IntroductionIntegrated Training Session: GM 001

Introducing a new concept of training for Re-Enactors within the German Section of Battlefront

Living History Group, Malta

Our Group so far …• Former members of OKW Malta• In 2010 Battlefront LHG was formed with just 6

members.• A British arm was officially formed in 2011.• Solely BLHG major event: Military Mtarfa 2011• 15 Germans, 11 British, 3 DRK nurses.

Fallschirmjäger-Abteilung

UnsereFallschirmjäger-

Abteilung• Part of Brigade-Ramcke formed in 1942• Luftwaffe Tropical Uniforms• Planned to take part in Operation Hercules• Then sent to North Africa to support Rommel’s

Deutches AfrikaKorps.

• Commander: • Oberst Hermann-Bernhard • Ramcke

Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke

• General der Fallschirmtruppe

• The only member of the Fallschirmtruppe awarded the Knight´s Cross with oak leaves, swords and diamonds.

Ramcke Brigade• About 4000-4500 personnel• Elements from 4 different FJR

o I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 - Major Kroho I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 - Major von der Heydteo 2./Fallschirmjäger-Battalion 5 - Major Hubnero Fallschirmjäger-Lehr-Battalion/ XI.Flieger-Korps - Major Burckhardt

• Panzerjäger, • Artillerie, • Pioneer

Possible Roles• Fallschirmjäger-pioneer

o Grenade bagso SMGo Sawo Wire Cuttero Shovelo Hatchet

• Fallschirmjäger-sanitätero Belt poucheso FJ medic bago Armbando Bandoleer with bandages?

Luftwaffe Hermann

Goering Division23-02-33 – 08-05-45

"To boldly go where no landser has been before" (HG Parachute Panzer Div. Motto)

23rd FEBRUARY 1933• The birth of the formation which would soon bear

the name of Hermann Goering began as a small Police formation on 23February1933, referred to as Polizeiabteilung z.b.V.  It was a relatively small force of only 14 Officers and about 400 men.  They were initially tasked with busting up the remaining communist cells within Berlin.

17th July 1933• Polizeiabteilung z.b.V was renamed,

"Landespolizeigruppe Wecke z.b.V".  It was the first police force of it's kind in Germany.  Near mid September 1933, Goering bestowed the unit with it's own standarte. In September 1933, Hermann Göring presented eight flags of this type to the "Landespolizeigruppe Wecke z.b.V." (Wecke State Police Group for special duties), one of his specially raised paramilitary units which received the traditional light green colours of the Berlin Guard Jäger/Schützen .

• These men wore the standard blue Prussian Police uniform until the green trimmed (Schutzpolizei) uniforms were authorized in Mid July 1933.  The cuff title LPG General Goering was fixed to the lower left sleeve.

22ndDecember 1933• Landespolizeigruppe Wecke z.b.V was again

renamed.  The new unit name was "Landespolizeigruppe General Goering".

•   1st April 1935:

To mark the occasion of a conscription requirement made by Hitler, the unit was again renamed.  The new identification was "Regiment General Goering".  

Members of the Landespolizei are sworn in during a ceremony signifying the completion of their basic level of training.  Of particular interest is the fact that several members are wearing the M1918 ear "cut-out" helmet. 

This insignia pairing was worn from 11 July 1934 through 28 July 1936.

23rd September 1935

Upon the unit's transfer to the Luftwaffe in September 1935, the police uniforms were kept in service but with the addition of the Luftwaffe eagle being placed over the right breast pocket of the tunic and on the visor cap.

1st October 1935:The Regiment General Goering was transferred into the Luftwaffe to become the new Fallschirmjager Corps.

23rd March1936:The Regiment was required to change to the Luftwaffe uniform.  The official Waffenfarbe was ordered to be white and the cuff title was changed to a blue cloth with "General Goering" embroidered onto it.  The EM collar tabs did have a secondary piping.  This would be the basic uniform throughout the war, with many changes to the insignia only, which will be addressed individually.  

Due to the multi specialty nature of this unit, there were many garments which were approved for use.  These range from Panzer Wraps, HBT light weight uniforms, camouflage garments, and many others. The regulations on the collar tabs changed quite a bit during the unit's lifetime.  

From 23March 1936 until January of 1943, the following tab piping was use.  All have the white basic waffenfarbe with:

Red Piping- Flak units

Above: Flak collar tab for UnterfeldwebelRight: Overcoat Flak Uffz .of Regiment General Goering & A Leutnant HG tab (Overcoat tabs were abolished before HG became a division)

Green piping- Other units(discontinued after 04Jan1943)

Yellow Piping-  Fallschimjäger BattalionWhite piping, with narrow dividing line between the piping and tab body- Grenadier and Guard Regiments Black piping- Pioneer Pink Piping- Panzer, Recon, and Tank Destroyer Battalion

Light Blue - Supply units

Golden Brown- Signals Battalion (Below left)

Panzerjägers were to use the green faced tab with pink piping

~ In April 1943, the use of the color piped collar tabs was discontinued.

Plain non-piped white tabs were to be worn by all members of the Hermann Goering Division.

The waffenfarbe was to be shown on the piping on the shoulder straps.

~ In January of 1944, the use of the white collar tabs was abolished from use on the field uniform. The ranking gulls were punched directly through the collar lapel.

Shoulder straps still used the waffenfarbe piping as before.

1941-1943 June 1941:

The Regiment was upgraded to a Motorized unit, with the its designation changed to “Regiment General Goering(mot)”.

15 July 1942:

The Regiment was upgraded and renamed to "Brigade Hermann Goering". 

Area of operations France & Italy  (Oct 1942 - Jan 1943) North Africa   (Jan 1943 - May 1943) 

Commanders  Generalmajor Paul Conrath  (15 Oct 1942 - 20 May 1943) 

General Paul Conrath (22 November 1896 – 15 January 1979

General der Fallschirmtruppe during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Oct1942

The Brigade was again upgraded and retitled "Division Hermann Goering" when Brigade Hermann Göring was upgraded with the addition of 5,000 Luftwaffe volunteers and Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 5 (remnants of three separate parachute units that hade fought on Crete and on the Eastern front).

The main body of the division was sent to Tunisia Jan - Mar 1943 (Jäger-Regiment HG was sent to Africa Nov 1942). The HG-units were known as Kampfgruppe Schmid (named after Generalmajor Schmid, commander of the advance section of the staff) and were sent to the southern sector of the front Feb were they replaced Korps-Gruppe Weber.

It fought with distinction in Tunisia but was forced to surrender with the rest of the axis troops in North Africa May 1943 and only a few men from the units managed to escape.

It was reformed May 1943 as Panzerdivision Hermann Göring.

End of 1st Presentation• Copyright retained by Battlefront ©2012• Ramcke Brigade Research & Presentation by

Christian De’ Bono• Hermann Goering Division Research &

Presentation by Baron Ironblood• This is just a sample demonstration to give an

idea what to expect.

• The next session is due for the 14th June 2012.