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#57903 05/18/2006 02:29 PM
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Chris M Offline OP
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I thought it would be interesting to start a thread to look at some photos of former paratroopers in unusual situations during the war. While we normally think of Fallschirmjäger remaining with FJ units throughout the war, in fact, quite a few migrated elsewhere. Here's one to start with...

HJ_Leader_GDC.jpg (72.06 KB, 823 downloads)
#57904 05/18/2006 03:16 PM
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A rather fine example for HJ members.I'm sure an individual like this was looked up to by the youth.


You know you're over the hill when "Happy Hour" means Nap Time


#57905 06/10/2006 04:57 PM
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Excellent photo for us badge enthusiastists. Appreciate seeing it!
Wish I had something to share.

--dj--joe


<BR>
#57906 06/19/2006 05:32 PM
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Chris M Offline OP
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Here's another unusual one...

RAD_man_para_badge_GDF.jpg (38.74 KB, 682 downloads)
#57907 06/19/2006 06:31 PM
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Second photo is he a RAD man? You have to wonder if they were injuried or did there time as FJ and tranfered into other branches Cool


You know you're over the hill when "Happy Hour" means Nap Time


#57908 06/19/2006 09:41 PM
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Chris M Offline OP
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He is an RAD man. I have no idea why he's wearing that badge.

#57909 06/20/2006 09:03 PM
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Not sure it applys in this instance, a number of service members had dual
membership in various organizations.
Thanks for sharing another interesting image.

--dj--Joe


<BR>
#57910 06/23/2006 01:52 AM
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Fallschrim-digger...


JERRY
GDC GOLD #0213

www.militarycollectorsHQ.com
#57911 07/17/2006 05:22 AM
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Chris M Offline OP
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Here's another interesting one...

Technical_officer_with_badge.jpg (60.57 KB, 525 downloads)
#57912 10/01/2006 10:02 PM
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Chris M Offline OP
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This soldier earned a para badge and a Krim Shield in one of the two possible ways to earn this combination of awards.

Begander_JPEG_1.jpg (24.04 KB, 418 downloads)
#57913 10/01/2006 10:04 PM
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Chris M Offline OP
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And this guy earned them the other way.

Krim_para_JPEG_1.jpg (34.71 KB, 412 downloads)
#57914 11/10/2006 03:13 PM
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Chris M Offline OP
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Here's another interesting one. A LW Forestry official, fairly late in the war I would say.

LW_Forrestry_Official.jpg (44.98 KB, 330 downloads)
#57915 11/10/2006 06:56 PM
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Poignant images. The awards tell a tale.

Thanks for posting them.

--dj--Joe


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#57916 11/11/2006 01:29 AM
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Chris M Offline OP
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The underlying historical question is, what was the attrition rate from the Fallschirmjäger of trained jumpers? I think we tend to assume that once a man was a paratrooper, he stayed a paratrooper. But clearly, from period photos, there is evidence that a statistically significant number left the Luftwaffe after getting their jump badges. How many, I wonder?

#57917 11/19/2006 04:44 AM
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I am assuming that all of these men were injured/wounded. As they were not fit for duty for the front line units, they could fill billets in the other paramiltary organizations.

I really like that Wartime official!!

#57918 11/21/2006 01:53 AM
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Chris M Offline OP
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That's what I'm wondering. We've always sort of assumed that once a guy was a para, he stayed a para unless he was invalided out. But the army guy in the photo above, Paul Begander, wasn't wounded. After jumping into Holland, he just decided he didn't want to be a paratrooper anymore and transfered to the army. And the RAD guy, the forrestry official and the HJ Leader with badges look pretty healthy. I'm just curious what the voluntary attrition rate was from the FJ.

#57919 02/21/2007 03:37 AM
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Chris M Offline OP
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Here is another fascinating photo. A man named Gerhard Blockhaus, wearing a police uniform, courtesy of the Eric Queen archives.

really_odd_uniform.jpg (65.86 KB, 204 downloads)
#57920 05/17/2007 03:04 PM
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While the possibility of a transfer to other branches was certainly feasible early in the war, as the war progressed, i would think that the drain reversed in the direction of the FJ.

In many instances, transfers were allowed into areas of the military that were understaffed due to expansion or heavy casulties (e.g. the number of army personnel who transferred to the Luftwaffe due to massive losses of trained pilots after the Battle of Britain and the invasion of the U.S.S.R.)

Near the end of the war, all able bodied men were being directed to ad hoc units, and what these pictures don't tell is how many were called back due to previous training or expertise.

One would think that a trained FJ would be wasted in the police or in the forestry dept.

#57921 05/17/2007 04:19 PM
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G
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photo credit ,,from Military Fundforum.


Not a odd place ,,,but maybe an odd amount [many] for such a young soldier!

FJ.jpg (90.6 KB, 164 downloads)
#57922 05/17/2007 04:31 PM
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G
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photo credit - Robert Hassler.

On an SS man......

SSpara.jpg (31 KB, 156 downloads)
#57923 05/18/2007 06:14 PM
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notice the kid with the badges has 3 tank destruction awards on his arm!! Mike

#57924 05/19/2007 01:54 AM
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About the kid with 3 stripes on his arm: all off a sudden I had this vision of him receiving a letter of his girlfriend breaking up with him. He trying to shrug it off with some T34's suddenly being decorated with all these fancy stripes. Looking puzzled at the camera.

#57925 05/19/2007 01:59 AM
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Chris M Offline OP
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I own the original of the photo of the FJ with three tank destruction strips. I don't know why the "MFF" is claiming it, but they don't own it.

#57926 05/19/2007 02:27 AM
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Chris,, MFF is a German language forum only.. My German is worse than terrible! I don't think they are claiming its their photo. I saw it on one of their topics a while ago and saved it. Don't remember who actually put it on so I credited the forum as a whole. Any photo posted on that site gets their MFF marker on it..

Please accept my apologies...If I knew it was yours I would have asked your permission... A great photo though!! ,,G.

*

#57927 05/19/2007 01:56 PM
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When I was in the US Army, not all graduates of the parachute school became paratroopers right after graduation. Many men attended the course and went to on to non-paratrooper duties. Same with Ranger School.

As I remember, selected members of our Air Force and Navy also went through that course as well as officers of the armed forces of our allies.

Perhaps it was the same in Germany before WWII started.

Dave

#57928 05/19/2007 04:44 PM
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Chris M Offline OP
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Dave, based on what I know, I don't think so.

Gaspare, no worries, photos get around in this hobby. It's an interesting photo for sure.


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