The Flak (short for FliegerAbwehrKanone) was created during World War I and was served by the regular artillery ground force. Forbid- den by the Treaty of Versailles, the Flak was reconstituted after the Nazi takeover in 1933. In June 1935, it passed under Luftwaffe com- mand, and from then on its members wore the air force grayish-blue uniform, though retain-
Luftwaffe artillery Hauptmann (Captain).
This Flak artillery captain wears the standard air force blue-gray uniform composed of steel helmet, flying blouse, trousers and marching boots. On the service waistbelt he carries a pis- tol in its holster, and a model M1935 leather report/map case.
ing the artillery’s bright red piping. The Flak, a high-tech arm equipped with sophisticated detection means (radar, acoustic devices, and searchlights) and armed with numerous and reliable light and heavy guns, was an important branch of the Luftwaffe. In 1939, the air de- fense had 6,500 light guns and 2,450 medium and heavy guns. Served by 571,000 men, it rep- resented 35 percent of the German air force in 1941. In June 1944, the time of maximum strength, the total was 30,463 light guns and 15,087 medium and heavy guns. As World War II proceeded, the decline of German air- power meant that Flak defense became more
and more important. The well-organized, voluminous and effective anti-aircraft artillery made a major contribution to the defense of Germany. From May to August 1943, the Flak damaged 1,594 Allied aircraft and destroyed 88. In May-June 1944, they damaged 7,920 air- craft and destroyed 286. The Flak artillery was also engaged in direct fire on the ground, (par- ticularly in an anti-tank role) with great effect. Flak artillerymen wore the standard Luftwaffe uniforms, often with the addition of army clothing and equipment.
Flak artilleryman
Flak gunner in winter dress. This gunner wears the warm schwere Winteranzug (thick winter
suit) with detachable hood, thick gloves, and felt-topped winter boots.
Paratroopers
Developed by General Kurt Student, the German Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers) were a small elite force that played a substantial role during World War II. Using both gliders and parachutes, the carefully selected and highly trained German airborne units achieved some remarkable successes in Belgium and Holland in 1940. The casualties suffered at the landing in Crete the following year, though the land-
ing led to the capture of the Greek island, were judged too costly by Hitler for him to permit a repetition. Paradoxically, as the likelihood of another large-scale airborne operation receded, the parachute forces expanded, earning a rep- utation as formidable fighters as they attracted a steady flow of young volunteers of the high- est caliber from throughout the German air force, army and Hitler Youth. Until the end of the war, the much-respected German para- chute forces grew to ten divisions which were used as elite infantry assault troops. They took part in many major operations, notably in Leningrad, Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy (Monte Cassino) in 1943, and Normandy (Carantan) in summer 1944.
In 1939–1941, Fallschirmjäger wore the stan- dard blue/gray, short, double-breasted Flieger-
bluse and baggy trousers, over which they wore
a sort of canvas coverall, a gray-green smock just over knee-length, with zippered-breast pockets, nicknamed Knockensack (bone-bag) by the troops. It could be fastened up around the top of the wearer’s legs to prevent the para- chute harness from fouling when jumping. Special gloves and rubber elbow and knee pro- tection were also worn to absorb the shock of
Unterfeldwebel Fallschirmjäger (NCO), c.
1940. The man wears the para steel helmet, early gray-green jump smock, Luftwaffe trou- sers and jump boots.
Fallschirmjägershelm (Paratrooper helmet).
The helmet was fitted with a reinforced pad- ding, chin harness and back straps. Decorated with a Luftwaffe eagle decal on the left side, it was later fitted with a camouflage canvas cover or netting.
landing. Paratroopers were issued a special lightweight and compact jump helmet without visor and ear and neck guards. Until 1941, they wore special, strong, laced jump boots, and later various footwear, including Army jack- boots and heavy shoes with gaiters. Although the jump smock (that later was made of camouflaged cloth) was used throughout the war, the deployment of Fallschirmjäger troops to the North African and Eastern fronts demanded changes in their uniform to suit the climate of the theater. Tropical jackets and trousers, based on the Luftwaffe standard uni- forms, as well as shirts and shorts were intro- duced, manufactured from lightweight tan material. When German airborne troops were deployed in the East they were issued with army-style protective winter clothing, includ- ing reversible, hooded, snow-white-camou-
Paratrooper, Italy, 1944. The man wears the standard helmet with camo cover, a lightweight camouflage jump smock, and general-issue hobnail ankle boots. He is equipped with standard infantry webbing and is armed with a Mauser rifle.
Fallschirmjäger Gewehr 42 (FG 42). The automatic Fallschirmjager Gewehr model 1942 (FG 42)—designed
and produced for the Luftwaffe—was intended to give paratroopers the extra firepower that they needed when operating in small detached groups. The FG 42 was actu- ally the first of what are now called assault rifles. It was an all-metal rifle fitted with a folding bipod to steady it, weighing 4.5 kg, shooting a 7.92-mm Kar. 98 rifle car- tridge, and capable of single-shot or fully automatic action, with a rate of fire of 750 rounds per minute. The bullets were contained in a 20-round detachable magazine feed- ing from the left side. The remarkable FG 42 was a light, advanced and superior weapon but very expensive and time-consuming to make. By 1943 Germany could not afford to spend much time in rifle manufacture because quantity was the order of the day. Only 7,000 were pro- duced and the FG 42 was never issued in sufficient num- ber to replace other service weapons, thus it never made any impact on the conduct or outcome of the war.
flaged, padded parkas with thick trousers. They were also issued with toque and ear protectors which were worn under the steel helmet.
Their equipment was standard infantry but the gas mask was carried in a soft canvas case designed to prevent injury to the wearer on landing from an air drop. Paratroopers often carried additional rifle ammunition in cloth
bandoliers hung around the neck, consisting of several compartments for rifle clips.