#57903
05/18/2006 02:29 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244
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OP
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244 |
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...
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#57904
05/18/2006 03:16 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,945
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,945 |
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
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#57905
06/10/2006 04:57 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,794 Likes: 11
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,794 Likes: 11 |
Excellent photo for us badge enthusiastists. Appreciate seeing it! Wish I had something to share.
--dj--joe
<BR>
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#57906
06/19/2006 05:32 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244
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OP
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244 |
Here's another unusual one...
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#57907
06/19/2006 06:31 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,945
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,945 |
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
You know you're over the hill when "Happy Hour" means Nap Time
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#57908
06/19/2006 09:41 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244
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OP
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244 |
He is an RAD man. I have no idea why he's wearing that badge.
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#57909
06/20/2006 09:03 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,794 Likes: 11
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,794 Likes: 11 |
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>
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#57910
06/23/2006 01:52 AM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,439
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,439 |
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#57911
07/17/2006 05:22 AM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244
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OP
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244 |
Here's another interesting one...
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#57912
10/01/2006 10:02 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244
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OP
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244 |
This soldier earned a para badge and a Krim Shield in one of the two possible ways to earn this combination of awards.
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#57913
10/01/2006 10:04 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244
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OP
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244 |
And this guy earned them the other way.
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#57914
11/10/2006 03:13 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244
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OP
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244 |
Here's another interesting one. A LW Forestry official, fairly late in the war I would say.
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#57915
11/10/2006 06:56 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,794 Likes: 11
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,794 Likes: 11 |
Poignant images. The awards tell a tale.
Thanks for posting them.
--dj--Joe
<BR>
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#57916
11/11/2006 01:29 AM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244
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OP
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244 |
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?
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#57917
11/19/2006 04:44 AM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 712
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 712 |
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!!
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#57918
11/21/2006 01:53 AM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244
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OP
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244 |
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.
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#57919
02/21/2007 03:37 AM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244
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OP
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244 |
Here is another fascinating photo. A man named Gerhard Blockhaus, wearing a police uniform, courtesy of the Eric Queen archives.
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#57920
05/17/2007 03:04 PM
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,286
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,286 |
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.
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#57921
05/17/2007 04:19 PM
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12,100 Likes: 275
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12,100 Likes: 275 |
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)
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#57922
05/17/2007 04:31 PM
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12,100 Likes: 275
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12,100 Likes: 275 |
photo credit - Robert Hassler.
On an SS man......
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#57923
05/18/2007 06:14 PM
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,292
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,292 |
notice the kid with the badges has 3 tank destruction awards on his arm!! Mike
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#57924
05/19/2007 01:54 AM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 25
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 25 |
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.
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#57925
05/19/2007 01:59 AM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244
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OP
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244 |
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.
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#57926
05/19/2007 02:27 AM
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12,100 Likes: 275
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12,100 Likes: 275 |
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.
*
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#57927
05/19/2007 01:56 PM
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 15,084 Likes: 96
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 15,084 Likes: 96 |
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
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#57928
05/19/2007 04:44 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244
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OP
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244 |
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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