Does anyone have any info regarding Luftwaffe gebirg troops or pics of gebirg kitted luftwaffe personnel.
Currently on ebay.de there are some interesting pics of Luftwaffe troops with Bergmutzes and edelweiss badges attached.
Thanks in advance.
Luftwaffe Gebirgjaeger
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Heimatschuss
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Hello Spencer,
the Bergmütze was a regular Luftwaffe item for units stationed in mountain areas. It was cut like the Heer Bergmütze but made out of blue-grey Luftwaffe cloth. Using the Edelweiss badge was verboten but occured in some units.
Source: Brian L. Davis, Uniformen und Abzeichen der Luftwaffe 1940-1945, Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart, 2001, pp. 111
Best regards
Torsten
the Bergmütze was a regular Luftwaffe item for units stationed in mountain areas. It was cut like the Heer Bergmütze but made out of blue-grey Luftwaffe cloth. Using the Edelweiss badge was verboten but occured in some units.
Source: Brian L. Davis, Uniformen und Abzeichen der Luftwaffe 1940-1945, Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart, 2001, pp. 111
Best regards
Torsten
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historymuseum2000
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WL Bergemutze
Looking at images of WL Feld division troops one sees many of them wearing the Luftwaffe version of the Bergemutze. for example:
http://www.angelfire.com/tn3/luftwaffef ... 070201.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/tn3/luftwaffef ... os/mp1.jpg
Also in the Davis Luftwaffe book on page 234 that shows FD troop de-training with their winter gear in the spr8ing of 1943. ( They actually look pretty well equipped, complete with revirsable winter uniform.)
I think one of the reasons the FD troops ended up with theh Bergemutzen is they wear viewed in the Luftwaffe eyes as Jaegers so were issued with cap that is associated with Jaegers ( either ski or mountian). Looking at later images of FD troops I believe some of them did get issued the einhietfeldmutze or M43 cap, but this cap was not in issue at the time of the first FD divisions.
take a look at his web site for more cool FD images http://www.angelfire.com/tn3/luftwaffef ... ginal.html
Hope this helps!
Lee
http://www.angelfire.com/tn3/luftwaffef ... 070201.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/tn3/luftwaffef ... os/mp1.jpg
Also in the Davis Luftwaffe book on page 234 that shows FD troop de-training with their winter gear in the spr8ing of 1943. ( They actually look pretty well equipped, complete with revirsable winter uniform.)
I think one of the reasons the FD troops ended up with theh Bergemutzen is they wear viewed in the Luftwaffe eyes as Jaegers so were issued with cap that is associated with Jaegers ( either ski or mountian). Looking at later images of FD troops I believe some of them did get issued the einhietfeldmutze or M43 cap, but this cap was not in issue at the time of the first FD divisions.
take a look at his web site for more cool FD images http://www.angelfire.com/tn3/luftwaffef ... ginal.html
Hope this helps!
Lee
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Simon Orchard
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historymuseum2000
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LW FR 503
Yet another reason why I think the Luftwaffe ground forces is such an interesting subject of study.
They were on every front and every campaign and have such an diversity of roles. I knew that LW troops were stationed in mountaineous areas but I never would have guessed that they would have included transfered GJ officers to keep them from "falling off the mountain!"
I will have to look up LW FR 503.
Lee
They were on every front and every campaign and have such an diversity of roles. I knew that LW troops were stationed in mountaineous areas but I never would have guessed that they would have included transfered GJ officers to keep them from "falling off the mountain!"
I will have to look up LW FR 503.
Lee
Luftwaffen-Feld-Rgt. 503
Ordered formed 1 December 1942 in North Norway and North Finland by OKW, with all formation arrangements to be carried out by Luftgaustab Finnland, for the purpose of “reinforcing the defensive forces in the northern area.” The Regiment comprised three battalions, I. (1. – 4., II. (5. – 8.), and III. (9. – 12.). Each battalion had an authorized allowance of 21 officers, 2 officials (Beamte) and 817 men, with a Regiment total of 67 officers, 6 Beamte and 2,531 men. The battalions were to form at Kemi, Kemijärvi and Kirkenes, and then be employed in the XIX. Gebirgs-Armeekorps area so first line Heer units could be used for other purposes.
In January 1943, III. Btl. was “in formation” at Kirkenes and consisted entirely of personnel from disbanded Luftwaffen-Bau units (construction units, particularly airfield construction). A few weeks later, on 5 February, I. Btl. at Rovaniemi and Vika was ordered to transfer to Kolosjoki, probably to continue its training. The II. Btl. (Maj. Gebhard Gopp), training now completed, transferred from Vadsö on the Fischer Peninsula to the Tana area/166 km NW of Kirkenes on 8 April to reinforce that sector.
On or about 1 November 1943, the Regiment was taken over by the Heer and re-designated Feld-Rgt. 503 (L) and then in June 1944 Grenadier-Brigade 503/20. Gebirgs-Armee.
FpN: (not known)
Kommandeur:
Oberst Ludwig Hasslauer (1 Dec 42 - Aug 43)
Oberst Johannes Belau (Aug 43 - ? )
Sources:
NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-312 roll 1019/frame 656 – this is the actual formation order for the Regiment; roll 1035/frames 070 and 198; roll 1040/frame 942).
