High quality color & exceptional B/W photographs. German side

[Gildwiller1918]

Here is another nice color photo, showing Luftwaffe troops manning a machine gun in an anti-aircraft role, notice the red backing on the collar tabs showing they under the Anti-aircraft or FLAK waffenfarbe. The weapon is the MG15 which used the standard 7.92mm bullet, and was developed in the 1920s specifically for use in the anti-aircraft role. Most Luftwaffe aircraft carried these weapons for gunner use early in the war, and interestingly enough they were made in Japan under license as the type 98 for use in their aircraft during WW2. Note the 75 round saddle drum and brass deflector. The tripod the gun is mounted on could be portable, but also could be mounted to a fixed position such as a concrete ring, obviously in this photo, the tripod is not mounted as two soldiers are holding it in place. 

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A group of Luftwaffe Obergefreiters, most likely Flak troops, they are all wearing the  Flak-Kampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe, which was instituted on 10 January 1941, and was awarded by use of a point system. A member has to earn 16 points which could be acquired by shooting down a enemy aircraft, the flak crew could get 4 points. Of course if an act or bravery and merit was observed, the award could be given outside the point system. Search light and sound locator crews were also eligible for this award, they got one point for each aircraft downed. Note: also before the introduction of the Luftwaffe ground assault badge, the Flak badge could be awarded for fighting in at least 3 seperate combat actions against tanks, bunkers, or ships. Nice ribbons and sports badges as well. 

 

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Here is a Luftwaffe Gefreiter, he also has the matching chevron on his sleeve, and at the bottom you can see the drivers badge on his cuff as well. Note the muzzle cover on the rifle, this could be slipped onto the sight and covered the muzzle, and also had a hinged lid so you could still fire with the device attached. 

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As part of the Luftwaffe was an auxiliary service of aerial surveillance. This service was organized in February 1941. The women of this service worked in communication centers as radio operators, cryptographers, telegraph operators, teletype operators.

More than 200 thousand German women were observers of the posts “Troops of Airborne Warning and Communications”, as well as soldiers of air defense units and firefighters. Several services operated in the Luftwaffe: the Auxiliary Warning Service, the Auxiliary Staff Service, and the Airborne Attack Prevention Units (since 1944).

The women serving with the German armed forces, although wearing uniforms and rank, were not considered to be part of the military, but support units. So no official protection was afforded them if captured. 

The helper below is manning a listening device used to track allied aircraft. The helper in the enlarger photo is in the photo below to the left.

 

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In preparation for an allied air raid, anti-aircraft gunners are manning a position on Flak towers in the Tiergarten in Berlin. In the distance you can see tower "L" which has the antenna dish on the roof. Photo is dated 1942. Nice view of the range finding equipment and gear. 

 

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This Luftwaffe unteroffizier is examining a survival knife that was issued to aircrews, typically in tropical/warm climates as part of aircrafts emergency kit. The blade was of a bolo type design and was 16 inches long. These were made by Alcoso ACS Solingen from 1940-42. Nice view of the tunic, belt and buckle as well.

[Fritz]

Photo on the auxilliaries unfortunately failed, could you try this again please? The machete in the last picture was not only for the tropics, if could be used to cut through the aircraft skin in case of an emergency. As far as I know they were carried in most larger aircraft.

The MG15 made in Japan? There would be no way of shipping these out after war broke out. I'm sure the Germans were capable of making a machine gun without asking a foreign power thousands of miles away

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Initially the MG15 and associated parts were exported to Japan, however they allowed Japan to make their own under license. The Japanese version was called the type 98 and used in their bombers. Late in the war, the Germans were shipping plans, parts and equipment by submarine to Japan to help them with their jet engine aircraft. 

Thanks for the info on the survival knife, I have since read some conflicting information, most sites say it was only for use in tropical areas, but a few said they were used in Russia, France and Norway, far from tropical climates. 

I will reload the Luftwaffe Helper photos.

[Fritz]

The auxilliaries, although non combattants, were generally regarded as "safe", as they mostly worked in rear areas, occupied territories and home front, as they wore uniforms, they were not partisans or civilians - they were officially "Arbeiter" or "Angestellte" of the armed forces, and officially enjoyed protection under the Geneva Convention and the international Red Cross.

[Fritz]

Hübsche Kulisse: Das Rathaus in St. Pölten, Niederösterreich nach dem Anschluß, 13. März 1938
 

Vereidigung von Soldaten der (österreichischen) 6. Division vor der Hofburg in Innsbruck am 14. März 1938.
Text unter dem Foto: "Nach der Vereidigung auf den Führer bilden die deutsch-österreichischen Soldaten einen neuen stolzen Bestandteil der deutschen Armee."

Allegiance to the Führer: Soldiers of the (Austrian) 6. Division at the Hofburg in Innsbruck on 14. March 1938
Photo text: "After swearing allegiance to the Führer, the Austro-German soldiers form a proud new part of the German Army."

 

[Gildwiller1918]

Here is a nice photo of an army gebirgsjager officer (I see at least one pip on his shoulder boards, which would make him a oberleutnant, but can't tell if the boards are for a junior or senior officer),  note the awards, the infantry assault, paratrooper badge and wound badge. On his sleeve he has the Narvik shield as well as the iron cross second class ribbon on his tunic. Quite the decorated soldier!

