Paul R

Thanks!! It does appear to be from the same shooting! I can see his two ribbons... I know that the last one is a LW Long Service Medal. The first one is either a War Merit Cross with Swords or an HK. What do you think? Paul

Welcome!! Please do post some close up photos of the individual medals. Paul

No thank you!!! I will eagerly be looking forward to seeing them! Also... you stated that this was "one of my tunics"... Lets see the remainder!

Back...

The photo finally arrived...

Have you tried Ebay? That is where I would go to find special items.

You are right!! It looks brand new! Thanks for sharing it.

I like it a lot!!!! Any chance of some close ups of the tunic and insignia?

Please do!

Wartime Officials and Sonderfuhrers. The Wartime Official was introduced on 31Oct1938. Many of these men were selected from within the ranks of the regular Luftwaffe. Applicants were NCO's or lower who possessed civilian acquired skills or knowledge needed by the Luftwaffe. Officers were not accepted. Others were brought directly into the Luftwaffe as Officials without any military training at all. As a side note, the appointment of this type of official in 1938 should have been a huge hint toward the future plans of the German military. Upon acceptance as a Wartime Official, these men were appointed a ranking as either an NCO or officer based upon their area of expertise and amount of experience. Such duties could be Administrative, Legal, or Technical. Once the member was designated a ranking, there would be no opportunity for promotion. The position as a specialist leader was not a career move. The position was to be held until the end of the war. As the war began and waged on, manpower became an issue. As a result, on 05Aug1941, some restrictions were placed upon being accepted as a Specialist Leader... 1. For non technical branches, the applicant must have been born in 1909 or earlier. Specialist leaders who were already in the organization and born between 1910 and 1927 were retained. 2. Personnel of the technical branches and in the Reich's Weather Service as well as those with the birth years ranging between 1910 and 1917 were permitted pending the completion of basic military training. 3. For all other areas of Wartime Specialists, candidates born between 1910 and 1917 were permitted if found to be not fit for full duty. On 24Sep1942, an order was passed which stopped all future appointments of the Wartime Officials. Here is where it gets a bit confusing. Also on 24Sep1942, members who had certain military training/qualifications were retained as Reserve Officials. Members without the required military training had to complete it by 01October1943 at the latest. All other's had their status as a Wartime official renounced and were returned to their previous rankings and sent back to regular Luftwaffe units, with a few exceptions(based upon the needs of the Luftwaffe), which expired on 31March1944, at the latest. The Wartime Officials had the title of their career and branch according to their position within the organization, along with "auf Kriegsdauer" abbreviated ""a.Kr" or "a.K." as a suffix. This was authorized on 24November1944. For those who may be interested, the below link will take you to a paychart, which includes the Wartime Officials/Sonderfuhrers. http://www.panzerworld.net/saleries

No correction. You were actually right. He is an Administrative Techinician. I love admin stuff so much that I did not have to look this one up(Scary huh?!), but there is something that I want to double check... I think that there is another possibility on the nebenfarbe. Paul

The the plugs the same as what are used today?

Now that is a great piece!!! Does it still work? PAul

Another rare beauty!! I love the bullion insignia on headgear! Paul

Kinda bland looking...

Great stuff, Rick!

I like your cross a lot!!! IF you do not like it, send it my way!

I agree!! These are the most beautiful of the first class crosses, IMHO!

As did I, 15 years ago!! I cannot believe where he has been going with his prices!

He is an Administrative official, Middle Level, NCO(Oberfeldwebel Ranking). Most likely had a pink nebenfarbe in the shoulder boards. Nice photos!

That is correct!!! An Army service belt would be perfect!!! Paul

To think that by 1934, he would only have three!!!!!

Great stuff, Larry!!! Any stories to go with any of the items? The uniform looks to have seen some real service use! I really like the UN Flag! You must really share some of your stories!

Amazing collection of headgear. I bet the Chaplain's crusher is one of a kind!!! Thanks for sharing them with us!

Sorry about that... I did not see the closeups until I wrote my response. The ones already posted do very well!