The Regiment comprised mostly surplus Luftwaffe personnel who had no more than basic training. Additional infantry training was provided during Dec 42 and Jan - Mar 43 in northern Norway and Finland. My guess is that they were allowed to wear the Bergemutze because of their attachment to the Gebirgs-A.K. and the fact that sufficient stocks of the cap were available in the area. It certainly had nothing to do with any mountain training they received. Of course, it is entirely possible that the photos were taken after 1 November 1943 when the Regiment was absorbed into the Heer and therefore no longer belonged to the Luftwaffe.
--Lorenz
Ordered formed 1 December 1942 in North Norway and North Finland by OKW, with all formation arrangements to be carried out by Luftgaustab Finnland, for the purpose of “reinforcing the defensive forces in the northern area.” The Regiment comprised three battalions, I. (1. – 4., II. (5. – 8.), and III. (9. – 12.). Each battalion had an authorized allowance of 21 officers, 2 officials (Beamte) and 817 men, with a Regiment total of 67 officers, 6 Beamte and 2,531 men. The battalions were to form at Kemi, Kemijärvi and Kirkenes, and then be employed in the XIX. Gebirgs-Armeekorps area so first line Heer units could be used for other purposes.
In January 1943, III. Btl. was “in formation” at Kirkenes and consisted entirely of personnel from disbanded Luftwaffen-Bau units (construction units, particularly airfield construction). A few weeks later, on 5 February, I. Btl. at Rovaniemi and Vika was ordered to transfer to Kolosjoki, probably to continue its training. The II. Btl. (Maj. Gebhard Gopp), training now completed, transferred from Vadsö on the Fischer Peninsula to the Tana area/166 km NW of Kirkenes on 8 April to reinforce that sector.
On or about 1 November 1943, the Regiment was taken over by the Heer and re-designated Feld-Rgt. 503 (L) and then in June 1944 Grenadier-Brigade 503/20. Gebirgs-Armee.
FpN: (not known)
Kommandeur:
Oberst Ludwig Hasslauer (1 Dec 42 - Aug 43)
Oberst Johannes Belau (Aug 43 - ? )
Sources:
NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-312 roll 1019/frame 656 – this is the actual formation order for the Regiment; roll 1035/frames 070 and 198; roll 1040/frame 942).
The Regiment comprised mostly surplus Luftwaffe personnel who had no more than basic training. Additional infantry training was provided during Dec 42 and Jan - Mar 43 in northern Norway and Finland. My guess is that they were allowed to wear the Bergemutze because of their attachment to the Gebirgs-A.K. and the fact that sufficient stocks of the cap were available in the area. It certainly had nothing to do with any mountain training they received. Of course, it is entirely possible that the photos were taken after 1 November 1943 when the Regiment was absorbed into the Heer and therefore no longer belonged to the Luftwaffe.
--Lorenz
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Simon Orchard
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I have an Oberst Götz listed as commander of the brigade in May 45. By then it was stationed in the Bjørnfjell area in the mountains East of Narvik, defending the Swedish\Norwegian border.
The unit produced one knights cross winner, Major Georg Gebhard, commander of the III Btl.. He was a gebirgsjäger transferred in Feb.44 from GJR 143 of the 6 Geb.Div. Photos of Gebhard taken after the award of his RK show him still wearing the regular uniform of a gebirgsjäger.
The unit produced one knights cross winner, Major Georg Gebhard, commander of the III Btl.. He was a gebirgsjäger transferred in Feb.44 from GJR 143 of the 6 Geb.Div. Photos of Gebhard taken after the award of his RK show him still wearing the regular uniform of a gebirgsjäger.
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Simon Orchard
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Simon Orchard
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Here's a scan from a Soldbuch in my collection. It's to a soldier that was transferred to the 14 LW Div. stationed in the Bodø area of North Norway.
In may 44, whilst the Jäger Rgt. 28 (L) of the division you can see that he was issued a bergmutze, berghose (mountain trousers) and gelenkbinden (ankle puttees) from the 'gebirgs dienst' or mountain service special equipment section of the uniform issue pages of his soldbuch.
In may 44, whilst the Jäger Rgt. 28 (L) of the division you can see that he was issued a bergmutze, berghose (mountain trousers) and gelenkbinden (ankle puttees) from the 'gebirgs dienst' or mountain service special equipment section of the uniform issue pages of his soldbuch.
By May 1944, the 14. Lw.-Felddivision, as did all of the other former Lw.-Felddivisionen, belonged to the Heer and not the Luftwaffe. So it is beginning to look that with effect on the changeover date (1 Nov 43), they started drawing Heer equipment that was normally issued for that area in the Arctic north, including the Berg- this and that. I would be surprised if they were authorized Heer uniforms and related equipment before that date. The Luftwaffe had cold weather gear for its field troops, but whether that was the same as or differed from the Heer gear is something I don't know. I'm not a uniform/equipment specialist, so I can't really comment with authority on the subject.
--Lorenz
--Lorenz
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Simon Orchard
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I should have mentioned that the above soldier was previously with a Heer division but was transferred to the 14 Div. at the beginning of 1944. His soldbuch is a blue luftwaffe one and the clothing issue scales you see here are from the luftwaffe's own system (subsections in it include flight gear and as you can see FJ gear)