J Temple-West

Pic (Credit to Lorenzo B') of the the eggy para in wear.

A very nice group shot, Stijn. The gentleman in civilian clothes looks a little like a young Rudolf Hess. I've put the photo through the digital washing machine...A little better? Btw.. In answer to the question; SegelFlugzeugf?hrerabzeichen

Hi Mark, Of course...the double marked P/O. An absolutely stunning piece. Having coveted that badge for so long, how could I have forgotten that it was an example of the "oval" (egg-shaped) wreath!!

Welcome, Hank. Well, I have my aircraft fuelled and ready.. Which way the enemy?

Hi Stijn, You are correct.. L.G. Kdo III does stand for Luftgau Kommando III. I'm probably wrong but the numbers (63039 A) on his later disc look like a Feldpost number??

The ?Gebirgsj?ger? had their own version of Urkunde (Citation) for the cuff title and the one you show looks to be correct for that type. As to the title; the most obvious question. It is the photography or is the lettering green? All titles I?ve come across have the Acanthus leaves, lettering and ?Russia-braid? edging embroidered in golden-yellow. The denim type material is another concern. I would have a blacklight test done.

Here you go, stijn having some very rare time to myself this afternoon, I thought I'd see if I could make something of these emblems. So here goes. My interpitation.

Hi Stijn, A fascinating piece of history, not much covered. Many thanks.

P/O!! Pray tell... where be this P/O? That I would love to see. Any pikkitures?

Hi Steve, A petit montage of a few pieces (top left; para/ top right; pilot/ bottom; alu ro/ag) showing the same domed rivets. It would seem ...the earlier they are, the neater the rivet.

Rich, Yep, I think the only other example I know of is in the Dr Robert Mallison (DK winner) Group. I?ll have to see if I can get the necessary permission to post the photo of him wearing his example. I?ve come across a couple of pilot?s badges with the same wreath, but missed out on them?. Softly, softly catchy monkey. Now, is there an Ob?s out there? It's never ending!

A very good question, Stijn. Due to reasons of, perhaps, security, I can understand the lack of catalogues depicting Wartime pieces (Glider Pilot's Badge-1940), but with the obvious competition that went on during the pre-war period, you would think that there would be more company catalogues out there. If "Assmann", why not "Juncker"?

Comparison of the earliest ?Fallschirmsch?tzenabzeichen? produced by the two leading makers: F.W Assmann (Left) C.E Juncker (Right)

Comparison between the 1936 Assmann Fallschirmsch?tzenabzeichen ?egg-shaped? wreath & the wreath that appears in the 1938 catalogue. (Alu badge; Steve K collection)

Divisional Units. Gesch?tz Batterie.7 - Kdr. Oberleutnant Schram - Gardelegen Luftnachrichten.Kompanie.7 - Kdr. Oberleutnant Schleicher - Stendal ** Sanit?tszug ? Kdr. Dr.Neumann - Gardelegen Panzer.Abwehr.Kompanie.7 - Kdr. Hauptmann G?tzel - Gardelegen Transport Kompanie.7 - Kdr. Hauptmann Rohloff - Gardelegen LS Kommando - Kdr. Oberleutnant Kie? - Burg/Magdeburg Aufkl?rungs Staffel - Kdr. Oberleutnant Langguth - Stendal Kampfgruppe ZBV.1(JU52) - Kdr. Oberstleutnant Morzig - Burg Kampfgruppe ZBV.2(JU52) - Kdr. Oberstleutnant Drewes - Stendal Fallschirmj?ger Regiment.1 - Kdr. Oberstleutnant Br?uer I./Batl - Kdr. Hauptmann Walther - Stendal 2./Batl - Kdr. Hauptmann Prager - Braunschweig 3./Batl - Kdr. Oberstleutnant Sydow, Hauptmann Schulz - Gardelegen 14.Kompanie.Pz.J?ger- Kdr.- Kdr. Oberleutnant Reitzenstein Fallschirmj?ger Regiment.2 - Kdr. Major Heidrich, Stab 1./Batl - Kdr. Hauptmann Noster - Gardelegen 2./Batl - Kdr. Hauptmann Pietzonka - Tangerm?nde 3./Batl - Kdr. Hauptmann Burckhardt - Tangerm?nde Fj.Erganz.Batl - Kdr. Hauptmann von Kummer - Stendal Fallschirmschule.1 - Kdr. Major Reinberger - Stendal Fallschirmschule.2 - Kdr. Major von Grazy - Wittstock

