SS-VT Fallschirmjäger Question

[Gerry Cummins]

Does anyone know which parachute badge - Luftwaffe or Heer - was awarded to the eight members of Regiment Germania who were trained as Fallschirmjäger at Stendal from May to July 1937? I have seen a picture of these eight men wearing their double zipper jump smocks, but never anything of them in their tunics with their newly earned parachute badges. I always assumed that because of the rivalry between Himmler and Göringat that time that Himmler would insist upon the Heer badge. Just an assumption on my part. I'm hoping that someone can help me figure this one out. (Same question posted on the Fallschirmjäger Forum)

Any pictures out there?

Thanks in advance,
Gerry
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[Ian Hulley]

Possibly this can help answer your question ... http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=764198

Ian

[Gerry Cummins]

Truth be told, Ian, that's the photo that got me started on this quest. And, as everyone has pointed out, there are so many inconsistencies with this photo that it's really hard to draw any conclusions. The eight SS-VT volunteers were all from Regiment Germania, so I'm not sure why this soldier would wear a Brandenburg or a Deutschland cufftitle. Plus by 1945, I'd expect to see some combat badges or decorations on his tunic rather than the pre-war Hitler Youth Proficiency Badge that he's wearing along with his APB. And, the mountain boots don't seem to make much sense either. True, the SS-Fallschirmjäger Bataillon 600 wore then in the field, but not often in garrison ... or in a photo studio.

So, I'm still totally confused and hoping that some of the contributors here will have some photo evidence to help me out of my quandary.

Thanks for your input, Ian!

Gerry

[FS154]

I was able talking to two former SS-VT members in the 1990s. One of them was Knight´s Cross holder Ernst August Krag. They told me that they received no badge and no jump license.

Don´t get confused with the ebay photo I posted a few days ago. That photo was made in Neustrelitz in 1945 (then home of SS-FJ Btl. 600). It has a stamp of the photographer on the back that reads: Photo by... Neustrelitz. Has nothing to do with SS-VT.

[Gerry Cummins]

I was able talking to two former SS-VT members in the 1990s. One of them was Knight´s Cross holder Ernst August Krag. They told me that they received no badge and no jump license.

Don´t get confused with the ebay photo I posted a few days ago. That photo was made in Neustrelitz in 1945 (then home of SS-FJ Btl. 600). It has a stamp of the photographer on the back that reads: Photo by... Neustrelitz. Has nothing to do with SS-VT.

That is a fascinating photograph! It is so unusual to see a member of SS-FJ Btl. 600 in 1945 wearing a pre-war Hitler Youth Proficiency Badge but no combat related awards or decorations. It's hard to imagine what his previous assignments must have been before he was pressed into service with SS-FJ Btl. 600. It would be even more interesting to know if he survived the war. The battalion's casualty rate was extremely high in 1945.

Thanks for posting!

Gerry