« The allies recognized survival and the ability to « fight another day » as a victory in itself, and the morale value alone was considered well worthy of recognition, albeit unofficially. In the Germany of the 1930s and 40s, victory was considered the greatest boost for the morale and therefore encouragement was given to the celebration of individual victories. Though Luftwaffe flyers were always glad to welcome the return of a downed comrade by toasting his health, no special award, official or unofficial, were generally made.
Official awards were plentiful in the Luftwaffe and included everything from wound badges to Honor Goblets, quite possibly obviating the demand for as many unofficial prizes as the RAF and other allies.
During the First World War, Baron Manfred von Richtofen (The Red Baron) has celebrated each of his early victories by having a schnapps glass cast in Silver. Perhaps, as a result of his success and his legendary stature in the eyes of young Luftwaffe fighter pilots, drinking vessels were often made as unofficial « awards » from fellow squadron members in celebration of aerial victories.
So, while the aircrews of the RAF and USAAF received unofficial certificates, badges and pins for surviving and making it back, Luftwaffe flyers collected schnapps glasses and beer steins to celebrate each milestone along the victory road » - page 142, « Luftwaffe Vs RAF »,Vol.2 (Mick J. Prodger)
Here are shown some representative schnapps glasses, used, IMO, to celebrate an Air Victory or as a commemoative period.
Here is a set for Rolf Lampmann, Bordschütze in 3.(F)AG 122
Honor Goblet on 15.06.42
DKiG on 16.03.43
Official awards were plentiful in the Luftwaffe and included everything from wound badges to Honor Goblets, quite possibly obviating the demand for as many unofficial prizes as the RAF and other allies.
During the First World War, Baron Manfred von Richtofen (The Red Baron) has celebrated each of his early victories by having a schnapps glass cast in Silver. Perhaps, as a result of his success and his legendary stature in the eyes of young Luftwaffe fighter pilots, drinking vessels were often made as unofficial « awards » from fellow squadron members in celebration of aerial victories.
So, while the aircrews of the RAF and USAAF received unofficial certificates, badges and pins for surviving and making it back, Luftwaffe flyers collected schnapps glasses and beer steins to celebrate each milestone along the victory road » - page 142, « Luftwaffe Vs RAF »,Vol.2 (Mick J. Prodger)
Here are shown some representative schnapps glasses, used, IMO, to celebrate an Air Victory or as a commemoative period.
Here is a set for Rolf Lampmann, Bordschütze in 3.(F)AG 122
Honor Goblet on 15.06.42
DKiG on 16.03.43
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