Ground crew: did they get medals?

[Snautzer]

Was wondering if and what type these men could have earned.

[Thomas H]

Originally Posted by Snautzer

Was wondering if and what type these men could have earned.

I would say mainly war merit cross II and I class with swords.

But guess that woundbadges and iron cross II class were also awarded.

Regards, Thomas

[edwest2]

Unless they were pressed into combat, I don't think so. Perhaps the War Merit Cross.


https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war...ose_combat.htm

[Peter]

I think it also has to do with what you define as ground crew.

If you include flak crew, they would have been awarded combat related medals/awards.

If you are limiting them to "black men" and clerical staff, they would at least been awarded the War Merit Cross

And to my knowledge, all military staff were awarded the wound badge if wounded

Peter

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_...ss/2_class.htm

[Snautzer]

100 percent ground crew. Generals got high medals ( yes i know) for pushing papers. I find it difficult to see men in blistering cold or heat, keeping planes in service beyond what could be done have got so limited awards. Guess it is on all fronts, but just wondering

[Peter]

If we don't limit it to "medals" there were also other awards like the campaign shields as an example.

If we look at one of the award critteria for the Eastern Front Medal, 60 days in the combat zone, even if not been in direct combat.

And as an example for the Krim Shield, to serv in the region for 3 months.

I would say that the grund crew got their awards as well.

Peter

[Tim O.]

My understanding is that the War Merit Cross was intended for those who served but did not directly face the enemy. On that basis ground crew would qualify. I think Wound Badges could be awarded for frostbite, which affected ground crew so badly in the Russian Winter of 1941-42 before winter clothing arrived. No question though that, as with the Allies, the focus of most German awards was for those who met the enemy rather than those who made it possible for them to do so.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Peter

If you include flak crew, they would have been awarded combat related medals/awards.http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_...ss/2_class.htm

Also, later in the war "ordinary" ground crew manned auxiliary anti-aircraft weapons on airfields, so any success could have been rewarded.

[Snautzer]

I collect these crew photos for quite some time now. Cant remember i saw one of them wth a badge ribbon or medal on there working suits. However i think they would have worn it when they were in regular uniform. So question remains what kind of medals ribbons etc could they have earned according to the rules and do we have some proof of that?

[Richard Mills]

By far the most common (although not without exception) awards I have seen encountered in Soldbucher for 'Black Men' are;

Kreigsverdienstkreuz II Klasse mit Schwerter
Medaille für den Italienisch-Deutschen Feldzug in Afrika

I have also seen,

Verwundetenabzeichen
Romanian Crusade against Communism Medal.

Regards Richard.