Luftwaffe The Luftwaffe Corps of Engineers

[Paul R]

This thread will be dedicated to the study of one of the lesser known Luftwaffe suborganizations.

This intent of this thread is to bring out participation. Any information including details and photos of uniforms, insignia, and the actual men themselves are greatly encouraged.

I will start off by going over a few of the uniform regulations.

Luftwaffe Corps of Engineers:

By decree of the the Fuhrer and Reichs Chancellery on 20Apr1935, the "Corps of Engineers of the Luftwaffe" was created. It was further deemed on 18Oct1935 that the members of this newly formed corps were not soldiers but "members of the Luftwaffe" with a status very similar to that of Officials.

This was an Officer only career field.

Requirements for entry into the Corps of Engineers changed several times, yet the basic requirement was a University(equiv to a Masters Degree?) or College(Basic four year, Bach. Degree) degree in engineering. University graduates were brought in at the rank of Fl. Hauptingenieur and College degree qualified for the rank of Fl. Ingenieur.

Members of the Corps of Engineers wore the basic Luftwaffe style uniform. Insignia comprised of:

1. Tabs- Rose Pink. Rank was denoted with the use of the wreath and blades of the propeller(instead of gulls like the Luftwaffe proper).

2. Boards- Standard style, with pink waffenfarbe.

Reserve members are identified by a blue secondary piping on the tabs and shoulder boards.

The role or purpose of this formation is not noted in my Angolia or Davis books. Did they design aircraft? Plan and construct Airbases? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Corps of Engineer Officers:

An order dated 11May1940 created the "Corps of Engineer Officers" with the eventual disbanding of the "Corps of Engineers" in mind. The many delays in acting on this order, the Corps of Engineers was never disbanded and both the Corps of Engineers and the Corps of Engineer Officers co-existed for the duration of the war. The only difference in the two services was the collar tabs.

Tabs: Rose Pink. Rank was denoted with the use of the wreath and gulls, like regular Luftwaffe Officers.

Wartime Members of the Corps of Engineers:

This was not a career area. They were civilian engineers brought into the service of the Luftwaffe for the duration of the war to fill billets. These men were given a ranking based upon their age, experience, and schooling. Once assigned a rank, they were non promotable.

Starting on 15Jan43, the Wartime Members of the Corps of Engineers wore the same uniforms as those used by the Corps of Engineers. The insignia differed as stated below:

1. Tabs- Rose pink, as the Corps of Engineer tabs. Ranking consisted of the embroidered wreath only. No propellers or gulls were used. The exact ranking was noted on the shoulder cord.

2. Shoulder Cord- As with other Sonderfuhrer shoulder cords, these were to be unpiped(although this rule was frequently broken). The rank exact rank was noted on the shoulder cord by the use of yellow "sliders".

[Paul R]

Luftwaffe Corps of Engineers

Here are the rankings present in the photo, from lowest to highest.

Fl. Ingenieur Leutnant

FL.Oberingenieur Oberleutnant

Fl. Hauptingenieur Hauptmann

Fl. Stabsingenieur Major

That last tab is for a "Corps of Engineer Officer". I will post a better photo breifly.

[Paul R]

Luftwaffe Corps of Engineer Officers

This is the only example I have seen for this organization. Despite it's ratty condition, it is a very nice and rare representative piece!

I have heard a rumor that a Luftwaffe Corps of Engineer Officer Tunic traded hands at the SOS!

[Paul R]

Wartime members of the Corps of Engineers

Tab 1(complete wreath): Fl. Stabsingenieur/Major -

Tab 2(half wreath): Fl. Ingenieur/Leutnant - Fl. Hauptingenieur Hauptmann

Rank was specified on the shoulder cords with the use of yellow sliders.

[Paul R]

Thanks to Rick Research for the following strength numbers for this organization.

