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**ehrentitle** · 01-08-2010, 04:22 PM

Here are examples of restrikes made by PRÄWEMA around 1990. The originals are very rare. Only about 180 of the Career Service Badge for Officers and 400 Classification Badges for Members of the Parachute Service were made. The top badge is the Dienstlaufbahnabzeichen für Offiziere des Fallschirmdienstes and the bottom three are Klassifizierungsabzeichen für Angehörige des Fallschirmdienstes:

**ehrentitle** · 01-08-2010, 04:28 PM

Here are a couple of examples of the Fallshirmdienstes Dienstlaufbahnabzeichen career service oval worn on the uniform sleeve. On the left is the officer version and the right is an early enlisted version:

**ehrentitle** · 01-08-2010, 04:37 PM

Here is a photo from Page 310 of Schöll's book showing a Captain Müller wearing the officer's career service badge:

**ehrentitle** · 01-08-2010, 06:32 PM

I also ran across this brief mention of the organization on page 526 of the Grundwissen des Militarfliegers. Here is my very rough translation:

The backup rescue parachute system that serves the rescue of flight personnel in the event of emergency situations in the air is the responsibility of the Parachute Service. The Parachute Service is responsible for the maintenance, mission preparation and ensuring the constant readiness of rescue parachutes, parachute rescue systems and portable emergency stocks and the training of flight personnel in the technique of leaving the aircraft in an emergency in the shortest possible time, actions in the air, including the landing or splashdown and follow up actions to support search and rescue efforts.

Later on it says that that up to the age of 40 the flight personnel were required to do an annual land or water jump. On completion of five jumps they were eligible for the NVA parachute badge.

Here are a couple of illustrations from the book that show exit from the aircraft without and with an ejection system:

**ehrentitle** · 01-08-2010, 07:18 PM

The requirement for an annual parachute jump would also explain this photo of an NVA Air Force Lieutenant wearing both the pilot badge and parachute badge without a hanger:

Photo is from the coffee table book Gefechtsbereit!

**Viktor** · 01-09-2010, 04:24 AM

Most interesting Genosse, many thanks...

**ehrentitle** · 01-09-2010, 10:05 AM

Thanks Viktor. I did a bit more reading last night.

I found it interesting that he trained more than Air Force pilots. Schöll indicates that in May & June 1955, he did two, three week parachute training courses for sports parachute instructors the Society for Sport and Technology (GST). In April 1956, he and other members of the Parachute Service were set to an airport in Tutow to train a "special military intelligence agency" on parachuting and cargo dropping from aircraft.

Starting in 1959, especially in the early 60s, one of the main focuses of the FRD's activities was to conduct parachute training for diverse groups within the NVA. Whether long-range reconnaissance, special reconnaissance, combat swimmers, paratroopers, or cadres of other unknown organizations. They conducted training at Bronko, Tutow and Anklam which included day, night, water, delayed (HALO?) jumps and dropping loads under specific conditions. Schöll says that during this period every cadre that later trained military parachutists in special units were trained by the FRD.

In August 1957 he moved with the staff of the Aviation School to Bautzen. In November 1958 he was selected as the head of the Parachute Service and was transferred to the LSK / LV command in Strausberg. Here he was the technical supervisor responsible for the 120 members of the FRD. This included training and for planning of rescue and safety equipment for the Air Force, the Volksmarine and the border troops.

He states that the main task of the FRD was parachute training of flying personnel and as well as care and maintenance in the full range of rescue and safety equipment.

He also talked about conducting parachute training for student pilot Sigmund Jahn, who would later become the first German astronaut. His philosophy was to treat every student officer with courtesy because you never knew if they would eventually be your boss years later, which happend to him several times.

**ehrentitle** · 01-09-2010, 06:54 PM

I've finally come to Pages 313-14 which talks about the Dienstlaufbahnabzeichen für Offiziere des Fallschirmdienstes and Klassifizierungsabzeichen für Angehörige des Fallschirmdienstes. He said that they were introduced to the FRD in 1961 and, "were worn with pride, and contributed significantly to the rapid fulfillment of a higher performance category." Schöll indicates that they are still a popular with collectors but those currently being sold are copies. He donated his badge to the Army Museum of the NVA in Dresden at their request.