A little background. On 29th October 1935, Reichsminister, Hermann G?ring officially ordered (L.A.Nr.5450/35.g.Kdos L.A.II.2A) the renaming of the ?Landespoliziegruppe-Berlin? (A unit formed by G?ring some two years earlier to combat communist activities.) The new name for this unit was ?Regiment General G?ring.? In March 1936 the first jump school was opened at Stendal-Borstel airport and on the 4th May the first the training course for these new volunteer paratroopers began with an intake of members from the 1./Batl.Rgt G?ring, commanded by Major Bruno Br?uer. During this course, on the 11th May 1936, Major Br?uer became the first member of the Fallschirmj?ger to make a parachute jump and also the first to receive a parachuting licence. (Fallschirmsch?tzenschein) As training continued at ?Stendal? a new division was formed (July/Aug 1938), this being the ?Flieger Division.7? under the command of Generalmajor Kurt Student. By 1939 (Pre-war), and after the use of the ?Flieger Division.7? in the occupation of the Sudetenland in October 1938, divisional units were as follows: Stab.7.Fl.Div - Berlin-Templehof Kommandeur - Generalmajor Kurt Student Chief of Staff ? Oberstleutnant Gerhard Bassenge General Staff Officers. Major Heinrich ?Heinz? Trettner (Ia) Hauptmann Walther and Hauptmann Osterrath (Ib)Oberleutnant Lampertsd?rfer (Ic)

Reverse.

For your viewing pleasure, an example (Just in) of the early 1936 ?1st pattern?, ?egg-shaped? wreathed Fallschirmsch?tzenabzeichen produced by the firm F.W Assmann and issued to members the newly formed Fallschirmj?ger battalions on the 5th November 1936. The name, ?Obgefr Wagner? and his unit, ?Luftnachrichten.Kompanie.7 Stendal? */** can be found scratched on the reverse of the wreath. Being a member of a divisional unit and recipient of such an early badge, I think it can be safe to say that ?Wagner? was one of the early members of ?Regiment General G?ring.? to complete his training at the Stendal Jump School. * (Signals Company)

There is, however, now proof that Assmann produced an even earlier badge than those that appear in the ?38 catalogue. Perhaps we should categorize this as a variant or trial version of their badge production as the eagle is the same (although slightly thinner) as those produced throughout the period from institution to war?s end. However with the wreath being completely different (as will be seen, the wreath is extremely more detailed than its 1938 counterpart) I would categorize these examples as being the true ?1st pattern? produced by ?Assmann?. Known in the collecting community as the ?egg-shaped? wreath, it can be found on both Para and Pilot?s badges.

Example of the Assmann wreath as shown in the ?38 catalogue

It has always been thought that Assmann only produced one 1st pattern series between 1936-39, this being the series that appears in their 1938 catalogue. Luftwaffe badges shown in the ?Assmann? 1938 catalogue

The vast majority of ?Text book? Luftwaffe qualification badges encountered were produced from 1939 onwards. Between 1935-39, firms such as Juncker and Assmann were producing badges for the early, non-combatant, Luftwaffe (With the exception of units operating in Spain). These early badges were made of nickel silver, aluminium and tombak, however the construction of these types were not too robust and were never intended to see the amount of wear that they ultimately saw, hence the need for a complete redesign and the emergence of the heavier badges of the war period. It has only been recently that examples of these very early badges have come to light, the Juncker 1st pattern Fallschirmsch?tzenabzeichen being a prime example.

Everybody happy now! VonLuger, You only had to ask....Nicely!

Thanks for taking the time to post the extra pictures, Sandstorm. I'm afraid I have to agree with the guys... Even without looking at the reverse, the clearer obverse view shows this piece to be a poor casting of an original.

Reverse.