Gentlemen,
I've had this thread ready for osme time but never got around to starting it. Another ecent thread on the forum re an unknown shoulder board where we got into discussing BWFW shoulder board ranks prompted me to get this thread under way. The first blurb in quotes is from a chap I have corresponded with re BWFW. Unfortunately he had nothing new to add since he posted his comments on the DDR Forum a couple of years ago. I've added a comment or two.
"The Bundeswehr Brandschutz are actually a part of the Bundeswehr and go through a year and a half of training in both specialized Bundeswehr training courses and training with local firefighters before they actual becoming fully active. I have never been able to find much well defined information on them but I believe the Bundeswehr Brandschutz can be an alternate option to the required military service (I beleive he is correct here at least for one period of time) and they are stationed on or near military bases and other federal structures/regions. I am not sure if they have civilian status. (They do.) They are also required to earn the DSB sports badge and the DLRG swimming rescue badge during this training period.
The uniform pictured is for the rank: Feuerwehrmann (tunic is from my collection) -- basically a private in the federal fire protection services, but I don't think any rank insignia is used until they have passed the required training. The epaulet rank system is based on a series of mellino colored bars and silver pips. I have never seen any collar insignia used so I have no idea if they used the crossed axes and helmet insignia. (They did not) But they did use the insignia on their gray berets. They were still wearing these uniforms in 2000 so I think they are still being used."
I've posted pictures of the grey beret from my collection before and I will add it to this thread later. I have never seen the BWFW in a grey uniform but the fact that a grey beret exists in collections indicates they may have changed from the blue uniform to a grey uniform at some time.
One comment of the photo of the tunic. The old style leather name tag should be fastened to the button under the pocket flap and not on top of it. I didn't realize that until after I took the photo.
Regards,
Gordon
I've had this thread ready for osme time but never got around to starting it. Another ecent thread on the forum re an unknown shoulder board where we got into discussing BWFW shoulder board ranks prompted me to get this thread under way. The first blurb in quotes is from a chap I have corresponded with re BWFW. Unfortunately he had nothing new to add since he posted his comments on the DDR Forum a couple of years ago. I've added a comment or two.
"The Bundeswehr Brandschutz are actually a part of the Bundeswehr and go through a year and a half of training in both specialized Bundeswehr training courses and training with local firefighters before they actual becoming fully active. I have never been able to find much well defined information on them but I believe the Bundeswehr Brandschutz can be an alternate option to the required military service (I beleive he is correct here at least for one period of time) and they are stationed on or near military bases and other federal structures/regions. I am not sure if they have civilian status. (They do.) They are also required to earn the DSB sports badge and the DLRG swimming rescue badge during this training period.
The uniform pictured is for the rank: Feuerwehrmann (tunic is from my collection) -- basically a private in the federal fire protection services, but I don't think any rank insignia is used until they have passed the required training. The epaulet rank system is based on a series of mellino colored bars and silver pips. I have never seen any collar insignia used so I have no idea if they used the crossed axes and helmet insignia. (They did not) But they did use the insignia on their gray berets. They were still wearing these uniforms in 2000 so I think they are still being used."
I've posted pictures of the grey beret from my collection before and I will add it to this thread later. I have never seen the BWFW in a grey uniform but the fact that a grey beret exists in collections indicates they may have changed from the blue uniform to a grey uniform at some time.
One comment of the photo of the tunic. The old style leather name tag should be fastened to the button under the pocket flap and not on top of it. I didn't realize that until after I took the photo.
Regards,
Gordon
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