Air Force Ground Combat Badge

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Earth combat badge in the 5th level with number 100

The Luftwaffe ground combat badge was donated on March 31, 1942 by the Air Force Commander in Chief Hermann Göring and was awarded to members of the Luftwaffe who had proven themselves through "excellent combat performance" in ground combat, analogous to the army's infantry assault badge .

Correct way of wearing the ground combat badge on a flak soldier's tunic
Image of the Luftwaffe's ground combat badge from the post-war period without a swastika (57 version)

Award terms

The award was only intended for individuals and not an honorary option. From January 28, 1943, the ground combat badge could also be awarded to members of the air news and air force medical personnel. To the latter with special probation in the care and rescue of wounded and injured under enemy fire. As of February 22, 1943, posthumous awards were also possible.

General requirements for the award

  • Participation in combat operations, fighting bravely on the front lines on three different days
    • Combat operations, regardless of whether they were carried out with infantry or artillery weapons, were assault attacks or close combat (man against man)
    • The assault could be seen as an attack that had at least led to a break-in into the enemy position. For heavy infantry and artillery weapons, the term "assault" was fulfilled if they had carried out the assault together with the storming troops and helped to force the break-in through their use in the close combat area.

The mere participation in successful combat operations or merit in the command of the troops were not enough to be awarded the ground combat badge. For fights against air targets, the award of the ground combat badge was not an option , but the flak combat badge of the Air Force. The entrusted received a certificate of ownership with the award of the award.

stages

Originally only donated in one level, the further course of the war finally made it necessary to create higher levels for the earth combat badge. This was due to the fact that more and more members of the Air Force field divisions had over-fulfilled the conditions for awarding the ground combat badge. With an order of November 10, 1944, Göring finally approved their introduction. The resulting grading was:

  • 1st level - ground combat badge
  • 2nd level - with stakes 25
  • 3rd level - with 50 stakes
  • 4th level - with stakes 75
  • 5th level - with stakes 100

However, according to the current state of knowledge, the award of the Luftwaffe's ground combat badge with number of operations has not taken place. Individual entries in the pay register for the pieces with the number of stakes can be documented.

Appearance

The oval badge (based on a design by Sigmund von Weech ) shows a lightning bolt in the middle that strikes the earth from a dark cloud. It is enclosed by a wreath made of oak leaves . On the cloud you can see the national badge of the Luftwaffe, an eagle flying to the right with the swastika in its claws.

Carrying method

The Luftwaffe's ground combat badge could be worn by officers in metal thread embroidery and by the men in thread embroidery. As a rule, however, the badge was worn in the non-ferrous metal version as a cross on the left chest. It could also be worn with all party and state uniforms. A reduced form (16 mm needle) of the badge on the left cloak of the skirt was allowed to be worn with civilian clothing. According to the law on titles, medals and decorations of July 26, 1957, wearing the award in the Federal Republic of Germany is only permitted without National Socialist emblems.

Others

Air force members who had previously acquired a weapon badge of the Army (e.g. assault badge or infantry assault badge ) were ordered to be exchanged for the Luftwaffe's ground combat badge.

literature

  • Heinrich Doehle : The awards of the Greater German Reich. Orders, decorations, badges. 5th edition, licensed edition. Patzwall, Norderstedt 2000, ISBN 3-931533-43-3 .
  • Hans-Ulrich Krantz: Orders and decorations of the Federal Republic of Germany. Maximilian, Cologne 1958.
  • Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann : Awards of the German Empire. 1936-1945. Motorbuch, Stuttgart 1981, ISBN 3-87943-689-4 .

Individual evidence

  • Luftwaffe Ordinance Sheet 1942, 15th edition, page 479, item 921.