According to Rudolf Absolon, "Rangliste der Generale der Deutschen Luftwaffe nach dem Stande vom 20. April 1945 mit einer Stellenbesetzung der Kommandobeh?rden der Luftwaffe vom 1. M?rz 1945, Diesntalterslisten der Sanit?tsoffiziere usw. im Generlasrang sowie Kurzbiographien ?ber den Reichsmarschall unde die Generalfeldmarsch?lle," Podzun-Palls Verlag, Friedberg, 1984:

Strength of the Engineer Corps of the Luftwaffe

as of 30 November 1944/As of 1 January 1945 ==

Generalingenieure: 18/0

Oberstingenieure: 100/1

Fl-Oberstabsingenieure: 375/13

Fl-Stabsingenieure: 980/907

Fl-Hauptingenieure: 697/738

Fl-Oberingenieure: 322/643

Fl-Ingenieure: 10/1,474

Total: 2,502/ 3,776

All the senior officers tossed out, and a huge number of Lieutenants created in one month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Paul R]

A nice photo of Fl Stabsingenieur H?drich.

[Paul R]

And another nice photo from Jacques. Notice that he is a decorated Spanish Civil War Veteran. Most likely, he was brought in from the Regular Luftwaffe.

[Jacques]

Just a close up view of the tab and the trouser's double stripe.

[Paul R]

Hi,

I think that the trouser stripe is actually a crease... I have a set of similar trousers with deep creases in the same area.

[Paul R]

Lets see what you have... be it information, photos, documents, insignia, uniforms, or instruments. Anything goes, as long as it relates the the topic!

[luftguy]

Document #1 Service Review (Translation provided by Rosenberg)

Service-Review

for Fl.Stabsingenieur Horst H?drich, born 6/1/1908 at Weimar

On 11/1/1934 Fl.Stabsingenieur Horst H?drich entered service of the National German Aerial Industry Association at the Testing Site Travem?nde. After its incorporation in the LW-Testing-Unit Travem?nde he continues service still today.

Through April 1937, Mr. H?drich was an expert with the Flight-Device-Group. He then became leading-expert for Testing & Serial with the Group-Leader.

His tasks included the testing of experimental planes, propellers, devices etc.

He worked on the Guidelines for Master-Tests, especially those on testing flight characteristics while simultaneously developing the necessary measuring instruments. As a Test-Pilot, he took part with the testing of the German Seaplanes, Airships and special purpose planes of any kind, also fighter planes, catapult planes as well as with the testing of planes designated for carriers. He was responsible for the technical correctness & scientific documentation of testing reports.

From May 1937 through August 1937, he was technical director and as such prepared the German Team to take part in the Zurich Military Air show.

Upon his return, he was appointed head of the shipyard at the testing-site and promoted to Group-Leader. A short time later, he was appointed vice-director of the testing-site facilities.

As such, his tasks covered replacements and repairs of planes, devices and add-ons of any kind. They included the building and rebuilding of parts and experimental parts as well as the design of the aforementioned. He was head of 200 workers and 20 administrative servants.

Mr. H?drich was responsible for the flight safety of the planes in the shipyard, also for the correct processing of experimental parts. He did shipyard and testing-flights himself.

As director of the shipyard he managed several workshops for metal & wood, engines, propellers, tool-making, paint, leather and tapestry and the lab for galvanic baths. The aforementioned were always in perfect condition under his management. We explicitly respect the low-rate of complaints on work performed during his time as shipyard-director.

Apart from the prior he was also responsible for the Materials-,Tooling-and Replacements-Procurement, technical field-service, all types of communications with Companies, Administration and superior offices in matter of his sphere of responsibility.

On April 1st 1940, he was appointed Director of the shipyard facilities and promoted to Section-Leader in recognition of his skills and performance.

He was head of the entire facilities at the testing-site, leader of 1000 workers, servants, technicians and engineers. The facilities consisted of the following: shipyard, engine-workshops with testing-ability up to 5000HP, flight service, naval service, facility controlling, energy supply, civil engineering and repair of the facilities, technical administration, human resource management, quality control and the teaching of apprentices in an apprentice-workshop (120 apprentices).