Schöll said the badges were worn only for a few years until they and a number of other badges were eliminated by the NVA due to financial reasons. This drastically reduced the number of career service and classification badges within the NVA. In October 1967, the wear of these previously granted badges were no longer allowed for the FRD. They were replaced by the NVA Parachute Badge and the General Classification Badge.

For civilian clothes, there was a miniature version of the Parachute Badge that could be worn, "But the members of the FRD hardly made use of them, they would rather keep their old badges, because they corresponded better to the nature of the Air Force."

He also states that Lieutenant Colonel Müller (see his photo as a Captain in Post #4), director of the Parachute and Rescue Service of the First Air Division was the ace parachutist of the FRD. Müller began his service in the FRD as a Sergeant in 1954. He won numerous East German and Warsaw Pact parachute competitions. He was the first in the FRD to reach 1,000, 3,000. And 5000 jumps. His final total was 5,648 jumps and he was only prevented from reaching 6,000 when unificaiton came in 1990.

That proves that the high numbered parachute badge hangers were earned by a very select few who had very long service in the NVA. It took Müller nearly 40 years to reach his career total of 5,648. But contrast, Schöll had 415 parachute jumps in the nearly 20 years between 1954 and his last jump in 1973.

**PaulR** · 04-28-2010, 10:03 AM

What versions are these?

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...8&postcount=15

**ehrentitle** · 04-28-2010, 05:59 PM

Originally posted by PaulR View Post

What versions are these?

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...8&postcount=15

I believe the gold parachute on gray cloth are fantasy pieces. According to an article by Feder there were dark blue Dienstlaufbahnabzeichen with gold colored parachutes that were sample insignia for the Kampfschwimmer.

**PaulR** · 04-28-2010, 09:52 PM

Originally posted by ehrentitle View Post

I believe the gold parachute on gray cloth are fantasy pieces. According to an article by Feder there were dark blue Dienstlaufbahnabzeichen with gold colored parachutes that were sample insignia for the Kampfschwimmer.

I have had these for over 10(about 14-15) years now. They are of the same material, method of embroidery, and quality as the white trade badges. The only difference is the color of the thread (light orange thread).

Strange.

What do you think about the parachute with the gull under it?

**achern** · 04-29-2010, 07:29 AM

Thanks for the useful information. I am one who was mistaken about the classification badge being an early parachute wing.

Do you know if there is any way to tell a restrike of the same mould with one of the original issues?

**ehrentitle** · 04-29-2010, 12:02 PM

Originally posted by PaulR View Post

I have had these for over 10(about 14-15) years now. They are of the same material, method of embroidery, and quality as the white trade badges. The only difference is the color of the thread (light orange thread).

Strange.

What do you think about the parachute with the gull under it?

Paul - I've taken the liberty of linkin to your orignial photo so it can bee seen here:

Orange on grey badges were used for a period of time, but I'm not sure if they were used by the Fallschirm- & Rettungsdienst. I'd have to consult my references for the period. The insignia in the photo appear to have gold parachutes.

The white on grey badges with the gull wing under the parachute and the outer white edge I believe was worn by officers in the 40. Fallschirmjägerbataillon, I'd have to consult my references at home for time period.

So rule of thum, parachute without the gull wing is Fallschirm- & Rettungsdienst and with it is 40. Fallschirmjägerbataillon. A white edge on the oval represents officers, those without it are enlisted.

**ehrentitle** · 04-29-2010, 12:09 PM

Originally posted by achern View Post

Thanks for the useful information. I am one who was mistaken about the classification badge being an early parachute wing.

Do you know if there is any way to tell a restrike of the same mould with one of the original issues?

Achern - As I mentioned earlier the restrikes were made by PRÄWEMA around 1990, but I don't know if they used the original dies to make them. I've never seen an original badge so it's hard to tell.

There is a slightly different "Russian" variation with one screw post in the middle that comes with colorful stories of how they were made by the Soviets for the East Germans and stored in a Russian warehouse, forgotten and collecting dust until after reunification. I suspect these were made in the 90s either in Germany or Russia for the collectors market.

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