Help ID German Uniform - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

KOMalta · #1 15-07-20, 08:25 PM

Need some help identifying the German uniform below.

Thank you.

Vincent

leigh kitchen · #2 15-07-20, 08:26 PM

Luftwaffe, can't remember the rank offhand, he's wearing the Iron Cross 1st Class, no ribbon of its 2nd Class is visible.

54Bty · #3 15-07-20, 09:50 PM

Luftwaffe, Flieger (Private).

Marc

KOMalta · #4 15-07-20, 09:54 PM

As the story goes his Iron Cross 1st Class was won during WWI while as a Lieutenant with the army. Not aware of having been awarded the 2nd Class. Joined WWII late during the war, circa 1944, however i thought with the Volkssturm! Not much more information however!

Thanks

NEMO · #5 16-07-20, 12:29 PM

iIT does look like an Imperial example not a ww.2 Iron cross , slight differences

leigh kitchen · #6 16-07-20, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 54Bty

Luftwaffe, Flieger (Private).

Marc

Given the braiding on collar and shoulder straps is he not an Unteroffizier?

I can't guess at his branch in terms of colour of waffenfarbe.

54Bty · #7 16-07-20, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

Given the braiding on collar and shoulder straps is he not an Unteroffizier?

You are correct. I need to look closer.

Marc

KOMalta · #8 18-07-20, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

Given the braiding on collar and shoulder straps is he not an Unteroffizier?

Seems to be an Unteroffizier from the Luftwaffe ranking charts on Wikipedia.

RSM · #9 18-07-20, 08:08 PM

Strangely missing the distinctive Luftwaffe breast eagle on his tunic. Wonder why that is?

leigh kitchen · #10 18-07-20, 08:20 PM

I'm not sure if there is "something" where the eagle should be.

Chipper · #11 18-07-20, 08:42 PM

Hi, just an aside, the Iron cross was a step award, so, you had to have been awarded the 2nd class to then receive the 1st class and so on

cheers, Tim

KOMalta · #12 18-07-20, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chipper

Hi, just an aside, the Iron cross was a step award, so, you had to have been awarded the 2nd class to then receive the 1st class and so on

cheers, Tim

I'm at a loss when it comes to German awards and rankings as you might have noticed.

So should he be wearing the button hole ribbon or the Iron Cross 2nd Class itself besides the Iron Cross 1st Class? If so, why would you think he's not wearing it?

My interest is personal and would like to gather as much information as i could!

Thank you all for the information so far. I would love to get to the bottom of this.

Regards,
Vincent

leigh kitchen · #13 19-07-20, 07:55 AM

I think the Iron Cross 2nd Class ribbon would be worn on the left breast, there being no visible button hole.
I wonder if the photo is of a PW with the breast eagle removed and an Iron Cross 1st Class that hasn't been "souvenired" by his captors.
It looks like there's a badge on the left arm?

KOMalta · #14 19-07-20, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

I think the Iron Cross 2nd Class ribbon would be worn on the left breast, there being no visible button hole.
I wonder if the photo is of a PW with the breast eagle removed and an Iron Cross 1st Class that hasn't been "souvenired" by his captors.
It looks like there's a badge on the left arm?

The photo was taken with his family and cropped. Actually what you see on his left arm is part of his son's ear!

#15 19-07-20, 10:53 AM

I could quite easily see him, giving away his 'eagle' to a brother or nephew on a family visit. - Regards Mark