Assistance With Book on Helferin

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djpool
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Posts: 11
Joined: 23 Jun 2014, 19:04

Assistance With Book on Helferin

#1

Post by djpool » 13 Aug 2014, 00:52

Hi all,

I think a short introduction is in order before I get down to business. My name is Jim Pool and I have been collecting German militaria since the 1970s. I am the co author and author of the two volume series on German Rations during WWII. I have just submitted a two Volume series on German personal items plus for publication (hopefully in the next year).

I am currently gathering material for a book on female military auxiliaries. The draft title is Ride of the Valkyries: The Rise and Fall of the Wehrmachthelferinnenkorps During WWII. The project is well beyond the draft stages with at least 80% of the text done. The text is centered on a manuscript written by a German officer after the war, as part of the U.S. Militaries efforts to understand the German military. It was augmented by other wartime sources as well as the standard contemporary references.

Additionally I have screened thousands of pictures and so far I have around 800 wartime and contemporary photos of helferin related items that will go into the book.

The table of contents is shown below. Under each chapter I have annotated areas I could use help on. There are many collectors already helping me on this project and this is my effort to cast a wide net to try to write the best product I can. The list is not all inconclusive so if you have anything you would like to contribute please let me know. Anyone wishing to participate please contact me at:

[email protected]

The only thing I can offer in return for your generosity is an acknowledgement in the book. I will also be asking each contributor to sign and return a Letter of Release.

<chap>Table of Contents


<text>Acknowledgements
<text>Introduction
<text>Chapter 1 Peacetime Employment of Women in the Wehrmacht and the Transition to War

-Pictures of the Badge for Civilian Members of the Armed Forces in Wear by females (WG with eagle head)
-Pictures of the Badge of Military Administration for Belgium, France etc in wear by females.


<text>Chapter 2 Army Women Signal Auxiliaries (Nachrichtenhelferinnen des Heeres)

-Contemporary pictures of the leaders brooch.
-Contemporary pictures of the White Summer blouse and skirt
-Contemporary pictures of the rain cape.
-Contemporary pictures of the greatcoat.
-Contemporary pictures of the work smock.
-Contemporary pictures of the leaders brooch.
-Contemporary pictures of the White Summer blouse and skirt
-Contemporary pictures of the rain cape.
-Contemporary pictures of the greatcoat.


<text>Chapter 3 Army Corps of Women Staff Auxiliaries (Stabshelferinnenschaft)

-Contemporary pictures of the Stabshelferin des Heeres Cuff title gold on black band.
-Contemporary pictures of the Stabshelferinnen-Führerin des Heeres Cuff title.
-Contemporary pictures of the Wirtschaftshelferin des Heeres Cuff title.
-Contemporary pictures of the Stabshelferinnen-Führerin des Heeres Cuff title.
-Contemporary pictures of the single breasted jacket with two hip pockets.
-Wartime pictures of translators wearing cuff title.
-Wartime pictures of pay personnel.
- Wartime pictures of foreign currency exchange personnel.


<text>Chapter 4 Army Women Field Auxiliaries (Truppenhelferinnen)

-Contemporary pictures of the M43 cap without piping as worn by Truppenhelferinnen.
-Contemporary pictures of the overseas cap without piping as worn by Truppenhelferinnen.
-Wartime pictures of female horse breakers.
-Wartime pictures of female vehicle drivers.

<text>Chapter 5 Army Corps of Women Welfare Auxiliaries (Betrueuungshelferinnenschaft)

-Contemporary pictures of the nurse auxiliary uniform.
-Wartime pictures of the nurse auxiliaries operating vehicle rest stops.

<text>Chapter 6 Luftwaffe Signals Auxiliary Corps: Flugmeldedienst
<text>Chapter 7 Luftwaffe Signals Auxiliary Corps: Signals Auxiliaries
<text>Chapter 8 Flakwaffen-Helferinnen Korps

-Contemporary pictures of the Dienstbuch für Flakwaffenhelferinnen.

