medics of the ss and fallschirmjager

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airborne medic
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medics of the ss and fallschirmjager

Post by airborne medic »

Hi, I would like to know about the medics who served in the ss and as fallschirmjager as my grandfather was a british paratrooper at monte cassino and my great uncle was a paratrooper in arnheim. both were treated by the "enemy" medics with great respect and skill. My grandfather said it was because they were all paras together that was why they had good treatment!!! So did my great uncle, he said the ss were respectful of our paratroopers. So any help, book titles, pictures etc would be so welcome.
Im ex para, having served with 23 Parachute Field Ambulance all over the world, so I do have a keen interest in this subject!
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Doktor Krollspell
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Post by Doktor Krollspell »

Hello Airborne medic and welcome to Feldgrau!

The most famous Fallschirmjäger Doktor was probably Oberstabsarzt Dr. Heinrich Neumann, one of several medical Doktors that recieved the Knight's Cross and other high awards. For listings and discussion on highly decorated medical personel from the Heer, Luftwaffe and Waffen-SS, see the following thread...

http://www.feldgrau.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=20535


Oberstabsarzt Dr. Heinrich Neumann
Image
http://presentations.uib.no/pls/portal/ ... _PART.show


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Krollspell
"Wie es eigentlich gewesen ist"
Leopold von Ranke (1795-1886)
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Post by airborne medic »

I followed the link, very interesting! I note that someone spoke of there being no members of the ss as medics awarded the iron cross? I find that hard to believe!
The unit that my great uncle was a prisoner of was indeed the ss, a panzer group "resting" in arnheim!! We all know that story, but the medics there had the ribbons for the iron cross. My great uncle kept in touch with one after the war and if I can find the photo, it shows them both in uniform together taken by one of the other soldiers of the ss.
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Christoph Awender
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Post by Christoph Awender »

They speak about the Ritterkreuz not the Eisernes Kreuz.

\Christoph
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Post by airborne medic »

oh right!!please excuse my ignorance!!! can you suggest a good book on the history of these guys, if one has been written, about the medics of the elite forces?
I have tried to find photographs showing the full uniforms of the medics too, but without much luck. can anyone help? i am especially interested in the fallschirmjager uniform of the medics.
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Christoph Awender
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Post by Christoph Awender »

Fallschirmjäger and Waffen-SS medics looked the same as all other medics. Look at the uniform the unit of the medic is wearing... add medic pouches and a red cross armband... voila .. you have a medic.

\Christoph
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Post by Sani116 »

Come now christoph, SS medics looked similar - but did not look "the same" as Wehrmacht medics. SS medical staff used diamond sleeve insignia on black backed wool with a white snake and staff - these were also applied to the M43 caps. Apart from that airborne medic he (Christoph) is right, the kit was the same. It was just the look that was different.

Luftwaffe medics had the same sleeve insignia (the Asclepius snake/staff) as the wehrmacht, only the backing of the wool was blue rather than feldgrau or darkgreen (almost black).

For further information on the medical corps why not visit Christophs website? http://www.wwiidaybyday.com/ Or purchase the book "The German Army Medical Corps in World War II by Wolfgang Fleischer".

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Tom.
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Christoph Awender
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Post by Christoph Awender »

Tom

Not all "medics" were medical NCO´s or medical soldiers (San.Soldaten) with the medical specialist badge. Heer medical NCO´s had the badge on the right lower arm while Luftwaffe medical NCO´s had it on the left lower arm.
A large percentage of Waffen-SS medical NCO´s were trained in Heer schools and had the Heer version of the medical specialist badge.

\Christoph
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Post by Doktor Krollspell »

For Christoph,

I've read that the main SS Medical faculty was at the University of Graz, Steiermark, between 1938 and 1945. Was there any other SS run/orientated medical faculties besides this? And did the Heer have any Heer run/orientated Medical Faculties from where their Doctors graduated? Or was it so that most Heer (Wehrmacht) Doctors had graduated from ordinary (civilian) medical faculties? I suppose that most of them who had worked for a while must have been from civilian universities...


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Krollspell
"Wie es eigentlich gewesen ist"
Leopold von Ranke (1795-1886)
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Sani116
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Post by Sani116 »

Christoph Awender wrote:Tom

Not all "medics" were medical NCO´s or medical soldiers (San.Soldaten) with the medical specialist badge. Heer medical NCO´s had the badge on the right lower arm while Luftwaffe medical NCO´s had it on the left lower arm.
A large percentage of Waffen-SS medical NCO´s were trained in Heer schools and had the Heer version of the medical specialist badge.

\Christoph
Yes thats true...which proves the diversity of the German forces. It also proves they didnt all look the same. :wink:

Cheers bud.
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Post by Christoph Awender »

Yes thats true...which proves the diversity of the German forces. It also proves they didnt all look the same.

Cheers bud.
Krankenträger looked the same and that is what I think first when someone asks about medics. Probably a language thing.
I've read that the main SS Medical faculty was at the University of Graz, Steiermark, between 1938 and 1945. Was there any other SS run/orientated medical faculties besides this? And did the Heer have any Heer run/orientated Medical Faculties from where their Doctors graduated? Or was it so that most Heer (Wehrmacht) Doctors had graduated from ordinary (civilian) medical faculties? I suppose that most of them who had worked for a while must have been from civilian universities...
The main facility of training of medical officers and research in all aspects of military medicine was the Militärärztliche Akademie in Berlin.
Medics of all branches were trained in the San.Ersatz-Abteilungen.

\Christoph
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Post by Doktor Krollspell »

Thanks for the information Christoph!


Regards,

Krollspell
"Wie es eigentlich gewesen ist"
Leopold von Ranke (1795-1886)
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