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Luftwaffe Helferin.

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#1

From around the internet.  Genuine war period photographs, good for uniforms/insignia reference:

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#2

Nice! Thanks.I think the 8th one is Luftschutz, not Helferin.

  • Author
#3

More details on the above images:

 

Image 8 shows a full-time member of the Luftschutz.  This is the equivalent of the U.K.'s "ARP" - Air Raid Precautions service.

 

Image 9 shows female Wehrmacht personnel in custody as prisoners of war.  The photograph was made in Regensburg, March-April 1945.

 

Image 12 shows a Luftwaffehelferin wearing an RADwJ brooch.  She has presumably completed her compulsory labor service.

 

Images 21 and 22 are the same, one monochrome and the other later colorized.  These two women were captured by American forces in April 1945.

 

Image 35 shows a Luftwaffehelferin with a RADwJ member who was likely assigned to anti-aircraft duties as part of her labor service.

 

Ranks and badges:

 

Images 4, 5, 6, 10, 14, 23, 27, 30, 32 & 35 show Luftwaffehelferin ranks displayed on the upper left sleeve, post-July 1941.

 

Images 16 & 29 show Luftwaffehelferin ranks displayed on the lower left sleeve, pre-July 1941.  The ranks were amalgamated when the Nachrichtenhelferinnen and Flakhelferinnen branches were merged under a single command/rank structure shortly after the commencement of Operation Barbarossa.

 

Images 14, 23 & 30 show female personnel wearing the Kolbenringe ("piston rings") of a Spiess, indicating "first sergeant"/senior NCO/supervisory-managerial status.

 

Images 14, 23 & 30 show four pointed stars or "pips" on the uniform jacket lapels.  This is an indicator of rank status for Luftwaffehelferinnen whose ranks included the title "Führerin", which indicated officer-equivanent status.  These personnel had a loop on the base of their rank chevrons.

 

Intetesting...  Images 10, 14, 23, 25 & 28 show the standard Luftwaffeadlernadel... A standard stickpin worn on the tie.  However, image 29 shows a "blitz" pin, and image 33 shows a Luftwaffe other ranks collar tab gull converted to a tie tac.

 

In images 39 & 40, the Flakhelferin in the center wears the membership badge of the NS-Frauenschaft, and the Flakhelferin on the right wears what looks like a membership badge of the Deutsche Frauenwerk.

 

The three Luftwaffehelferinnen in image 38 have been decorated with the Kriegsverdienstkreuz zweite Klasse mit Schwerter.

 

Image 32 shows what looks like the Luftwaffe Horcher trade badge on the lower left sleeve of their uniform jackets.

 

Images 5, 6, 10, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30 show, on the upper left sleeve, the Luftwaffe Flugmeldepersonal trade badge.  This is the air raid warning service.

 

Below images:

1.  Ranks and insignia.

2. Luftwaffe Horcher trade badge.

3. Luftwaffe Flugmeldepersonal trade badge.

 

Sources:

https://www.germandaggers.com/Gallery/CP.php

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranks_and_insignia_of_the_German_Women's_Auxiliary_Services

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#4

It is funny to think that Hitler and his war created so many opportunities for women in Germany and in the Allied nations. 

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