As a section-leader Mr. H?drich was only responsible to the Director of the testing site.

Fl.Stabsingenieur always fulfilled given tasks perfectly and justified our trust in him at any time. It is worth mentioning that his tasks were much more complicated than those of a facility-director within a unit using serial-planes as opposed to his ever changing experimental planes. The industry was by far depending on findings made by the Testing-Unit.

Fl.Stabsingenieur H?drich is an open minded, honest, reliable, diligent and trustworthy person. He has perfect manners, is highly motivated, result orientated and a generous engineer. He is well minded, has a wealth of knowledge and experience. These combined with his durability make him ideal for experimental research.

His use of subordinates in accordance to their skills was very well, based on his fact-based and just treatment of subordinates combined with his always good point of view, his sensitivity and review-ability. Unstoppable on duty he became not only an idol but a care-taking superior.

This review was made on request due to a transfer to the Command

Signed,

Schenck (Paul Schenck)

Oberstingeneiur and Leader of the

Luftwaffe Testing site at Travem?nde

[luftguy]

[Paul R]

Bill! This is awesome stuff! That document is one of the best I have ever seen. I have never seen an Officer review document.

It sheds some light on the type of work these men did!!! I can hardly wait until my H?drich photo comes in!

Dont be shy! Lets see more... even if it has been posted before!

Paul

[luftguy]

Personal Photo (Translation provided by Rosenberg)

From his birthday 1935

First seen from left:H?drich

middle:A.Hitler

right: Obergruppenf?hrer Sepp Dietrich

[luftguy]

(Translation provided by Rosenberg)

Announcement -Store Properly April 1, 1939

To: Flight-Staff Engineer Horst H?drich

You are to be with your peacetime-unit GROUP B in case of mobilization.Any other use is to object due to this regulation.

This announcement becomes invalid in case you change unit or leave/quit service.It is then to be returned to your former/ex unit

[Chris Boonzaier]

A good thread guys.

it may seem a little strange as a thought, but I wonder at what stages armies decided no longer to use pink in their badges?

For these guys and for the Panzer guys it did not seem to be an issue, but does anyone use it today?

[bigjarofwasps]

Paul, want an interesting thread!!! Keep up the good work, I look forward to reading the next one.

[Paul R]

BJW,

Thank you for the compliment, yet the credit is not all mine by a long shot. I had a lot of help putting it all together from some fellow mods!

Chris,

I think that the German Panzer Divisions still use pink.

Regards

Paul

[luftguy]

(Translation provided by Rosenberg)

To the LW-Testing-Unit-Travem?nde

In matter of the application for patent R 99 33 XI/62b by Eng. H?drich

The application was approved and a secret patent licensed with the nr 142/37

[luftguy]

(Translation provided by Rosenberg)

Addition to Wehrmacht-Personal File ...

Confirmation

on the registration to create the Wehrmacht-Personal File

This confirms that

Name:Horst ? H?drich

Profession: Engineer,university degree

date of birth: June 1st,1908 at Weimar,Th?ringen

address: Travem?nde, Kaiserallee 33a

has registered to create the Wehrmacht-Personal File

Local Army record section: L?beck

L?beck,August 27th,1936

[luftguy]

(Translation provided by Rosenberg)

Wehrmacht-Reginal-Command L?beck

Dept. of LW-Excerpt from personal file

To Feldwebel d.R. ....

In accordance to the decision by the higher flight instruction command ....you were being promoted to Feldwebel of the Reserve, effective on June 1st 1939

[luftguy]

Second seen from right:H?drich

Back to camera: Generalfeldmarschall Milch

[luftguy]

Shot of the H?drich collection

[luftguy]

Ingenieurkorps collar tabs

Fl.Ingenieur

Fl.Oberingenieur

Fl.Hauptingenieur a.D

[luftguy]

Fl.Stabsingenieur

Fl.Stabsingenieur a.D.

Fl.Oberstabsingenieur