. Corps- 16 NCOs and men. 3. Determined units of Regiment size- Band 40 NCOs and men. Corps- 12 NCOs and med. 4. HQ of Airbases, AntiAir Battalions, Air Signals Battalions, and detached battalions- 30 NCOs and men. Corps 12 NCOs and men. It is a known fact that there was a shortage of trained musicians, so it is considered possible that not all units had a fully manned band. As a result, it is known that many bands were commanded by a senior NCO, instead of a Musikmeister(officer). It is written that in case of mobilization, the bands were to be re-distributed. According to my references, these details have not been found. Angolia states(Vol3 of Uniforms and Traditions of the Luftwaffe), "Heer Order dated 25March1944 permitted only one band of 28 NCOs for every DIVISION of the field army. All other bands were to be disbanded and officers were transferred to TO&E positions for Officers. It is probable that this order was also enacted in the Luftwaffe as well.". Uniforms of the Band leaders(Musikmeister) and Band members were introduced in 1935 with minor insignia changes in 1938. The Musikkorps utilized the standard LW uniforms. They wore the waffenfarbe of the units to which they were attached. Musikmeisters wore the officer style visor hat, with the difference being that they piping would be that of the branch color of the unit they were assigned to, instead of the standard silver piping, specific to officers. In 1938, the regulations changed for officers, allowing the use of the standard LW Officer's Visor, with the silver piping. Band Leaders were classified as officials until brought over onto a Soldier status on 12Apr1938. Rankings are as follow: Oberfeldwebel- Musikleiter Leutnant- Musikmeister Oberleutnant- Obermusikmeister Hauptmann- Stabsmusikmeister On 30Jun1939, two additional rankings were created to make up the Music Superintendents. These men were assigned to the RLM and had a Black waffenfarbe, yet this was soon changed to these men wearing the waffenfarbe of the last unit they were assigned to. Their rankings were: Major- Musikinspizient Oberstleutnant- Obermusikinspizient Please see below for more specific descriptions on the inisignia.