Luftwaffe personnel structure

''Luftwaffe'' personnel structure consisted of two broad categories, ''Wehrmachtangehörige'' or members of the armed forces, and ''Wehrmachtgefolge'' or auxiliaries of the armed forces.

The ''Wehrmachtangehörige'' consisted of ''Soldaten'' or military personnel in a limited sense (officers and enlisted), and ''Beamten'' or military officials, either belonging to the general category of '' Wehrmachtbeamte'', or one of four ''Sondergruppen'' (special groups of officials): Engineers, Navigators, Aircraft Pilots or Flying Safety. In 1944 supply officers and judge-advocates were transferred from the Officials category, to the Soldiers category as officers of the ''Truppensonderdienst''. As a war-time measure, '' Sonderführer''s were introduced, filling positions normally held by trained officers or non-commissioned officers without having the required military training. '' Beamte auf Kriegsdauer'' (war-time officials) were filling positions normally held by trained officials, without having the required civil service training.

The ''Wehrmachtgefolge'' consisted in peace-time of civilian salaried employees and workers of the Luftwaffe. During the war several new classes of full or par time duty personnel were added to the ''Wehrmachtgefolge'', such as: ''Luftschutzwarndienst'', the male personnel of the air raid warning service; ''Sicherheits- und Hilfsdienst'', the barracked security and assistance service of the civil defense; ''Luftwaffenhelferinnen'', the female Luftwaffe auxiliaries; ''Luftwaffenhelfer'', underage male youth serving anti-aircraft batteries between school or work; ''Flakwehrmänner'', male workers in reserved occupations serving anti-aircraft batteries during air-raids. The ''Wehrmachtgefolge'' also contained units from paramilitary organizations, as far as they were subordinated to the Luftwaffe during the war, such as: ''Reichsarbeitsdienst'', National Socialist Motor Corps, and ''Organisation Todt''.

Overview

Military personnel

''Soldaten'', or military personnel in a limited sense, consisted of officers, noncommissioned officers and airmen, belonging to the flying troops, fallschirmjäger, air defense artillery, air signal troops, construction units, and medical units, as well the Luftwaffe ground combat units, such as the Division "Hermann Goering" and the Luftwaffe field divisions. They also included the special career officers such as medical officers and directors of music, and the special troop officers such as supply officers and judge advocates.

Officers

Corps

The commissioned officers of the Luftwaffe could either be non-restricted or restricted line officers, or non-line officers. Non-restricted officers were ''Truppenoffiziere'', troop officers, and ''Generalstabsoffiziere'', general staff officers. Resttricted line officers were ordnance officers and engineering officers. Non-line officers were of two kinds, special career officers, ''Offiziere der Sonderlaufbahnen,'' contained medical officers and directors of music, while ''Truppensonderdienst'', the special troop officers, were created in 1944 by the transfer of supply officers and judge advocates from the military officials class.TM-E 30-451, pp. I-10-11, I-31.

The Air force engineer officers were to replace the Air engineers of the military officials class, but only a very limited number of such officers were trained before the end of the war. No such officer had reached higher rank than First Lieutenant at the end of the war. The highest rank of the Ordnance officer corps was Colonel.

Commissions

The officers of the several corps were listed in different seniority lists depending on their service conditions:

''Ergängzungsoffiziere'' were former officers born in 1882 or later, serving in staff and administrative positions. ''Offiziere der Beurlaubtenstandes'' were reserve officers; consisting of ''Reserveoffiziere'' (under 35 years of age), and ''Landwehroffiziere'' (35 years old and older) until 1940, when the two categories were merged. ''Kriegsoffiziere'' were officers promoted from the ranks and given temporary commissions for the duration of the war. ''Offiziere zur Verfügung'' were former officers subject to recall at mobilization. Such officers were called ''Offiziere zur Dienstleistung'' when recalled.

Enlisted

Each branch of the Luftwaffe had a number of ''Dienstlaufbahngruppen'' (career groups) for non-commissioned officers and airmen, further subdivided into ''Dienstlaufbahnen'' (service careers).

Flying Troops

The Flying Troops had three career croups, Air Crew, Aircraft Engineering, and General Service.

;'' Air Crew''
Airplane Pílot, Aircraft Observer, Auxiliary Observer, Bombardier, Air Signaller (Aerial Gunner), Flight Engineer (Aerial Gunner), Aerial Gunner, and Paratrooper.Adler & Rückens 1941, pp. 36-37.
;'' Aircraft Engineering''
Aircraft Engineering Technician, Airframe Mechanic, Airplane Engine Mechanic, Airplane Electrical Mechanic, Airplane Precision Mechanic, Airplane Bomb Armorer, Airplane Weapons Armorer, Aerial Photography Technician, Airplane Signals Mechanic, and Parachute Rigger and Survival Equipmentman.
;''General Service''
Ground Communications, Motor Transportation, Supply Clerk, Ammunition Technician, ''Hauptfeldwebel'' ( First Sergeant), HQ Sergeant, Supply Technician (Automotive), Supply Technician (Aircraft), Supply Technician (Weapons/Gas Protection), Supply Technician (General), Clothing Clerk, Accountant, Subsistence NCO, Administrative Clerk, Small Boat Crew, Air Traffic Control, Musician, Medical Technician, and Military Official Candidate.

