Germany 4

NSDAP National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party) This uniform is that of the only member of the "All Forces" collection who is not a military officer. Nor does he bear rank, in the traditional military sense. As a "Kreisleiter," he is political leader over a Kreis -- a district typically taking in several small towns. The scope of his responsibility might equate roughly to that of an army Colonel. In addition to the coveted Blood Order medal, he wears the German Order, which Hitler himself is reported to have called the highest of all German decorations.
Of course, the gold party membership pin in the center makes it clear that only NSDAP members were eligible for the award. Although he shuns personal jewellery he does wear a NSDAP wedding ring. In dress uniform he wears his SA Presentation Dagger on his left hip.
	Hauptsturmführer; Allgemeine SS It seems that this 8-year veteran should have advanced higher than captain by now. The possible explanation is twofold: First, his 8-year N.S.D.A.P service ribbon applies to membership in the party, not in the SS (he has 4 years of service in the SS). And second, the chevrons on his right arm identify him as a former police officer, not a soldier. He is also wearing two memorial party Gau badges, including the 1925 badge (when Hitler reformed the NSDAP and took control of it) and the East Prussia Gau badge (details).
He also has, but does not wear, the 1925/35 Commemorative Gau badge. Gau badges were civilian in nature but the SS were allowed to wear a mixture of civilian and military badges. He also wears his gold NAZI party membership pin, and of course the distinctive black-bordered SS party member armband. His hat bears the Death's Head badge or Totenkopf, the dreaded SS insignia.

Hauptmann, Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger

Parachutists of the German Luftwaffe were called Fallschirmjäger, literally "parachute hunters."

They were considered elite light infantry.

Over his field-blue ("feldblau") Luftwaffe tunic, this Fallschirmjäger Hauptman wears a "knochensack" (jump smock) in 3rd-pattern "tan-water" camouflage.

His M-38 parachutist's helmet bears the German national tri-color shield decal on its right side and the Luftwaffe's eagle emblem on its left.

Many paratroopers added homemade camouflage paint schemes to their combat helmets.

Chicken-wire rigs like the one shown were a common way of attaching leaves and branches as additional camouflage; other methods included string-mesh netting and simple elastic bands or the strap of a bread bag. Insignia other than sleeve rank were not authorized on the jump-smock except in parade dress or, as seen here, for portraits. Of course, like all rules in all armies, it was often ignored as seen here in a period photo.

This Hauptmann's decorations include the German Cross in Gold, displayed below the embroidered Luftwaffe breast eagle zig-zag stitched to his jump smock. On his left chest is a ribbon bar showing the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords and a 4-year Long Service medal ribbon. It bears the Wehrmacht spread wing eagle device for his early Heer service (1935-39); The other is a 12 year service medal ribbon with the Luftwaffe silver flying eagle device (1939-43). The medals were identical for all military services, branch of service was indicated by the device. All military service counted and war-time service counted as double. Last on his ribbon bar is the ribbon representing the Sudetenland Campaign medal with Prague Castle device.

Beneath these ribbons is the Iron Cross First Class, and below it, closest to his heart, is the 1937-issue first pattern Army (Heer) Fallschirmspringerabzeichen (Parachute Jumper [qualification] Badge) he won as an early member of the Army's elite Fallschirm-Infanterie-Bataillon, or Parachute Infantry Battalion. (This battalion was transferred to the Luftwaffe at the beginning of 1939, becoming II./ Fallschirmjäger Regiment 1.)

The Heer badge had an oak-leaf wreath surmounted by a small Wehrmacht eagle clutching a swastika. In the later Luftwaffe version there is no Wehrmacht eagle; the large diving eagle itself clutches the swastika. The Luftwaffe version also introduces laurel leaves on one side of the wreath. Oak leaves are a symbol of strength. Laurel leaves, ever since ancient Greek athletes were first crowned with them, represent victory, excellence and achievement. Thus both are fitting in a badge awarded to the elite paratroopers who qualified for it by completing both rigorous training and an exacting test. In the case of the Fallschirmjager, that test comprised no less than six parachute jumps, including one at night.

As a participant in three subsequent combat operations, this officer also wears the Luftwaffe "Erdkampfabzeichen," or Ground Assault Badge.

