Hello all,
thanks to Vikki recognizing the potential of a hazy blurred something in an Ebay auction scan you are now to see
a nice example of a
Wehrmachtsgefolge brooch in wear. Not a
Helferin item in the truest sense of the word but a genuine female
Wehrmacht item no doubt.
The two women depicted below were (according to the backsides of the photo set in question) stationed in Stavanger, Norway in 1943. The one on the left is in all likelihood wearing the pin for civilian
Wehrmacht employees on her lapel. The woman on the right displays on her tie what is known to collectors as the female version of the
Wehrmachtsgefolge insignium.
The term
Wehrmachtsgefolge insignium is a bit misleading because the woman on the left belongs to the
Wehrmachtsgefolge also, but to another category. If I understood the booklet by Patzwall (1988) correctly which partially consists of the Wehrmacht regulations in question,
Wehrmachtsgefolge consisted of two categories:
a) Civilians employed directly by the Wehrmacht (i.e. the
Gefolgschaft* of the
Wehrmacht)
b) Persons employed by organisations working for the
Wehrmacht (like
Organisation Todt, parts of
RAD,
NSKK etc.)
*)
Gefolgschaft is classical Third Reich newspeak. The boss of a company or factory became the
Betriebsführer (company leader) while the employees warped into the
Gefolgschaft (literally: followers).
Persons belonging to category a) received the pin the left woman is wearing. That pin in itself existed in two different versions, one with a silvery surface and another one with a brunished surface depending on what raw materials were available. The top picture below seems to be the silvery variant while the Stavanger woman further down uses the brunished one.
Category b) was split up further. For persons wearing a uniform of said organisations that was deemed sufficient to document their participation in the German war effort. (Of course they had to have the necessary paperwork at hand when being questioned.)
Just for those parts of category b) that could not or did not receive a uniform the
Wehrmachtsgefolge insignium was introduced. Reasons for this could be that simply no uniform existed (when did
OT introduce female uniforms?) or that is was uneconomical. (Patzwall (1988, p.13) shows the case of a man conscripted into the
Wehrmachtsgefolge for just five weeks to do slide shows in
Truppenbetreuung (troops entertainment).)
At least that's how I deduct the legal situation from the regulations quoted by Patzwall (1988). There seems to be considerable controversy between the bigwhigs of
Wehrmacht insignia regarding this item as Patzwall (1988, p.6) scolds other capacities in field like Klietmann or Schlicht & Angolia for misrepresenting the relevant regulations.
This confusion is also reflected in inquiries that Vikki did with various dealers and/or collectors some time ago
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http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... &start=141
The
Wehrmachtsgefolge insignium itself existed in two versions again. The male version shown in the uppermost photo below had a diameter of 25 mm and a vertical needle (i.e.
Wehrmachtsgefolge pin) while the female version had a diameter of 38 mm and came with a horizontal security needle (i.e.
Wehrmachtsgefolge brooch).
References:
Klaus D. Patzwall
Zivilabzeichen der Wehrmacht 1934 - 1945;
Militaria Publication Band 4
Militair-Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall; Norderstedt; 1988
Best regards
Torsten
Photo property of Matt Gibbs, published at
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... &start=135