Air Defense Artillery

The Air Defense Artillery had two careers groups, Artillery, and General Service.

;''Artillery
''
Anti-aircraft Artillery Personnel, Motor Transportation Personnel, Communications.Adler & Rückens 1941, pp. 97-98.

;''General Service
''
The same as the general service of the Flying Troops, with the addition of Supply Technician (Communications), and Supply Technician (Searchlight), and without Supply Technician (Aircraft).

Air Signal Troops

The Air Signal Troops had two career groups, Signals, and General Service.

;''Signals''
General, Flight Radio Operator, Aircraft Radio, Radio Technical Sergeant, Telephone Technical Sergeant, Supply Technician (Communications), Armorer.Adler & Rückens 1941, pp. 105-106.

;''General Service
''
The same as the general service of the Flying Troops, without Supply Technician (Aircraft).

Other branches

In addition to the three major branches, flying troops, air defense artillery, and air signal troops, the Luftwaffe had several other branches. In existence at the beginning of the war was the medical troops ''(Sanitätstruppen)'', and the ''Reichsluftaufsicht'' or the National Flying Safety Service, which was staffed both by military personnel and a special group of ''Beamten'' (see below). During the war special Luftwaffe construction units ''(Luftwaffen-Bauverbände)'' were added. A special ground-combat unit '' General Göring'' existed since 1935, and airborne ''Fallschirmjäger'' units since 1938; during the war both expanded into army corps, with the same complement of ground-combat branches that existed in the army. In addition, the Luftwaffe in 1942 formed a number field divisions of excess personnel, that, however, after about a year was absorbed by the German Army. There were even veterinary units; the enlisted men belonging to the Luftwaffe, and the veterinary officers to the army.

''Sonderführer''

In the Luftwaffe war time tables of organization, certain positions could be filled with personnel not possessing the required military training, if properly trained personnel were not available. Such '' Sonderführer'' (Specialist Leaders), should have a civilian education or training qualifying them for the technical side of the position to be filled, and preferably some sort of leadership experience or training. Specialist Leaders did not hold military rank as such, but had titles that denoted the equivalent rank level of the positions held. If they were not needed as Specialist Leaders any more, they would to revert to their basic military rank. Specialist Leaders with the equivalent rank level of non-commissioned officers were abolished in 1942; the incumbents transferred to the non-commissioned corps if qualified.

Military officials

Military officials were civil servants that served in the Luftwaffe in technical, administrative, legal, and other positions. They were not civilian employees, as they were uniformed, often serving with advanced units on air bases in enemy territory. Yet the personnel structure of the military officials were not military - with officers, non-commissioned officers, and airmen - but the same as the ordinary civil service, with four different career levels. Although they wore insignia denoting their equivalent rank, they did not have military ranks, but civil service grades, and were not paid after the military pay scales, but according to their civil service grade. Most officials were ''Wehrmachtbeamte'', but there were also four special groups of military officials: the air engineers, the air navigators, the aircraft pilots, and the flying safety officials.

Most of the military officials of the Luftwaffe were non-commissioned officers having completed their 12 year's service obligation. After being given a civilian education at an administrative or technical military school ''(Wehrmachtfachschule)'', they entered the ranks of the military officials as military candidates ''(Militäranwärter)''. ''Abschlussprüfung I'' (first level exam) gave access to the middle career, while a second level exam opened up the elevated career. The elevated career was also open to young men with '' Abitur'' having completed the two your compulsory military service. The higher service was recruited through direct-entry candidates with a university degree, most of which also were reserve officers.

Air Engineer Corps

Becoming a member of the ''Ingenieurkorps der Luftwaffe'' required completion of the two year compulsory military service, being commissioned as a reserve officer, and having a '' Diplomingenieur''-degree in aircraft construction, as well having passed the state exam for ''Flugbaumeisters'' (aircraft designers). Diploma Engineers with three years employment as civilian engineers of the Luftwaffe were also accepted.

Air Navigator Corps

The ''Nautikerkorps der Luftwaffe'' was founded in 1938, for air surveying and non-combat navigation duties; all members were military officials of the elevated career recruited as ''Militäranwärter'' from former sergeant-navigators. New appointments in the corps ended in 1941. Suitable and willing navigators where then transferred to the officer corps of the flying troops. Of the 295 officials in the navigator corps, 81 had transferred to the officer corps at the beginning of 1942.

Aircraft Pilot Corps

The ''Flugzeugführerkorps'' was created in 1940, its members being former sergeant-pilots that began their new career as ''Militäranwärter'' of the elevated service. They served in positions as flight instructors, weather pilots, test pilots, and as pilots of other similar non-combat activities.

Flying Safety Officials

The ''Reichsluftaufsicht'', the National Flying Safety Service, was staffed both with ''Soldaten'' and special group ''Beamten'' of the middle, elevated, and higher careers.

