Kol Klink's uniform...

[bratwurstdimsum]

Don't know if this is too light a topic for this thread but I'll give it a go!

I've been looking at episodes of the Hogan's heroes dvd (I have it listed on the Bazaar btw) and I noticed Klink has a impossible(?) configuration of badges.

Ek1 (1914) and spange
Luft pilots and ground assault!

Can a LW person have a pilot's badge AND be in ground forces in an attack? Given HH was set in 1942, this is a very active career! Also given Klink's age, he probably was too old to be a pilot by the time the war started, so how come he got his pilot's badge? I would have thought a retired pilots badge would have been more appropriate!

[Chet Sowersby]

Ah, Hogan's Heros...what a blast from the past. I always found Klink's awards more acceptable than that of his German nemisis Major Hoffstatler. Klink was always in fear of a junior officer? Just the same, one hell of a series.

Chet

[milcollector]

He might have been a flight instructor and undertaken a few combat missions due to critical situations, therfore getting his pilots badge.
As far as his ground assault badge - maybe he was stationed on the Russian front and had to defend his airfield from enemy infantry attack. No other forces around, so perhaps he had to lead a team of luftwaffe airfield men in the role of ground infantry. That type of situation did happen many times.

[EKman]

Definately a reasonable scenario...for anyone but Col. Klink. Somehow, I just have a great deal of difficulty imagining the good Colonel running about in a camo smock, weilding an MP-40, and directing men of an ad hoc battle group in small unit tactics. . Really, given his character in the series, can you honestly imagine Klink in a combat situation and not only that but a combat situation in which he performed well enough to earn the Iron Cross, qualification awards come natually enough, but as Sgt. Steiner implied, you have to go out to where the Iron Crosses grow and snatch one up for yourself.

A very interesting thread, I enjoy these types of topics and while it has been demonstrated that Klink's combination of awards are technically possible...oh well, its just a television show and a great one at that.

[Andy B.]

Interesting topic.
I have a question about another individuals medals. I watched The Boys from Brazil not to long ago and saw that Dr. Mengele (sp?) was wearing the RK KVK with swords. I thought that since he was in the private sector it should have been with out swords. Or was he actually awarded the RK KVK with swords. Just curious.
Thanks in advance,
Andy B.

[Don D.]

Klink had to have some intestinal fortitude since he earned both EKs in WW1. Probably flew in Polish and French campaigns earning both spanges. Could have been grounded due to age, eyesight etc...

[bratwurstdimsum]

I like the maker's attention to detail that got him wearing a long service ribbon and other WW1 ribbons.

Could have been grounded due to age, eyesight etc...

exactly, in which case, won't the man get one of these?

[Don D.]

If he was officially ground he would have the retired pilot's badge. However he could have been posted to the Stalag in lieu of that with the understanding that his flying days were over.... A commander doing a good soldier a solid.

[bratwurstdimsum]

Ok well this will have to take the cake then,

Army General, friend of Klinks...

with Panzer assault badge AND
a luft flak!!!! AND (look closely)
a ek2 RK! (it happened but for a GENERAL?)
also where's his EK1?

[Marc Garlasco]

OK, now you are expecting too much! It was a comedy

[Marc Garlasco]

But if that Flak is real it is either ball-hinge or S&L. Probably S&L.

[Gerd Becker]

His Ribbonbar is the wrong way too. Look at the EK 2 on th right side of the bar. Looks like there are some weird ribbons on the bar.

[Tom Yanacek]

Definately a reasonable scenario...for anyone but Col. Klink. Somehow, I just have a great deal of difficulty imagining the good Colonel running about in a camo smock, weilding an MP-40, and directing men of an ad hoc battle group in small unit tactics. . Really, given his character in the series, can you honestly imagine Klink in a combat situation and not only that but a combat situation in which he performed well enough to earn the Iron Cross, qualification awards come natually enough, but as Sgt. Steiner implied, you have to go out to where the Iron Crosses grow and snatch one up for yourself.

A very interesting thread, I enjoy these types of topics and while it has been demonstrated that Klink's combination of awards are technically possible...oh well, its just a television show and a great one at that.

Ah, then you have obviously forgotten the episode were Klink leads his troops in ground defense and assault. His tactics were so brilliant that the maneuver would be forever known as the "Klink Dipsy Doodle".
Best regards,
Tom

[bodes]

OK, now you are expecting too much! It was a comedy

I agree, it's only television and a comedy.....I believe Sgt. Schultz also wore a double decal M42 Luftwaffe steel helmet.....Although not impossible, the tri-color more than likely would've been gone by this time.....But once again, it's only television.....Bodes

[LuftMike]

Okay, being a die hard Hogan's fan, maybe I can shed some light. Klink was supposed to be a pilot in world war one, hence the ek1. He was said to have been a pilot in the years before the war's outbreak. Seeing as how he was said to have asumed the position of Kommandant of Stalag 13 in 1941, he could have easily acquired his pilot's badge then. The spange I don't know about same with the Ground Assault (issued after the show was to have taken place I thought anyways?).
When attempting to impersonate Klink, Hogan answered the question of "what kind of medals does Klink wear" with one word: "borrowed." Part of the comedy of Klink's character was the ridiculous array of awards he wore day to day, because a spineless bumbling man like Klink could never have amassed these, nor attain his title of colonel.
And about Major Hochstdetter, he did have an absolutely obscene amount of awards, but remember he was also supposed to be Gestapo but wore a prewar Allgemeine SS uniform. The creators of the show portrayed the Nazis as North American propagandists did in the war years, overbearing, arrogant and laden with awards. They openly admitted to many inconsistincies in the show, which was partly why the series was accepted into the broadcasting stations.
Yes it is a comedy, and for people like us who understand indepth the meaning, conditions of issue and dates of issue, of these awards I think it provides us with even more enjoyment/comedy.

Just my 2 cents I guess