The Kriegsberichter der Luftwaffe:

Gefreiter, Kriegsberichter der Luftwaffe, Falschirm-Abteilung:

The Luftwaffe established their Kriegsberichter program in Juli u. August 1939 with Kompanies 1-4 at Berlin, Braunschweig, Munich, and Vienna with an independent platoon in Königsberg for the East Prussia Air Force Command.

During 1940 the Luftwaffe added Kriegsberichter Kompanies 5 - 8 (Lw. KBK) as well as a Falschirm-Abteilung. By 1943 there were a total of eight Luftwaffe Kriegsberichter sub headquarters with around 25 Companies.

At the end of 1944, a Wehrmacht Kriegsberichter Amt or department was established putting all services under one command. Training of replacement Kriegsberichter initially took place at the Kriegsberichter Ersatz Kompanie at Potsdam and included all branches.

From the Autumn of 1940 Luftwaffe reporters were assigned to the Luftwaffe Kriegsberichter Kompanie zbV, which was relocated to Berlin. Assigned to cover the campaigns of the famous Falschirmjäger the Kriegsberichter had to complete the parachute course at Stendal.

The Gefreiter wears the Flieger Bluse as issued in December 1940 with integral pockets and a button-down flap. The Bluse is worn with either the Feldblau service trouser or the Feldgrau Fallschirmhosen along with Feld order Schrimmütz. Der Ärmellstreifen für Kriegsberichter der Luftwaffe is worn on the right sleeve. The collar Litzen and Schulterklappen display the Gold-Gelb Waffenfarben worn by all flying troops. Along with the Eiserne Kreuz II. Klasse the Gefreiter has earned the Erdkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe for standing side by side with the Jäger in combat.

Also displayed is the Fallschirmschützenabzeichen earned following the completion of training. While in combat the Kriegsberichter wears the same Falschirmjäger-Stahlhelm u. Schleifanzug (smock) as all other Falschirmjäger. Details of the Fsch. Abt. / KB d. LW Erkennungsmarken. Stamped on an aluminum disk as used by all flight troops.

Luftwaffe Kriegsmaler Regierungsinspektor (Oberleutnant), Wehrmachtbeamte ~ Kriegsberichter 1944:

Luftwaffe Wehrmachtbeamte consisted of groups of civilians who possessed skills needed to fill military specialty jobs that did not require them to exercise command or military leadership. As with the other branches of the military the Luftwaffe had its own rank and categorization system in place that delegated branch Waffenfarbe on the shoulder insignia.  In the case of this Kriegsberichter, it is golden-yellow designating him as Propagandaoffizier.  

Recruited by the Abteilung Wehrmacht propaganda (WPr) of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht under Generalmajor Hasso von Wedel.  These men were then seconded to fill Wehrmachtbeamte positions such as artists, film directors, editors, and the such working on their own, in the case of most artists, reporting to their superior or in a position managing the field office and staff that supplied the Heer, Luftwaffe, u. Kriegsmarine high commands with print, radio, and film records from the front to be released to the public or retained for the historical record.  Additional training, uniforms, and support were provided by the gaining service branch.

A Kriegsmaler or war artist, this Regierungsinspektor, has been on the front lines with the Fallschirmjäger Regiments in Krete and with Luftwaffe forces in Afrika.  A Skata University-trained technical artist, he can capture moments in a sketch as well as create a full-color scene or portrait of a hero.  Artists provided images for training pamphlets as well as military and civilian publications. Often Sketches were incorporated in postcards that mailed poses of the heroic German military in far-off lands around the greater Reich, ever keeping the war in a positive light in front of the civilian population.

A Fliegerbluse, Fallschirmjägerhosen, shirt, with or without a tie, Fliegermütz combined with a leather officer belt and Springerstiefel as a working uniform.  When on the front line he will wear a Fallschirmjägerhelm and camouflaged smock or “Knochensack” and work in a  Kriegs-Skizzenbüch with pencils, charcoal, and other art supplies out of a leather map case.  In combat areas, the Kriegsberichter was expected to engage in fighting if called upon so his belt would contain a holstered pistol. 

The Fallschirmabzeichen, Erdkampfabziechen, u. Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse attests he is no stranger to front-line operations in Krete and Afrika.  He has also been awarded the Italian Medal of Valor as well as the Italian / Africa Campaign Medal.