Luftwaffe Unqualified Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge.

Luftwaffe Unqualified Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge.

Instituted on. 25th April 1944

Rarity – Very Rare
Known Makers. GWL,

Luftwaffe Unqualified Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge - Obverse.

Luftwaffe Unqualified Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge - Reverse.

The badge was identical to the Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge, but the colours were reversed, so that the wreath was darkened and the eagle was silver. It was constructed as an oval metal badge, comprising a wreath, the right half of laurel leaves and the left of oak leaves, which was slightly convex, at the bottom, was a Swastika all of which were blacked.

In the centre of the wreath is an eagle in flight, flying from right to left of the badge, in a downward direction.  The reverse is flat, with a vertical pin the eagle being held on to the wreath by two rivets, one coming from each wing tip.

The cloth insignia for N.C.O.'s has been seen but the officers has not been encountered, but it is logical to assume that they were produced in both bullion and cotton thread. 

Luftwaffe Unqualified Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge - Cloth for N.C.O.'s .

On the 25th April 1944 a badge was introduced for anyone who had taken part in at least ten operations, or had been wounded in the course of his duty in these operations.  The badge was to reward personnel who had been flying due to the casualties in the closing stages of the war, who had not qualified for the aforesaid badge. 

The box for the badge is very rare and it is assumed that it took the form of the Luftwaffe presentation boxes. 

The CITATION for this badge is unknown, but as the badge was a retrospective award, that is to say one completed the combat experience before the badge was awarded; it seems unlikely that anything more than an entry in his Soldbuck was occasioned. 

Luftwaffe Radio Operator and Air Gunners Badge

Radio Operator and Air Gunners Badge.

Instituted on. 27 November 1935
Rarity – Scarce
Known Makers.

Radio Operator and Air Gunners Badge  - Segmented Swastika - Obverse. 

Radio Operator and Air Gunners Badge  - Solid Swastika - Obverse.

On the 27th November 1935 the regulations for this badge were published as an oval metal badge, which was to be slightly convex, and which was silver plated, and comprised the right half of laurel leaves and the left of oak leaves.  In the centre of the wreath, at the bottom, was a Swastika. 

At this stage, it is interesting to note and to point out, that there are three distinct designs and is marked by changes in the Swastika.  The early, or first version, which we could nominate as type "a" has a fully segmented Swastika.  The second, which can be nominated "b" a semi segmented Swastika, and the last version to be nominated "c" being a totally unsegmented Swastika.  These three types hold true for all the badges, which were of this wreath design.

In the centre of the wreath is an eagle in flight, clutching in its claws a pair of arrow headed bolts of lightning.  The eagle is flying from right to left of the badge, in a downward direction.  The projecting areas of the badge are highly polished and the reverse is flat, with a vertical pin the eagle being held on to the wreath by two rivets, one coming from each wing tip.  Again, the changes through a, b and c change with the period of construction.  The badge initially was found in nickel silver, or aluminium and later in monkey or pot metal.  A cloth version of the badge was instituted for officers in silver bullion and for N.C.O.'s in cotton thread in colours to correspond to those found in the metal badge.

To qualify for this badge the recipient had to have successfully completed two months training, or to have participated in one of the positions in a minimum of five operational flights.  The badge could be awarded sooner should the recipient have been wounded on an operational flight. 

Again this badge was first introduced on the 26th March 1936, and was awarded with a Citation and a flying book.  The badge was presented in a blue box with a blue silk lining, and blue velvet base while the badge's identification was stencilled in silver block letters on the lid.

Radio Operator and Air Gunners Badge - Cloth Bullion - Obverse.

Radio Operator and Air Gunners Badge - Cloth  - Obverse.

Radio Operator and Air Gunners Badge - Cloth Tan Backing - Obverse.

Luftwaffe Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge

Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge

Instituted on. 22nd June 1942

Rarity – Scarce
Known Makers.

Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge - Semi segmented Swastika - Obverse.

Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge - Solid Swastika - Obverse.

This badge was instituted on the 22nd June 1942 and was constructed as an oval metal badge, which was slightly convex, and which was silver plated, and comprised the right half of laurel leaves and the left of oak leaves.  In the centre of the wreath, at the bottom, was a Swastika.  This is found in three forms of Swastika cut-out, that is to say;

"a" Fully segmented

"b" Semi segmented     
"c" Unsegmented

The early, or first version, which we could nominate as type "a" has a fully segmented Swastika.  The second, which can be nominated "b" a semi segmented Swastika, and the last version to be nominated "c" being a totally unsegmented Swastika.  These three types hold true for all the badges, which were of this wreath design.