Lowermost of his decorations is the Wound Badge in Black, recognizing his two combat wounds. The two buttonhole ribbons he has inserted into a hand-cut slit in his jump smock represent the Iron Cross 2nd Class and the "Winterschlact" (Winter Battle) medal, officially called the Ostfront (Eastern Front) Campaign medal, for participation in the invasion of Soviet Russia.

He wears an enlisted ranks belt rather than the authorized officer's version, as a gesture of solidarity with his men and also as a memento of his enlisted roots. One of the interesting things about the Fallschirmjäger uniform was side laced jump-boots.

Starting from a small collection of Fallschirmjäger battalions at the beginning of the war, the Luftwaffe built up a division-sized unit of three Fallschirmjäger regiments plus supporting arms and air assets, known as the 7th Air Division. Later in the war the 7th Air Division's Fallschirmjäger assets were reorganized and used as the core of a new series of elite Luftwaffe infantry divisions, numbered in a series beginning with the 1st Fallschirmjäger Division.

During the Battle of Monte Cassino the 1st Fallschirmjäger Division operated as ordinary infantry. When the Allies bombed the Monastery of Monte Cassino they inadvertently created an excellent fortress of rubble. This enabled the still-present Fallschirmjäger troops to hold out for months against repeated assaults and heavy bombardment. They were nicknamed "Green Devils" by the Allied forces for their tenacious defense, though they were finally forced out of the position by British, Polish and French Moroccan forces.

"No other troops in the world but German paratroops could have stood up to such an ordeal and then gone on fighting with such ferocity" — (British) Field Marshall Alexander.

Out of view in a special pocket on this Fallschirmjäger's trouser-leg is his gravity knife, which was issued to paratroops in case they had to cut themselves free from a parachute that had become tangled in a tree or other obstruction. A gravity knife is so named because it can be opened solely by the forces of gravity or centripetal force. The blade exits out the front of the handle point-first and locks into place.

Tucked into the Hauptmann's belt is an M-24 "potato masher" stick grenade. His sidearm is the Walther P-38 pistol. The P-38 was preferred by many Fallshirmjäger officers because it was more reliable and easier to maintain than the famous Luger P-08, and fired the same 9-mm parabellum ammunition used in German submachine guns.

The "Green Devil" was later included into the Unit's unofficial logo as well as that of other associated Units. The one seen here is from the Fallschirmjäger Pionier Batallion 1 and is a combination of the famous 1st FJ Division Green Devil and the LL Sturm Regiment Komet. Both units had served at Monte Cassino.

The weapon he holds is the 7.62-mm FG-42 rifle, which was created exclusively for Germany's parachute regiments. FG stands for "FallshirmjägerGewehr," or "paratrooper's rifle."

The blue polka-dot scarf was a popular accessory with some Fallschirmjäger units. Of course he also wears the Fallschirmjäger ring in silver.

Hauptmann Luftwaffe FJ

in M40 Fliegerbluse and Fliegermutze

This Hauptmann of the Fallschirmjäger wears a popular combination for everyday duty throughout the Luftwaffe, the M40 "fliegerbluse" or flyer's blouse, along with the lightweight M40 "fliegermutze" (flyer's cap). The fliegerbluse was descended from field blouses worn by German troops during WWI.

Standard-issue versions of the fliegerbluse featured plastic or glass buttons hidden by the center flap, a hook-and-eye closure at the collar, and a streamlined torso with no external breast pockets. This Hauptmann's custom-tailored version also has sewn-in shoulder-boards.

As an officer, his collar and his cap are piped in silver-white braid. His tunic displays the Iron Cross 1st Class embroidered cloth version and his Luftwaffe "Fallschirmspringerabzeichen" (parachutist's badge), bullion version. On his cap is pinned the metal parachute badge of the 1st Fallschirmjäger Regiment in the Italian Theatre, which was an official German badge manufactured in Italy.

The 'Kreta' cuff title was awarded to participants in the battle to re-take Crete from the British in May 1941, where this officer and his men parachuted onto Retimo Airfield to lead the ultimately successful attack, codenamed "Operation Mercury." His men held him in high esteem as a result of his personal heroism so did Generaloberst Student, who awarded him the Kreta Shield. Although successful, the spirited resistance of Australian & New Zealand troops at Retimo made it so costly to the German paras that Hitler banned any further para-assaults.