[Sticky] Fallschirmjäger Questions.

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I have 2 Obergefreiter chevron patches - one has a feldgrau green backing and the other is bottle green. Were Fliegerbluse rank patches always blue grey or is it a similar to Heer collar litzen (basically you sewed on whatever you could get your hands on).

Officially the backing should be blue-grey, I know of a supplier in CZ that does insignia for a few ££, Kavster thought they were expensive, but there are a few suppliers in USA also.

Let me know the details mate. Also any ideas on how to get these extra frikkin' gulls on the collar tabs? Mine have two spikes on them but they are angled out rather than down. Bend them more than a few degrees and they ping off...

http://www.bands-militaria.com/index.ph ... cat_id2=15 - look for the Luftwaffe section on the page

As for gulls - i know Anthony(militaria-net) does the good ones

I guess the current ones you have are, not the 'pins/spikes' on the back, but the triangle points on upper left and lower right what-ja-macallits? Em doof-ers lol

Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge - right or wrong for FJ impression?

Hmmm, I guess if you were doing a late war FJ impression (from '43 on) you could use it, as the FJ were fighting exclusively as infantry by then. Also, many were folded in to the Field Divisions as experienced officer and NCO cadres, and would have qualified just the same as the jagers they fought alongside. I have one...

heres one for you, may have been aksed else where but hey ho!

the weapons of the falsch! my understanding is that they where posible, were given the very best stuff, so i envisage plenty of support weapons (mg42's etc) as well as smgs and assualt rifles, but im also guessing like most ww2 german forces the kar 98 played a large part in their arsenal.. anyway the point of this post is am i right in saying that falschies can and would probably of used most weapons from gewehr 43's to stg44's, and probably stolen allied weapons as well?!

also, before the jump, they would of been issued a knife and a pistol, which pistol was it/most likely to have been, am i right in saying a luger, or again is that open to interpretation?

anyway, lookin forward to any replies!

When jumping, they would always be issued with a pistol - Luger or P38. This is because all other weapons were dropped in separate containers, because the Jerry parachute was useless, and couldn't take any more weight than was absolutely necessary. (That said, I have seen footage of a FJ jumping with an MP40 and dropping it to the ground moments before he landed.)

As for being uber-elite and having all the best weapons - sorry, I think that's a load of tosh. The K98 was their main weapon, as with all arms of the Wehrmacht throughout the war. From 42 onwards, they were never actually dropped again, so as land-based troops they would've had the usual mix of weapons. A typical rifle squad of 10-12 men would have had one or two MG42s, a couple of MP40s, and the rest K98s. G43s and MP44s were not very widespread, but did start to filter through to units as the war progressed.

ok mate, cheers

from 42 onwards, they were never actually dropped again, so as land-based troops they would've had the usual mix of weapons

Not entirely correct Andy. "Operation Stoesser", the Airborne element of the Ardennes Offensive was the last large FJ drop of the war, and it was a complete cock up. Not enough aircraft (or fuel!), inexperienced Ju pilots, inexperienced FJ (some of the them had literally NEVER jumped before!) and crap planning all led to the 3rd FJ Div being scattered widely, basically wasting the manpower. Less than 10% of the troops landed anywhere near their assigned DZ's!

However, it must be said that this actually worked to the Germans advantage to a degree, as their troops were dropped so widely that the US forces thought the attacking force was much larger than it actually was.

Wow, never realised that, Jay.

FJ certainly used some Heer kit, but I'm not sure about boots. They also had their own "Springerhosen" which were Feldgrau, rather than Lufty blue trousers.

I see no problem with using ankle boots or even LW blue trousers for a late war look. I would say go for a type 3 jump smock over a type 2 though, far more suitable for the set up you're planning.

Hello Steve, FJ would not use the A-frame, because they had so-called "cavalry" Y-straps, which had no hooks to attach it to. As for gas mask container - go for the cloth one. Breadbag, very useful - Luftwaffe blue one. In fact, both bits of kit are actually practical and authentic. The eagle goes on the right breast of the smock. Try www.militaria-net.co.uk for these bits.

I've not seen FJ with a Zeltbahn - although no doubt there is a picture that will prove me wrong!

[edit after shameful error]
Right breast on smock for the eagle, Left breast on Fliegerbluse for the jump qualification badge and other awards.

Green or tan breadbags are also OK for FJ. If you want the enemy to hear you coming from a mile off you could also get a mess tin.

The luftwaffe eagle goes on the right not the left. About level with the second button down. There is no need for a zelt as FJ as the smock can be waterproofed in the same way. A breadbag and maybe a waterbottle would be my recommendation for your next purchases.

Yes, sorry - I was thinking of the jump qualification eagle

(thought I'd edited my mistake before anyone noticed)

You're making me look stupid now!

If you are on a budget you could leave the Fliegerbluse until later. I use mine more for post-game-poncing than playing as I tend to sweat like Fred West's paper boy.

I'm assuming you've spotted the pull down kit guides at the top of the page?

Yes the jump smock was their combat uniform. In warmer weather, they would not wear the Fliegerbluse underneath.

If you can get a pair of British Army Boots Combat High (old style, eyelets all the way), that's a cheap alternative. Got Mine Unissued for £30.