''Wehrmachtbeamte''

The ''Wehrmachtbeamte'' of the Luftwaffe were administrative, technical and legal specialists and craftsmen, belonging to a large number of ''Fachrichtungen'' (occupational groups), according to their profession, occupation or area of specialization.

Occupational Groups of the ''Wehrmachtbeamte'':

Source:

War-time officials

The '' Beamte auf Kriegsdauer'', were the military officialdom's equivalent of ''Sonderführer''; a Luftwaffe member filling a ''Beamter''-position in the tables of organization without having gone through the required training during the candidate period, but possessing adequate technical or professional competence to fill such a slot on an emergency basis. War-time officials were designated with the appendix ''a. Kr.'' (abbreviation for ''auf Kriegsdauer'') after the grade title of the position they were filling. For example: ''Werkmeister a. Kr.'', or ''Regierungsinspektor a. Kr.'' The Air Engineer Corps, the Air Navigation Corps, and the ''Wehrmachtbeamte'' were all augmented with war-time officials. By 1944 the war-time ''Wehrmachtbeamte'' of the higher service were placed in pay grade A2c2; of the elevated service, in pay grade A4c2; of the middle career in pay grade A8a; and of the lower career in pay grade A10b. War-time engineers and navigators were placed in pay grades JL5 or JL8 depending on position filled.

Luftwaffe auxiliaries

Before and during the war, the ''Wehrmachtgefolge'', or the auxiliaries, of the ''Luftwaffe'' contained the following categories:
* Civilian workers and salaried employees of the ''Luftwaffe'', such as air base fire fighters, ''Fliegerisch tätigen Angestellten der Luftwaffe'' (aviation employees of the ''Luftwaffe''), and the maritime personnel of the '' Luftwaffe Seenotdienst''.
* Civilian workers and salaried employees assigned tasks in the ''Luftwaffe'' by their employers, such as personnel of the ''Frontreparaturbetriebe'' (front repair stations).
* Civilian employees of contractors performing jobs for the ''Luftwaffe''
* Male personnel of the Civil Defense Security and Assistance Service, the '' Sicherheits- und Hilfsdienst'', until the 1942 transfer to the ''Ordnungspolizei'' as the '' Luftschutzpolizei''.
* Male personnel of the air raid warning service, the '' Luftschutzwarndienst''.
* Female auxiliaries of the ''Luftwaffe'', the '' Luftwaffenhelferinnen''.
* '' Flakwehrmänner'', that is male workers and salaried employees, either overage or in reserved occupations, who in addition to their regular work manned local anti-aircraft batteries ''(Heimatflak)''.
* ''Luftwaffenhelfer'', 15–17-year-old male high school students and apprentices, who in addition to school or work manned ''Heimatflak''-batteries.
* Staff and members of detachments from paramilitary organizations attached to the ''Luftwaffe'', such as ''NSKK-Transportregiment Luftwaffe'' of the National Socialist Motor Corps, ''OT-Einsatz Luftwaffe'' of the Organisation Todt, and ''TENO-Einsatzgruppe Luftwaffe'' of the ''Technische Nothilfe''.
* ''RAD-Kriegshilfsdienst'' – female members of the ''Reichsarbeitsdienst'' in extended war service, as far as it was fulfilled in attachment to the ''Luftwaffe''.
Source:Absolon 1969, p. 239.

References

Notes

{{reflist

Cited literature

* Absolon, Rudolf (1969). ''Die Wehrmacht im Dritten Reich. Band V.'' (Schriften des Bundesarchivs). Boppard am Rhein: Boldt.
* Adler, Hermann & Rückens, Rolf (1941). ''Deutsche Luftwaffenkalender.'' Bamberg: J.W. Reindl Verlag.
* Brand, Arthur (1942). ''Das Deutsche Beamtengesetz.'' Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
* Davis, Brian L. (1999). ''Uniforms and Insignia of the Luftwaffe.'' Arms & Armour.
* ''Deutsches Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I, 1867-1945.'' ited as RGBl I* Henner, Sigurd & Böhler, Wolfgang (2014). ''Die Deutsche Wehrmacht. Dienstgrade und Waffenfarbe der Luftwaffe 1939-1945.'' Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag.
* Moll, Martin (1997). '' "Führer-Erlasse" 1939-1945.'' Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag.
* Richhardt, Dirk (2002). ''Auswahl und Ausbildung junger Offiziere 1930–1945.'' Diss. Marburg: Philipps–Universität Marburg.
* Schlicht, Adolf & Angolia, John R (1999). ''Die deutsche Wehrmacht. Uniformierung und Ausrüstung 1933-1945. Band 3: Die Luftwaffe.'' Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag.
* Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forcee (1945). ''Handbook for unit commanders (Germany).'' Revised edition. ited as SHAPE 1945* United States War Department (1944). ''Military occupational classification of enlisted personnel. TM 12-427.'' Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office. ited as TM 12-427* United States War Department (1945). ''Handbook on German military forces. TM-E 30-451.'' Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office. ited as TM-E 30-451

See also

* Organization of the Luftwaffe (1933–45)
* Ranks and insignia of the Luftwaffe (1935–45)

Luftwaffe
Military history of Germany during World War II
Military ranks of Germany