[Fritz]

The shoulder boards look like an Oberleutnant, unfortunately the picture cannot be enlarged. The paratrooper badge looks like the Luftwaffe version?  Very unusual, this must have been in connection with the combined action at Narvik.

[Gildwiller1918]

Yes, the paratrooper badge does appear to be the LW version. Was there a provision to award badges between services? As the Army had their own distinctive badge. 

[Fritz]

Not as far as I know, perhaps he was awarded this before the army version was instated? Looks also like the cloth version.

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Here is a colorized photo, showing a Luftwaffe Unteroffizier wearing his helmet with the eagle. He is also wearing the earlier type greatcoat which had the silvered buttons, wartime models had blue/grey colored buttons. Additionally he has the collar tabs on the coat, which was abolished on 29 May 1942, with the caveat that they would be removed by October 1942, although members of the Herman Göring Wacht Regiment Berlin, (Guard Regiment), and the Führer-Flakabteilung, (Führer Anti-Aircraft Battalion) were allowed to wear them again after January of 1943. 

[Fritz]

I have seen a mixture of various personnel wearing both button types. The greatcoat depicted also has extra slant pocket above, which were not on the earlier models. I think the picture has not been completely coloured, see collar tabs and piping on shoulder straps. Collar tabs were often omitted later. As from July 1942 a lot of extra colour details were dropped. The earlier flight blouse also had a coloured cord piping around the collar, not so the later models, I think this changed about mid 1940. They were also shorter and had no outer (hip) pockets.

[Gildwiller1918]

I imagine to omission of piping, patches, etc was to conserve resources. As Germany was short on raw materials that would make sense. I have also noticed on the earlier 4 pocket jackets the piping around the collar.

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Interesting photo showing a weapons inspection. On the table are the bayonets for the 98K rifle and the P.08 Pistols. The officer in the foreground is a Luftwaffebeamte Kriegsoberinspektor (1st Lieutenant equivalent). These personnel were Reich civil service personnel who were considered members of the military and were subject to military law. They performed many of the supply and logistic functions for the military. Functions included serving the Reichs Court, Paymasters, Apothecaries, and the Field Post Office. Collar tabs identified the branch and service level of the wearer. The Waffenfarbe colour for officials was dark green, with specialties further specified by a secondary colour (Nebenfarbe). Below is an example of the collar patches worn.

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The regular German Army foot soldier (Landser) received scientifically designed, high-calorie/protein rations. Typically, each soldier carried a daily supply of the so-called Halbieserne or “Iron Ration” that contained one 300-gram tin of meat and one 125- or 150-gram unit of hard bread. The canned meat could be Schmalzfleisch (a pork product), Rinderbraten (roast beef), Truthahnbraten (turkey), or Hahnchenfleisch (chicken). In addition, there was canned Fleischkonserve, its contents generically, and thus ambiguously, labeled “canned meat,” which allowed for a number of interpretations.

Another longstanding staple of the German Army’s menu of portable food items was the Erbswurst, a nourishing soup compressed into a pellet, packaged six to a ration. A pellet was crushed and dropped into a half pint of boiling water. One minute later and the instant soup was ready to eat. Condensed canned tomato soup was also available as a substitute when a field kitchen was not available, soldiers often adding half a can of water and half a can of milk to maximize its flavor. The milk also came condensed in cans.

The photo below shows a good assortment of mess gear and food items. 

[Fritz]

The four pocket tunic or Waffenrock still had a piped collar to the very end and was not intended as combat clothing, but as a dress uniform. I was referring to the Fliegerbluse in respect to piped and non piped collars, the earlier examples had cord piping.

The Militärbeamten were a different category, and were officials, but had an equivalent rank and uniform similar to officers. Amongst these were also administrators, technicians and meteorologists.

More categories are the TSD = Truppensonderdienst, who wore cornflower blue Waffenfarbe and a gilt Merkurstab on the shoulder pieces. This is
said to have been formed in the Wehrmacht (all branches):

B 59/44
1. Befehl des Führers für die Bildung des Truppensonderdienstes in der Wehrmacht vom 24. Jan. 1944
2. Befehl des Führers für die Bildung der Laufbahn des Verwaltungsdienstes im Truppensonderdienst vom 24. Jan. 1944

3. Befehl des Führers für die Bildung der Laufbahn der Wehrmachtrichter im Truppensonderdienst vom 24. Jan. 1944

(I was previously of the opinion that this existed much earlier).

Shoulder pieces TSD = Truppensonderdienst
Shoulder pieces and collar patches, HV =Heeresverwaltung, Oberzahlmeister (Oberleutnant)
Various piping colours depending on which branch of administration, above, white on grey
(Internet photos)

Schreibtischtäter?   No iron crosses here, a desk job was not always gratifying, you miss the heroism of the Front - but still the chance of getting lynched at the end of the war.

[Fritz]

More notes and illustrations added.

[Gildwiller1918]

Very nice Fritz! 

[Fritz]

These are only internet photos! However, items like this are still relatively easily found and affordable, just have to stay on the waiting list for a while!

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I figured as much, I have also seen them for sale, just have not had the opportunity to get any yet. It can be hard and expensive to diversify a collection. 

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Good photo of communications gear, the soldier in the foreground has the backpack telephone cable reel, while the man behind him to the right has the field telephone.