In the centre of the wreath is an eagle in flight.  The eagle is flying from right to left of the badge, in a downward direction.  The projecting areas of the badge are highly polished and the reverse is flat, with a vertical pin the eagle being held on to the wreath by two rivets, one coming from each wing tip.  Again, the changes through a, b and c change with the period of construction.  The badge initially was found in nickel silver, or aluminium and later in monkey or pot metal.

A cloth version of the badge was instituted for officers in silver bullion and for N.C.O.'s in cotton thread in colours to correspond to those found in the metal badge.

Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Badge - Cloth - Blue Grey backing - Obverse.

The qualification criteria for the badge were the same as for Radio Operator and Air Gunners Badge and it was awarded with a Citation and flying book, in a blue box with blue silk lining and blue velvet base.  The name again was stencilled on to the lid of the box in silver block capitals. 

Luftwaffe - Pilots Badge

Pilots Badge.

Instituted on. 27^th May 1935
Rarity – Scarce
Known Makers. A, B & NL, B.W.S. (within club emblem), C.E.JUNCKER,

               CEJ (in rectangular frame), JME, JMME, W.DEUMER

 

 

 Pilots Badge -  Obverse.

 

 

Pilots Badge - Reverse.

The original instruction for this badge came on 27^th May 1935, although Göring did not bring the badge into being until 12^th August 1935.  On 27^th November 1935 the regulations publishing the exact specification for the badge were made public and were, an oval, slightly convex, silver-plated wreath, the right half of laurel and the left half of oak leaves.  This is the opposite of the Aircrew Badge.  The raised surfaces of the wreath are highly polished.  At the base of the wreath there is a three-band tie and, on the viewer's right, nine bunches of three oak leaves overlapping one another.  At each joint are two acorns, one on either side.  On the opposite side are nine bunches of three laurel leaves with two berries at the joint, one on either side of the central leaf's point.  The wreath is 53 mm by 42 mm with a width of 8 mm.  It has an eagle in flight mounted upon it, oxidised and old silver-plated, clutching a swastika in its claws.  The wings are finely detailed, as are the head and body.  Normally, the gap between the legs is solid but in the case of the badges produced in aluminium, this area is generally voided.  Occasionally, the portion between the legs is voided on the early nickel silver versions as well.  The wingspan of the eagle can vary between 64 mm and 67 mm, due to the form of manufacture as well as the individual producer.  On the reverse the eagle is riveted to the wreath on each side by two small ball rivets, which change in style with the different methods of manufacture.  There is a vertical hinged pin, which is soldered on.  This badge was found in nickel silver or aluminium and as the war progressed, pot metal or monkey metal.  I consider the most desirable badges of this type to be the thin wreath, nickel silver and aluminium types produced by CE Juncker.

 

 

Pilots Badge - Aluminium - Obverse.

 

 

Pilots Badge - Aluminium -  Reverse.

The badge was awarded upon completion of the flying training and when the pilot received his flying licence and citation. 

 Dr. Heinrich Doehle gave the institution of the badge as 26^th March 1936 and this has been widely considered as the official date of introduction.  This poses the intriguing question, 'What was the design of the Pilots Badge from 12^th August 1935 to 26^th March 1936?' There are two versions of the cloth badge, which correspond to the officers and NCOs, taking the form of the metal badge but embroidered in relief.  The wreath is worked in silver, the eagle in oxidised silver, and the swastika in dull aluminium thread.  The NCOs version is identical but expedited in cotton thread.  The badge was worn on the left upper pocket of the service uniform or flying jacket.  It was issued in a blue box with the badge designation stencilled in gold block letters on its lid. 

 

 

Pilots Badge - Case -   Obverse.

Pilots Badge - Bullion -  Obverse.

 

Pilots Badge - Cotton -   Obverse.

 

Pilots Badge - Cotton -   Obverse (2).

 

 

Pilots Badge in wear.

 

 

 

 

Pilots Badge in wear on a Waffen - SS officers tunic. He was a Pilot in the Bavarian Air force in the First World War.

