Army Stug wearing LW GAB - or LW-soldier wearing army tunic?

[Gran Sasso]

Strange combination:

[OSS]

Definitely Heer, most likely ex-Felddivision as the former Luftwaffe field divisions were incorporated into the Army in '44. Possibly former Flak personel as many of these were taken into VG units as the borders of the Reich constricted. You will also often see Kriegsmarine awards on German infantry late in the war.

[LuckyStrike23]

Even high qualified pilots had to serve as "Kanonefutter" by the end of the war.

[Bob Hritz]

And don't forget that excellent Heer machinegunners were sometimes taken into the Luftwaffe for the air gunner.

Note the infantry assault badge on the luft NCO.

Bob Hritz

[Richard P]

Great photos and observations that may clear up a lot of questions.

Richard

[J Melvin]

A very common practice among the members of the Stug Abteilung of the Luftwaffe field divisions. Here are members of the Stug Abteilung of 21.Feld Division (Lw).

[J Melvin]

And don't forget that excellent Heer machinegunners were sometimes taken into the Luftwaffe for the air gunner.

Note the infantry assault badge on the luft NCO.

Bob Hritz

Great photo, Bob. Could also be another FD photo of a NCO wearing the Heer version rather than the Luftwaffe version of the ground assault badge. No way to really tell.

[PaulR]

I think that they all are LW Field Division! Very cool photos!!!

[Leroy]

Note the infantry assault badge on the luft NCO.

Bob Hritz

And don't you own today that same IAB, and with a few other wonderful things from that day in 1945, too?

[Bob Hritz]

And don't you own today that same IAB, and with a few other wonderful things from that day in 1945, too?

Yes, that would be correct.

Bob Hritz

[Bob Hritz]

Great photo, Bob. Could also be another FD photo of a NCO wearing the Heer version rather than the Luftwaffe version of the ground assault badge. No way to really tell.

Jack,

This photo is from a large group I got from a US lieutenant who accepted the surrender of Kurt Lau, Karl Kennel, Hans Schwirblatt and their crews from Geschwader Immelmann at Kinzigen, on May 8, 1945. They were all flight troops.

Bob Hritz

[Erik]

Definitely Heer, most likely ex-Felddivision as the former Luftwaffe field divisions were incorporated into the Army in '44. Possibly former Flak personel as many of these were taken into VG units as the borders of the Reich constricted. You will also often see Kriegsmarine awards on German infantry late in the war.

Why ex-LW Felddivision? Many Heer units were used to fill gaps in Felddivision ranks and transferred to LW Felddivisions. Also LW Felddivisions were equipped by Heer when they were transferred under Heer in '44. This guy could be both 'former' Heer now in LW Felddivision or LW in Felddivision wearing Heer uniform. Or indeed former LW now in Heer. It is all possible.

Erik

[Scott Joseph]

Is this a single image or is it from a grouping? Much information might be gleaned from the other more mundane images...

[Gran Sasso]

Is this a single image or is it from a grouping? Much information might be gleaned from the other more mundane images...

I guess you mean my foto - its a single of course (would have posted more if there would have been any...)

[J Melvin]

Bob, there is a way to tell, then! Another great photo.