Allgemeine SS with rare badge

[Wickie]

Hello!

I would like to share my photo of an allgemeine SS member.

I think the badge is from the "Kraft und Luftfahrtforschung". Can anybody give me some information about this badge and the organisation?

Christian

[Wickie]

close up

[max history]

I think your SS-O'Stuf. looks remarkably like Erich Kempka, Hitler's driver.
Max.

[Michael Miller]

I too would be interested in information on this badge. Many photos of Hitler's chief adjutant SA-Ogruf. Wilhelm Brückner show him wearing it. I'd be interested in the official title of the award and the qualification requirements.

Max~ That may well be Kempka, but this appears to be an Imperial German decoration so I'm doubtful he would have received it as he was born in 1910.

Best wishes,
~ Mike

[Wickie]

Thanks for te answers!

I assumed the badge is maybe from the 20's ?

The back of the photo is dated "1936".

Christian

[Richard]

I think that either Weitze or Winkler had this exact badge for sale on their website recently with a photograph of Hermann Göring wearing one.
Richard V

[Anthony T]

Look like a variation or perhaps a WW1 commemorative Austro Hungarian Pilot's Badge?.......

[Michael Miller]

I don't think its Austro-Hungarian. Looks more like a Prussian award.

Our mystery officer looks a bit like Hitler's second pilot (after Hans Baur), Georg Betz, although I don't know for certain if he would have worn the "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler" cuff title. I don't have a comparison photo to share, but there is one in Anton Joachimthaler's book "The Last Days of Hitler" and some basic data on Betz appears at http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtop...highlight=betz .

Being born in 1903, it's unlikely he would have received an Imperial award, though. So maybe it's not Prussian after all and could be some type of commemorative award to which he was somehow entitled...

And yes, we can add Göring to the list of men I've seen wearing this badge in photos.

~ Mike

[max history]

I don't think its Austro-Hungarian. Looks more like a Prussian award.

Our mystery officer looks a bit like Hitler's second pilot (after Hans Baur), Georg Betz, although I don't know for certain if he would have worn the "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler" cuff title. I don't have a comparison photo to share, but there is one in Anton Joachimthaler's book "The Last Days of Hitler" and some basic data on Betz appears at http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtop...highlight=betz .

Being born in 1903, it's unlikely he would have received an Imperial award, though. So maybe it's not Prussian after all and could be some type of commemorative award to which he was somehow entitled...

And yes, we can add Göring to the list of men I've seen wearing this badge in photos.

~ Mike

Mike,
I've now compared photos of both Kempka and Betz and I'm certain it is Erich Kempka. The man in the photo is not more than about 30 years old at most, so it's not an Imperial award. Kempka had a fondness for wearing sunglasses and enjoying the sun as shown in several photos and his hair parting is in exactly the same position. Apart from that, the face immediately made me think of Kempka when I first saw the photo.
I'm no expert on awards and badges, but it appears to be either a foreign award (as commonly presented to many of Hitler's immediate entourage) or a club award which had origins in imperial times, possibly a driving award.
Max.

[Robin Lumsden]

That badge was a semi-official 'Scientific Society Award' for furthering the cause of aviation and motor transport. From memory only, it was originally Imperial but carried on through the 1920s and into the '30s.

Quite a few characters had it, including Goering and Huehnlein.

It's in one of the books......either Niemann's or Huesken's.

[max history]

That badge was a semi-official 'Scientific Society Award' for furthering the cause of aviation and motor transport. From memory only, it was originally Imperial but carried on through the 1920s and into the '30s.

Just as I thought. Thanks Robin.
Max.

[HPL2008]

That badge was a semi-official 'Scientific Society Award' for furthering the cause of aviation and motor transport. From memory only, it was originally Imperial but carried on through the 1920s and into the '30s.

Quite a few characters had it, including Goering and Huehnlein.

Allow me to add that the badge was awarded by the Ring der nationalen Kraftfahrt- und Luftfahrtbewegung. (roughly translated = "Association of the national motoring- and aviation movement")

Niemann lists the following decorations for this association: three grades of Ehrennadel (= honor pin) (bronze, silver, gold), two grades of Dienstadler (= service eagle) (black, bronze), two grades of Sportadler (= sports eagle) (silver, gold) and two grades of Sportkranz (= sports wreath) (silver, gold), but does not illustrate any.

My guess would be that the wreathed badge in this photograph is the Sportkranz, while the non-wreathed grade that can be seen as worn by Julius Schreck above his chest pocket in many photographs was the Sportadler.

By the way, the badge for sale by Helmut Weitze is still on his site (item no. 26450). It is the wreathed version as seen in the photograph.

[nellyp51]

IMO very nice indeed

[Richard]

Here is a close up photo of the badge.
Richard V