Luftwaffe - Combined Pilots and Observers Badge

Combined Pilots and Observers Badge.

Instituted on. 26^th March 1936

Rarity – Rare
Known Makers. A, B & NL, B.W.S. (within club emblem), C.E.JUNCKER,

                            CEJ (in rectangular frame), JME, JMME, W.DEUMER, L/64

              

Combined Pilots and Observers Badge Obverse.

 

On 26^th March 1936 this badge was introduced to replace the older Aircrew Badge and takes the format of, an oval, slightly convex, gilded wreath, the right half of laurel and the left half of oak leaves. The raised surfaces of the wreath are highly polished.  At the base of the wreath there is a three-band tie and, on the viewer's right, nine bunches of three oak leaves overlapping one another.  At each joint are two acorns, one on either side.  On the opposite side are nine bunches of three laurel leaves with two berries at the joint, one on either side of the central leaf's point.  The wreath is 53 mm by 42 mm with a width of 8 mm.  It has an eagle in flight mounted upon it, oxidised and matt silver-plated, clutching a swastika in its claws.  The wings are finely detailed, as are the head and body.  Normally, the gap between the legs is solid but in the case of the badges produced in aluminium, this area is generally voided.  Occasionally, the portion between the legs is voided on the early nickel silver versions as well.  The wingspan of the eagle can vary between 64 mm and 67 mm, due to the form of manufacture as well as the individual producer.  On the reverse the eagle is riveted to the wreath on each side by two small ball rivets, which change in style with the different methods of manufacture.  There is a vertical hinged pin, which is soldered on.  The quality of these badges varies widely from a purely silvered and gilded Pilots Badge, to a super struck and silver-plated and gilt plated example. This badge was found in nickel silver or aluminium and as the war progressed, pot metal or monkey metal. 

The badge was awarded on completion of both the pilots and observers courses and was presented with licence and certificate.  On 31th July 1944 regulations prescribed that the award could be rendered providing that the intended recipient had held the Pilot Observers qualification certificates for a minimum of one year.

In special cases the badge was authorised to be awarded to foreigners in recognition of special services rendered to the Luftwaffe.  An honorary presentation of this badge was normally made to foreign attachés upon their return to their home duty station.

The cloth version was again identical to the pilots form but with the colours conforming to the metal badge.  The officer’s version was again executed in silver and gold bullion while the NCOs version was in cotton. 

The badge was to be worn on the left breast pocket and after 1936 could be worn on the political uniform as well as the military one.

The box is blue with blue silk lining and blue velvet base with the title stencilled on to the top in gold lettering.

 

 

Combined Pilots and Observers Badge - Case.

 

 

Combined Pilots and Observers Badge - Cloth - Bullion.

 

Combined Pilots and Observers Badge - Cloth - Cotton.

 

 

Kupfer Ernst Dr. - Oberst.

Luftwaffe - Glider Pilots Badge - First Type.

Glider Pilots Badge - First Type.

Instituted on. 16^th December 1940

Rarity – Very Rare    
Known Makers. C.E.JUNCKER

 

Glider Pilots Badge - Obverse.

Glider Pilots Badges - Obverse.



Glider Pilots Badges - Reverse.



On 8^th July 1940 the firm of Wilhelm Ernst Peekhaus submitted their design for this badge.  It was approved on 16^th December 1940 and was produced by the firm of C.E. Juncker of Berlin.  It consists of a wreath of oak leaves made up of eight bunches of three leaves on either side, the edges of the leaves forming the inner and outer edges of the wreath.  They meet tip to tip at the apex with a swastika at the base.  There are the two forms of swastika.  The fields between the arms of the swastika are either solid or voided.  The height of the wreath can vary between 55 mm and 57 mm with the width of the badge being 42 mm.  The wreath is finished in a silver wash with the highlights being polished.

 

On the wreath is a soaring eagle, flying from left to right, which is finished in oxidised old silver colour.  The design of the eagle is very elegant with a well-defined head positioned over the forward thrusting wing.  There are subtle differences in the eagle the most significant being in the wings' fletching and the line of the trailing wing.  The width of the wings is 53 mm and the depth of the body from claw tips to the top of the wings varies from 15 mm to 16 mm.