<text>Chapter 9 Miscellaneous Luftwaffe Helferinnen

-Any wartime or contemporary pictures of females or uniforms in the Weather Service.

<text>Chapter 10 Marinehelferinnen

-Contemporary pictures of the Navy Model 1933 and Model 1940 tunics for males with or preferably without insignia.
-Contemporary pictures of the single breasted field gray jacket with two pleated pockets at the hip.
-Contemporary pictures of any dark blue female jackets of coats.
-Contemporary pictures of the female rank insignia.
-Contemporary pictures of the white HBT uniform worn by KM female personnel.


<text>Chapter 11 Reichsarbeitsdienst der Weiblichen Jugend (RADwJ)

-Any wartime or contemporary pictures of RADwJ members serving in Air Defense Duties ie searchlights etc.

<text>Chapter 12 Wehrmachthelferinnen Korps

-Contemporary pictures of KM model 44 uniforms.

<text>Chapter 13 Miscellaneous Clothing Items

-Contemporary pictures of other female items: sports suit, shoes, bras, underwear etc.

<text>Chapter 14 The Last Ride of the Valkyries
<text>Bibliography


I’m sure I missed something so if you have any wartime pictures or contemporary items that you think might be of interest please E Mail me.

Thank you for your time.

Warm Regards, Jim Pool

history1
Banned
Posts: 4095
Joined: 31 Oct 2005, 10:12
Location: Austria

Re: Assistance With Book on Helferin

#2

Post by history1 » 13 Aug 2014, 18:28

Hi,

please note that the plural of "Helferin" is "Helferinnen", otherwise you´re talking about a single person meaning the opposite [ eg.: [...] and contemporary photos of helferin related items that will go into the book[...]. And it´s "Betreuungshelferinnenschaft" just for the case...

Regards,
History1


djpool
Member
Posts: 11
Joined: 23 Jun 2014, 19:04

Re: Assistance With Book on Helferin

#3

Post by djpool » 13 Aug 2014, 21:58

History1,

Thanks for the clarification. Even though I know the difference I sometimes use the term Helferin when I mean Helferinnen. I will have to be very careful during the editing process. Thanks Jim

djpool
Member
Posts: 11
Joined: 23 Jun 2014, 19:04

Re: Assistance With Book on Helferin

#4

Post by djpool » 08 Apr 2016, 03:17

Just a short update. The book should be getting printed as I type this. In fact I hope to get my advanc copy by the end of the month. Here is the promo on Schiffers site.

http://www.schifferbooks.com/last-ride- ... -5969.html

It's available for a decent price on Amazon. War Jim

Knouterer
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Posts: 1661
Joined: 15 Mar 2012, 18:19

Re: Assistance With Book on Helferin

#5

Post by Knouterer » 08 Apr 2016, 09:18

The title seems a tiny bit over the top, given that the Nazis were loth to let women do anything that looked even remotely like fighting, so we're talking about typists, switchboard operators, etc. ... :)
"The true spirit of conversation consists in building on another man's observation, not overturning it." Edward George Bulwer-Lytton

djpool
Member
Posts: 11
Joined: 23 Jun 2014, 19:04

Re: Assistance With Book on Helferin

#6

Post by djpool » 08 Apr 2016, 13:35

Knouterer wrote:The title seems a tiny bit over the top, given that the Nazis were loth to let women do anything that looked even remotely like fighting, so we're talking about typists, switchboard operators, etc. ... :)
The Valkyries weren't warriors either. They were odins handmaidens. They choose who lived and died on the battlefield, and escorted the dead to Vahalla. The Helferinnen in WWII freed up male soldiers so they could fight at the front. Many of those freed up probably did go to Valhalla. So the title does not mean to imply that Wehrmacht Helferinnen were employed in combat.

But more to your point the Wehrmacht Helferinnen, yes they were never classified as soldiers. Towards the end of the war female auxiliaries were trained on defensive weapons like pistols, panzerfaust etc. The only combat role they were employed in was as members of anti aircraft gun crews towards the very end of the war. Even then it was only in areas not considered high risk target areas.

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