grades for Luftwaffe Lanyards?

[torstenbel]

Hi there,

I have searched the internet, my reference books AND this forum and I could not find an explanation of how to grade Luftwaffe lanyards... I have got the one pictured here, but I have no idea what grade it is... I found the grading explained for Heer Lanyards...are the Luftwaffe lanyards the same in terms of grading???..

Also, I could not really find any good reference pics...if you look at the badge on mine, it is a little ribbon sticking out at the bottom and I would have thought that this should have been pair of stylised ribbons and that the other one on mine is broken off??..but I can't really tell when looking at the badge, if ever there was anything that has been broken off???...so, if someone could post a badge of a complete one here to compare..that would be great.... Cheers, Torsten.

[torstenbel]

close up of badge...

Hi there,

I have searched the internet, my reference books AND this forum and I could not find an explanation of how to grade Luftwaffe lanyards... I have got the one pictured here, but I have no idea what grade it is... I found the grading explained for Heer Lanyards...are the Luftwaffe lanyards the same in terms of grading???..

Also, I could not really find any good reference pics...if you look at the badge on mine, it is a little ribbon sticking out at the bottom and I would have thought that this should have been pair of stylised ribbons and that the other one on mine is broken off??..but I can't really tell when looking at the badge, if ever there was anything that has been broken off???...so, if someone could post a badge of a complete one here to compare..that would be great.... Cheers, Torsten.

[torstenbel]

back of badge...

Hi there,

I have searched the internet, my reference books AND this forum and I could not find an explanation of how to grade Luftwaffe lanyards... I have got the one pictured here, but I have no idea what grade it is... I found the grading explained for Heer Lanyards...are the Luftwaffe lanyards the same in terms of grading???..

Also, I could not really find any good reference pics...if you look at the badge on mine, it is a little ribbon sticking out at the bottom and I would have thought that this should have been pair of stylised ribbons and that the other one on mine is broken off??..but I can't really tell when looking at the badge, if ever there was anything that has been broken off???...so, if someone could post a badge of a complete one here to compare..that would be great.... Cheers, Torsten.

[torstenbel]

should I maybe list this in a different forum??...Cheers, Torsten.

Hi there,

I have searched the internet, my reference books AND this forum and I could not find an explanation of how to grade Luftwaffe lanyards... I have got the one pictured here, but I have no idea what grade it is... I found the grading explained for Heer Lanyards...are the Luftwaffe lanyards the same in terms of grading???..

Also, I could not really find any good reference pics...if you look at the badge on mine, it is a little ribbon sticking out at the bottom and I would have thought that this should have been pair of stylised ribbons and that the other one on mine is broken off??..but I can't really tell when looking at the badge, if ever there was anything that has been broken off???...so, if someone could post a badge of a complete one here to compare..that would be great.... Cheers, Torsten.

[torstenbel]

Anyone have any reference pics of other Luftwaffe lanyards?? Cheers, Torsten.

[torstenbel]

I am even more confused now than I was before I started to do a very concentrated search and I have found pics with badges that have no ribbon ends at the bottom of the badge, pics with both ribbons and then I found one for sale by rupturedduck right now, that also only have one ribbon?? http://www.therupturedduck.com/WebPages/Misc/s140l.htm

what is the significance of this?? if any??... Cheers, Torsten.

[Peter J.]

Hi Torsten.

There are supposed to be a pair of twigs on these. If you find one or if they are absent, they've simply been broken off.

KR
Peter

[Wfnryk]

Torsten,


This is just a quick jog of my memory to get you through this difficult time. I'll look in my books tonight and post a more detailed reply later if needed.

There were twelve grades of Luft lanyards divided into three levels of achievement. Grade distinctions are based on two factors;the finish of the plaque and coloring of the cord it is on.

On Grade 1 you should find a dull silver-gray plaque (like yours) affixed to a lanyard constructed of predominantly blue-grey silk thread with bright silver aluminum chevrons flecked in (just like yours). Grades 2, 3, & 4 would be the same set-up but with either 1, 2, or 3 devices suspended similar to their Heer counterparts (either shells or acorns depending on the Waffengattung of the soldier [Flak or other respectively]). For grades 5 - 9 you should have a bright silver plaque affixed to a silver aluminum cord with dark blue-gray silk thread zig-zags woven in. The set-up for shells and acorns is the same meaning 1 device = grade 6, 2 devices = Grade 7 etc.. Grade 10-12 are very classy looking and dwarf their Heer counterparts in appearance. Here you have a gold plaque affixed to a dark blue-grey silk thread cord with gold wire thread chevrons woven in and when authorized, gold devices.

If you'd like to see a few I've sold go to this link for my web-site:
http://www.waffen-reich-militaria.co...&cat=Luftwaffe

I must caution all that I have not updated it for a while so many of the items are sold. It will be properly updated after the MAX. If you have questions regarding a specific item use only the e-mail address on the Contact Us page and I'll get back with you (the phone numbers and address need to be updated as well)

Hope this helped.

Bob

[torstenbel]

Torsten,

On Grade 1 you should find a dull silver-gray plaque (like yours) affixed to a lanyard constructed of predominantly blue-grey silk thread with bright silver aluminum chevrons flecked in (just like yours). Grades 2, 3, & 4 would be the same set-up but with either 1, 2, or 3 devices suspended similar to their Heer counterparts (either shells or acorns depending on the Waffengattung of the soldier [Flak or other respectively]). For grades 5 - 9 you should have a bright silver plaque affixed to a silver aluminum cord with dark blue-gray silk thread zig-zags woven in. The set-up for shells and acorns is the same meaning 1 device = grade 6, 2 devices = Grade 7 etc.. Grade 10-12 are very classy looking and dwarf their Heer counterparts in appearance. Here you have a gold plaque affixed to a dark blue-grey silk thread cord with gold wire thread chevrons woven in and when authorized, gold devices.
Bob

Bob, thank you very much... I finally know what I have got.... a Grade 1....Cheers and Thanks, Torsten.

PS: I have just send you a PM....

[Seigfried]

.

[torstenbel]

[QUOTE=Seigfried]

Hi,
Try 'Uniforms and Insignia of the Luftwaffe' Vol 1 1933-1940 by Brian L Davis (ISBN 1-85409-106-9)
Pages 166-170

John

John, thank you very much... I have his book on Heer Insignia, but I did not even know that there was one on the Luftwaffe as well...has a volume 2 been published as well?? Cheers, Torsten.

[nellyp51]

Nice looking lanyards

[Seigfried]

.

[torstenbel]

I just bought vol 1 online...£14+postage...so, not too bad...but I could not find vol 2 available anywhere...I am sure I still will and thanks again for the info... Cheers, Torsten.

[J Temple-West]

Luftwaffe Marksmanship Lanyards.

On the 30<SUP>th</SUP> September 1936, an order (LV36, No 1447) was issued for a new system of marksmanship awards, these to replace the existing army pattern awards which were in the form of 8cm long aluminium Tresse stripes that were placed on the lower left sleeve.
The new lanyards (Schützenschnur) came in twelve grades.

Grade 1: A blue-grey silk cord, interwoven with aluminium threads and dark oxidized shield.
Grades 2-4: as above, with the addition of 1-3 dark oxidised acorns.

Grade 5: Cord with aluminium threads interwoven with blue-grey silk and bright aluminium shield.
Grades 6-8: as above, with the addition of 1-3 bright acorns.

Grade 9: Cord of blue-grey silk, interwoven with dark gold coloured thread and gold shield.
Grades 10-12: As above, with the addition of 1-3 gold acorns.

Here's a pic of a grade 9 lanyard.

<O</O