Awards and documents grouping of balloon observer Oberleutnant Stegmann

[translator]

In my opinion - and I'd like to hear from the 57-er expert Skyhawk on this - only gilt Balloon Observer's badges were produced in the 57 form. Thus, when the badge was added to the group (likely by Stegmann or his family, and likely in the late 1950s-early 1960s) this is the only badge that was available. Almost certainly, during the war no silver- or gold- level award documents were conferred, because the qualifications were too stringent, and the life expectancy of a balloon observer was not particularly lengthy. If Oberleutnant Stegmann did not receive the silver level, in my opinion no one did (much less the gold).

[Simon O.]

Just a thought. It'd be worth seeing if his records are to be found at NARA, as the award came from OKH level i would hope to see it appear in his personal records.

[translator]

Actually, I'd already started the process of obtaining a copy of Stegmann's military records from the Bundesarchiv (Militaerarchiv)...this is something a prospective new owner could easily pursue.

[Skyhawk]

Hi,

The Balloon Observers Badge was available in all three grades in 57er form from S&L. I have a Bronze and Gold in my collection. Still looking for the elusive silver.

Here is the Bronze grade.....

Best,

Jeff

[translator]

Thanks, Jeff. I find that quite interesting in view of the qualification levels for each of the three grades as detailed in the piece by Bill Stump. If anyone was to have been awarded a grade other than Bronze, Peter Stegmann would almost certainly have qualified...from what I can glean from his records, he was very close to the Silver level but just missed out. If any silver- or gold- grade awards were made, no documentation has thus far surfaced for them. Whoever placed the 57-form gilt badge in Stegmann's estate ex post facto was simply attempting to make up for an award he never received, imo, and apparently any badge would do...but this does indicate that he likely did not go on and serve in the Bundeswehr (as the absence of any other denazified awards in his estate would also indicate).

[Skyhawk]

Hi,

The 57er Balloon Observers Badge is tough to find in any grade and they might have simply used what could be found. The badge that was used in this group is the early variant and very sought after by '57 collectors!

Best,

Jeff

[translator]

Leutnant Peter Stegmann

Thought I would put a face to a name...this photo is from one of the two albums in this grouping; the inscription reads "Als Leutnant im Felde Weihn. 1941". Born on 3 January 1922 in Schweidnitz, Oberschlesien (Upper Silesia), Peter Stegmann was a Kanonier 1 Dec. 1939, Gefreiter 1 Oct. 1940, Unteroffizier 1 Dec. 1940, Fahnenjunker-Wachtmeister 1 April 1941, Leutnant (at age 19) on the same date. He won the EKII on 21 July 1941 and the EKI on 4 Dec. 1941. The Iron Cross awards were quite unusual for the Balloon Observation Troops; in Stegmann's case the awards were achieved through the destruction of four enemy tanks spotted by his observation balloon and through his survival - although he received a leg wound on one occasion - when his balloon was shot down three times (twice while burning) by enemy aircraft. Stegmann's father and brother also served; his brother Juergen was KIA on 6 July 1941 when his artillery piece took a direct hit during operations with Army Group South. I find the human stories behind the awards as interesting - perhaps even more so - than the awards themselves.

[translator]

The Whistle

I've been puzzling over the presence of the whistle in this grouping; presumably it is of some significance...I don't know enough about the Balloon Troops to know for sure, but I expect it may well have saved Stegmann's life on more than one occasion.

[translator]

As a newly-minted Leutnant

Another superb photo of Stegmann, this time in regulation visor cap, described "Im April 1941 als Leutnant in Dresden". He was promoted on 4 April.