Question on Army or Air Force Flack units

[usmedalman]

I am confused by the existence of the Army Flack Badge. My confusion centers around the use of the 8.8cm flack gun in an anti-tank role with Army units (particularly in North Africa, but elsewhere as well). Would this type of function been manned by Luftwaffe personnel or Army personnel or perhaps mix between the two depending on the availability of qualified crews?


Thanks in advance for any insight.

[Angel Farré]

Heeresflakabteilungs were manned by army guys, maybe you can find a couple of instructors from the LW early in the war or later transfer as surplus manpower from the LW.

What happen also is that LW units serving at the front (not defending the Fatherland against the bombers raids) were used by army units to combat tanks, but this units were composed by LW soldiers under command of army units, but all its personal were LW soldiers.

Angel

[Simon O.]

There's no c in flak

Each arm of service had anti-aircraft units, Heer, LW, KM, W-SS. Each of which were manned by their own branch of service soldiers. Whether the guns were used in an air or ground role doesn't really come in to it. The 88 was such a versatile weapon that it was also used as regular artillery as well as anti-air and tank.

When it comes to war badges the Heer flak badge was for the Heer and W-SS personnel, the LW for the LW and the marine artillerie badge for the KM flak units.

As Angel says though, units of LW flak could be placed under operational command of army units, temporarily, but administratively they were still under LW command.