Luftwaffe Customs and Courtesies

[Broncazonk]

I've had a chance to review Aircraft of the Luftwaffe Fighter Aces, Vol. I and II by Bernd Barbas which contains thousands of pertinent photographs. Luftwaffe officers and pilots are pictured wearing three types of covers: peaked visor (crusher,) garrison cap (forage,) and the M43 billed hat. Enlisted personnel are pictured wearing the garrison cap.

There are numerous photos of uncovered pilots. The most common photo of the uncovered condition occurs immediately before or after a flight or mission. The pilot's cover has apparently been left in a ready room and the leather flying helmet has been removed for the photo. There are also photos of uncovered pilots in dress uniforms, a condition apparently requested by the photographer?

Enlisted ground personnel are frequently photographed sans garrison cap, usually when they are on the flight line. Not having their caps blown away by prop wash is the most likely explanation.

When being addressed by officers on the flight line, enlisted personnel are frequently photographed standing at attention. As far as I know, this practice is distinct and different from the American courtesy during WWII, (and indeed today.)

More observations to come.

Bronc

[Dénes Bernád]

There are many photos taken after August 1944, where Luftwaffe men salute the traditional way, i.e., not the "Hitler salute". So, despite being mandatory, it was not always used after that date, and much less before (in contrast to the US war movies, where German soldiers, i.e. "bad guys", seem to always salute with the "Nazi salute", regardless of the depicted time period).