The reverse is flat and the eagle is held on to the wreath by two ball rivets, one through each wing tip.  The rivets can also be a small, flat type.  At the apex is a hinge, which can be either a barrel or ball type.  The latter has a needle pin countersunk.  The former has a needle pin with a shepherd's crook bend.  At the base is a 'C' form hook.  The reverse of the eagle is flat with a matt finish that is oxidised from light grey to nearly black.

However, as the war progressed the quality of the badge deteriorated, not so much in the stamping of the individual wreath and eagle but the eagle is sweated on to the wreath.  The badge is made in nickel silver or aluminium and then zinc, pot or monkey metal.  The badge was awarded on completion of a glider pilots training and was issued with a citation and pilots licence.

It was presented in a blue box, with blue satin liner and velvet base, with the name stencilled in silver on the lid.

The cloth versions of this badge were produced for both officers and NCOs, taking the form of the metal badge but embroidered in relief.  For Officers the wreath is worked in silver, the eagle in oxidised silver, and the swastika in dull aluminium thread on a blue grey melton backing.  The NCOs version is identical but expedited in cotton thread.  The badge for officers has yet to be observed. The NCO’s version can be found with the wreath embroidered in of white cotton thread while the eagle is executed in a buff grey thread on a tan cotton backing.

 

Glider Pilots Badges - Cloth Grey backing - Obverse.

 

Glider Pilots Badges - Cloth Tan backing - Obverse.

 

 

 

  Glider Pilots Badges - Case.

 Fulda Wilhelm, later Fallschirmjäger.Rgt.2, RK 14th June 1941. Wearing the Glider Pilots Badge.

Glider Pilots Badges - 1957.

 

 

Glider Pilots Badges - 1957 - Obverse.

 

 

Glider Pilots Badges - 1957 - Reverse.

 

War Merit Cross, Knights Cross Silver without Swords.

War Merit Cross, Knights Cross Silver without Swords.

Instituted on 19 August 1940

Rarity – Extremely Rare
Known Makers - 1, L/13

Ribbed Suspender.

 

Plain Suspender.

This award takes the basic design of the War Merit Cross Second Class but is larger, measuring 54 mm across the arms and the oak leaf wreath measures 18 mm.  The widths of the arms of the cross are 3 mm.   It was usually produced in genuine silver, with the silver grade ranging from .800 through to .950 but in some examples the cross is but silver-plated and these examples just have the maker's number on the lower arm.  The upper arm has an inverted V attached to it, with three lines on each arm and with an eyelet at its apex.  It is very important at this point to expel a theory that has been in existence for some time that this version came with only a plain hanger.  It is, in fact, found with both ribbed and plain varieties, not only that, they are not all as long as one another.  Also, in the case of the plain type the inverted 'V' is also plain to match the hanger.  Through this eyelet is a ribbed hanger which supports the cross on the neck ribbon.  As with all Knights Crosses it was worn around the neck.  The ribbon comprises of a 46 mm band formed from stripes of 4 mm red, 4 mm white, 22 mm broad black, 4 mm white and 4 mm red.  For the examples of the cross that were awarded, the ends of the ribbon were turned over into a triangle with a length of minute ribbon at each end to act as ties to secure the ribbon around the neck of the recipient.   This is a new and very interesting point.  If one had a short neck, one required a shorter hanger for comfort.  If one had a number of neck decorations, General Otto Stapf for example had both the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross and the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords, the hangers had to be adjusted for the comfort of the wearer, for there was no undress version for wear for either of these orders.  This was also the case of the earlier Pour le Mérite, which a number of staff officers had won in the first world war and had to wear with their second world war counterparts.

     Criteria for the Award were;

It was a prerequisite for a recipient to already hold the War Merit Cross First and Second Class.  Recommendation had to be forwarded through the OKW or state minister to the Reichschancellery where it was personally approved by Hitler.

