Luftwaffe General Luftzeugmeister "GL"

[NickG]

Your theory makes perfect sense Al. Soldiers did like to adorn their tunics with as much regalia as possible (within reason and rules).
The strangest thing of course about the Cogwheel device is that it is designed as a cap insignia with those prong pins on the back (as opposed to a conventional hinged catch-clasp arrangement, which you would expect to see on a "breast" badge or medal).
Perhaps it was originally intended as a hat badge but because these troops were issued field caps instead of visor caps the badges needed a new "use" and its application shifted to the jacket (??? left and right)....and after the war surplus cogwheels were discovered and used to restore/finish incomplete visor caps as it appeared to be a logical application...Who knows?...it will remain a mystery until period photos surface! but its not looking promising...

This thread has received tons of visitors but few photographic contributions unfortunately... Just not much material out there apparently!
It was my pleasure to share my journey of discovery into this obscure unit with fellow amateur historians on here on WAF! Nick

[NickG]

Anybody seen this before?

I could not resist so I created these! "G L" boards! (a MOCK UP with real cyphers)

[NickG]

GL boards

GL with 2 pips on each board !
The tunic has a regular LW breast eagle but retouched...so not visible now...

[NickG]

Der Adler Magazine on "GL" might solve the cogwheel cap or breast badge mystery!!!

This "Der Adler" magazine was listed on epier back in April and covered the following topics:

Der Adler magazine. Heft 15/Berlin, 22.Juli 1941. Cover-Extermination Thrust in the East. He 111 Squadron against Soviet fortifications. Four pg. article. Photo KC Oberleutnant Philipp-made the cover of 8/1943 as a Major. Photo articles: Soviet Air Force; National Politics under the Soviets; Alexandria; Why Does an Airplane Fly?; Decorated with the Knights Cross (Galland/Molders-Swords & Oakleaves). Eight other photos, awarded KC; photo-General-Luftzeugmeister Industrie Abzeichen; others.

As the description of the last article (with a picture!) reads; its calling the "GL" cogwheel badge a "General-Luftzeugmeister Industrie Abzeichen"...
So does that mean it is some kind of a qualification award I wonder? (showing that the wearer attended an aviation related trade school perhaps?)
So possible proof that its not intended as a Schirmmutze adler (eagle) I wonder?
PS: I did manage to contact the seller in an effort to obtain this issue, as the auction closed with no bidders...unsold. Hope he responds!

UPDATE:
The seller contacted me and he still had the Signal magazine which has an article on "GL" so its been bought and en route to me now!
RECEIVED
Here's what was published in this period "Signal" magazine... unfortunately not much info...Just calling it an "industrie-abzeichen"

[dblmed]

Any 'Update' on GL Information?

Hi Nick ....... Any 'Update' on the GL Information from the TR Magazine?

Fascinating Subject. Thanks! Dave/dblmed

[PeterL]

GCA thread

A related thread over at GMC for you if interested.

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=20501

Regards

Peter

[NickG]

Hi Nick ....... Any 'Update' on the GL Information from the TR Magazine?

Fascinating Subject. Thanks! Dave/dblmed

Update here Dave: (sorry for the late reply...)
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...rms+traditions

below (from thread link, reproduced here) was posted by WAF member Stonemint

[NickG]

close up

[NickG]

Another great "G L " image surfaced in Germany!
Note 1944 date (taken from the back of the post card image).

By this date "G L" members of course wore regular LW gear such as this fliegerbluse (as opposed to converted French tunics) now with the breast cog wheel added in addition to the factory sewn LW breast eagle!
So sometimes the GL breast badge cogwheel was worn like an award and sometimes on the breast in lieu of or along with a LW breast eagle...
(tip from fellow WAF member Beersheba4thLH)

[PeterL]

A great reference!!!

Peter

[Vet44]

here is another one from the GL Badge .

i'am take it in the last day's . it was a part of a group .

greetings Andi

<img src="http://www.historica-depot.de/depot/41a.JPG">
<img src="http://www.historica-depot.de/depot/42a.JPG">
<img src="http://www.historica-depot.de/depot/43a.JPG">
<img src="http://www.historica-depot.de/depot/44a.JPG">
<img src="http://www.historica-depot.de/depot/45a.JPG">
<img src="http://www.historica-depot.de/depot/46a.JPG">
<img src="http://www.historica-depot.de/depot/47a.JPG">

[TJ Suter]

Here are the only two GL items I have in my collection:

[TJ Suter]

Cogwheel badge

[Beersheba4thLH]

A fellow WAF member currently has this portrait listed on ebay:

[PaulR]

Here are some images to round out this thread. You've seen them before, but I figured they belong here as well.

The jacket is a Czech conversion and the overcoat is a French conversion.