Glider pilot badge

The glider pilot badge in its foundation-like version

Depiction of the glider pilot badge in the 57 version

The glider pilot badge was donated on December 16, 1940 by the Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force Hermann Göring and could be awarded to members of the Air Force who had proven themselves and distinguished themselves after acquiring the glider license L.

prehistory

The original idea for creating this badge came from the 7th Aviation Division (a parachute unit) under the command of Lieutenant General Richard Putzier . The Reich Aviation Ministry , headed by Field Marshal Erhard Milch , then asked the 7th Aviation Division to submit several drafts, which subsequently happened. After Göring had approved the draft of the graphic artist Wilhelm Ernst Peekaus to be implemented , the company CE Junker from Berlin made a first sample and only a little later in autumn 1940 the production of the glider pilot's badge began, which was then donated on December 16, 1940.

Foundation content

The Luftwaffe glider pilot badge could only be awarded to active soldiers, even if they were on leave and had the appropriate probation as well as the acquisition of the glider license L. The same also applied to civil servants and members of the engineer and nautical corps when they were soldiers on leave. If the entrusted had been in possession of the glider pilot's badge (or another Luftwaffe badge ) for at least four years and left the service of the Luftwaffe with honor, he was awarded the pilot's commemorative badge instead , and earlier if he left due to accidents through no fault of his own.

Appearance

The oval badge is made of a dense wreath of oak leaves , which has a height of about 55 mm and a width of about 42 mm and is made of silver-plated fine zinc or non-ferrous metal . On the oak wreath lies an oxidized eagle flying to the left , which is supposed to symbolize the gliding and hovering of a glider . The back is connected to the wreath with two rivets . The eagle itself has a wingspan of 53 mm and a height of around 15 mm. The swastika can be seen in the lower intersection of the wreath .

Carrying method

In the first years of his foundation, the glider pilot badge was only allowed to be worn as a military badge of honor with the uniform of the Wehrmacht (Air Force) or with the uniform of the National Socialist Aviation Corps as a plug-in badge on the left side of the chest, if the Iron Cross was awarded under this. It could also be worn on an equal footing with a pilot's badge from World War 1914/18. However, it was not permitted to wear the glider pilot's badge in addition to any other Luftwaffe job badge, with the exception of the Luftwaffe parachute gunner badge. Incidentally, wearing the badge with civil clothing, even as a miniature, was punishable by law. In addition to the metal badge, there was also an embroidered version, but this was discontinued on May 8, 1942 and no longer issued. From November 29, 1943, the badge could then also be worn with all party uniforms of the NSDAP .

Prices

The metal badge cost around 5 Reichsmarks , machine-embroidered 0.90 RM and the hand-embroidered version 7.50 RM.

Others

According to the law on titles, medals and decorations of July 26, 1957, the wearing of awards from the time of National Socialism in the Federal Republic of Germany is only permitted without National Socialist emblems.

literature

• Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann : German Awards. Volume 2: German Empire: 1871–1945. The Order Collection, Berlin 1971.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Uniform Markt magazine, issue 2 of January 15, 1941, pages 15 and 16