On 19 August 1940 this cross was introduced to reward the high achievements of the civilian population, civil service and political formations, to encompass military personnel and was for outstanding service in the furtherance of the war effort but not directly connected to combat.   Great ceremony was employed with the award of the Knights Cross decorations and the recipient was usually accompanied at the ceremony by a Knights Cross winner.  The Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross ranked above the German Cross in Silver but below the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross.  Only 48 awards were rendered of this decoration, which made it very prestigious in the eyes of the Nazi hierarchy.  Hitler in fact, circulated a letter from his headquarters on 27 August 1943, outlining the criteria for award and the philosophy surrounding it and directed that 'prominent party comrades' were not to be honoured with this decoration.  A definite jibe at Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring who had coveted the award of the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords.  David Littlejohn premises that this statement, 'prominent party comrades not to be honoured with this decoration', was made because Hitler had The German Order in mind for the 'top brass' of the party.  We know from Albert Speer that Hitler wanted to reward Himmler with something but could not make up his mind just what.  Speer threw out hints that he himself would not be unappreciative of a decoration!  He thinks Hitler intended to see just what each of the top people had contributed to victory, once Hitler had won the war and then starts giving out the German Order in various grades.  The dead had already made their contribution, which is why, Littlejohn suggests, it was mainly dead party comrades who received the rare Order, thus the recommendations for the awards proposed for Gauleiter Koch and Stadtsminister Backe were refused or, more politely, withdrawn.  In one case the cross was awarded in both forms to Reichsverkehrsminister Julius Dortmüller, who received it on 19 September 1943 and was awarded the cross with swords on 24 July 1944.  Conjoined with the award was often a secondary prize as was the case with Dr. Theo Morell who held the post as Hitler's personal physician.  He received Germany's only electron microscope in conjunction with his award.

It has been believed that 118 awards of the cross without swords were rendered.  However, the actual number is 48, as shown by the list of recipients.  Not only that but not all the recipients have been officially recognised in the form of gazetting.  This non public announcing was to ensure the anonymity of the recipient and the work in which he was involved.  This was also common in the awarding of British decorations, thus other awards may come to light.

It was presented in a blue box, with an inside black velvet base, which has a round recess into which the cross and hanger fit.  The upper part of the box above this recess is indented to accommodate the neck ribbon.

  Preliminary Document.     MORELL, Theodor - 24 February 1944 .

 

 

MORELL, Theodor - 24 February 1944 being awarded the Preliminary Document.

War Merit Cross, Knights Cross Silver without Swords Recipients;

 

HAHNE, Franz - 20 May 1942

THOMSEN, Hans - 25 May 1942

DAVIDSHÖFER, Christian - 5 June 1943

HOLTMAYER, Johannes - 5 June 1943

KRAUCH, Carl - 5 June 1943

ROHLAND, Walter - 5 June 1943

SAUR, Karl Otto - 5 June 1943

SAWATZKI, Albin - 5 June 1943

WERNER, William - 5 June 1943

RAHN, Rudolf - 22 June 1943

DORPMÜLLER, Julius - 19 September 1943

DEGENKOLB, Gerhard - 20 September 1943

PIER, Mattias - 20 September 1943

SCHIEBER, Walter - 20 September 1943

ZSCHIRNT, Kurt - 3 October 1943

SAUERBRUCH, Ferdinand-Ernst -

WOLF, Ludwig - 21 October 1943

GRIMM, Fritz-Wilhelm - 7 December 1943

AMBROS, Otto - 1944

BÜTEFISCH, Heinrich - 1944

RICKHEY, Georg Johannes - 1944

WURSTER, Karl - 1944

MORELL, Theodor - 24 February 1944

DOHRN, Hermann - 10 August 1944

HASSENPFLUG, Werner - 12 August 1944

HILDEBRANDT, Hubert - 12 August 1944

PEUCKERT, Rudi Werner - 12 August 1944

TIMM, Max - 12 August 1944

DILLI, Gustav - 14 August 1944

HAYLER, Franz - 16 August 1944

ARPS, Willi - 24 August 1944

ESAU, Abraham - 22 September 1944

KOHNERT, Hans-Joachim - 30 September 1944

BEHRENS, Gustav - 1 October 1944

BLOEDORN, Wilhelm - 1 October 1944

HECHT, Kurt - 1 October 1944

HUBER, Reinhold - 1 October 1944

PFLAUMBAUM, Walter - 1 October 1944

GANZER, Karl-Richard - 15 September 1944

ZSCHIRNT, Kurt - 3 October 1944 (accredited with the award twice)

LINNEMEYER, Werner - 12 October 1944

LIPPISCH, Alexander - 12 October 1944

MESSERSCHMITT, Willy - 12 October 1944

ECKHARDT, Alfred - 7 December 1944

BERTRAM, Richard Wolfgang Paul - 26 December 1944

DARGEL, Paul - 15 January 1945

SCHELP, Fritz - 20 February 1945

BOHRMANN, Otto - 21 February 1945