The news this morning stating that....

Heh heh heh. ONE Fallschirm beat THREE G.I.s in a bar fight back in the early 70's, and the Paras Galfriend beat Gary Mott, who was with the G.I.s. That gal cracked him cross hie forehead with a wine bottle--he still has the scars.

 

Yikes, no thanks, I wouldn't want to be part of that. That honey must have been a brute eh ?

E

 

I only know one ex-FJ guy personally, and he was part of the staff of an FJ division and did nothing but type and make coffee.

However, generally speaking, all FJ guys think they're really cool and are quite arrogant because of the "aura" that surrounds them. If you go to the FJ as a conscript, you don't have to jump, either. Jumping is optional.

I remember my Gruppenführer telling me about an exercise a year before I joined where engineers were pitted against an FJ unit. The engineers won.

However, one point that'll get you "shaking in your boots" again... remember about half a year ago, when the fighting started in Macedonia? The entire FJ division was put on alert, nobody was allowed to leave the barracks for two weeks on end.

[ 11 November 2001: Message edited by: Andreas Seidel ]

 

Germany decided to keep the Waffen SS pattern camouflage in their Bundeswehr service.
The guys with red berets are German Fallschirmjager.

I hope that the EKs are reinstated, might even be nice to see the Ritterkreuz reinstated, after all, these medals are for military bravery, not political affirmations-now if only ignorant citizens of our modern day world could see this!!!!!

 

Ryan--we might be getting what were asking for.

Some weeks ago, as was printed in a German paper. There was a story of a German politician of somekind, that was requesting that the reinstitution of these bravery awards was called for--should be looked at. Apparently, this politicain had signed his name to a bill or something fully supporting this idea.

I dont know anymore on this story, I suppose something will come down through the grapevines on the Wehrmacht forums.

We can always have hope

 

Carl, I think we talked about the medals once on the militaria forum, and we agreed that it is time for Germany to bring back the EK's or RK's. After all the generation of WW2 is slowly disappearing and any army needs a proper medal with tradition. Most of the current German medals are civilian, as a matter of fact, I don't even know for sure if my country has any military medals.
Concerning the topic of this thread, I believe that Germany has to stand up and send combat troops to certain parts of the world. The "Fallis" and KSK people that are in Afghanistan right now are the cream of the German military andalong with the Gebirgsjaeger and my own old unit the "Marinesicherung" the best light infantry in the German military. I have to agree with Andreas in the fact that some units in the German military don't get all the training they are supposed to get, especially in the Luftwaffe and the Heer. Especially the Panzer units are running reduced training to save money, something one of my school friends had to find out the boring way. He was in a Panzer unit near Montabaur in the Westerwald and he was bored out of his life for ten months, they never even fired live ammo with their tanks although they did have the Leo2. As for myself I think I was luckky as my unit required little money to maintain a busy schedule. We went bivouaking three times, went to Daaden, Sennelager, Oberlausitz, Gluecksburg Hammelburg and Wahner Heide for 3-14 day exercises, shot pretty much every weapon in our arsenal live, and on top of that got to see a whole crapload of VIPs and heads of state due to us being the ceremonial guard battalion of the German government.

 

Good Morning Miro, and thanks for this info as well. I have been talking with a friend of mine who spent portions of his service in Germany with German units. I think he was with an armored unit and the others--im not sure which--possibly a Gebirgsjager unit near Unter Ammergau.

This of course was in the 1960s and 1970s. They in his opinion--were good soldiers. The thing he liked the best when serving with a Germn unit--was that they always set up the Bier tent first (according to sarge)--and that he was always invited to drink what he wanted. ((Ill get more info places and dates when I can--of his service with German units.

I knew another person who was stationed in germany--was a sergeant I think in an armored unit, but looked down on German soldiers--as I guess the Germans he served with didnt meet his strange criteria I guess. He said these guys sported beards--etc--and I guess because of some facial hair to this guy--meant that these were sloppy soldiers. Of course I do not believe this story even not being there--because I see that Germans still have pride in many things.

Also what you say about training techniques etx--are the same for the American military. Not enough equipment--money for live fire exercises etc.

My friend ex-Platoon Sergeant William Vahaly, greatly admired the German soldiers he served with. He only speaks highly of these guys.

In the year 2000, it was reported that America had only 10 combat divisions, and only 5 were fully manned--equipped and ready for service. Not much at all.

On the reinstatement of the traditional bravery awards--I hope that the German Govt does reinstate the ek awards--shouldnt the current serving members of the German Military--at least have a chance to have a decent award? I think they deserve it.

Recently in the war in Afganistan--some members of the UK forces I think 2, are supposed to be decorated with the Medal of Honor, and I think 4 Canadian soldiers, are to recieve the Bronze Star. I think it is long overdue, that German soldiers should get more recognition and have better decorations.

Ive seen pictures of some of the current military/civilian awards that Germany can offer. Some actually look decent--and many are so bland. I think that just reinstating the all the grades of the eks--would at least be a begining. ALso, I think that the various combat badges should be reinstated as well--wound badges--etc.

I know that this is now too much to ask for--but I cannot see whats wrong with the Iron Cross design that Germany had from 1813 to 1957? I can see nothing wrong with having something to tie these current military members with something that is a part of the German traditional past.

 

EXXXXXXXXXXCELLENT!!!
I hope that these awards are reinstituted-then we can always have more Eiserne Kreuz recipients to write to!!!!!

 

I dont see a problem with troops from different Nations serving togeather. The Americans and the British did it in the war, and nobody understood a thing the other was saying....but it all worked out !....ha ha

 

This is both false. After WW2, the Bundeswehr had plain olive uniforms, and these were kept way into the 90s. Only a few years ago the switch to "Flecktarn" was completed. There are still some guys in the reserve that have the olive stuff, but very few.

Red berets are not worn by FJ. There are several different colours of beret:

Black - Panzer, Panzerjäger, Panzeraufklärer
Green - Panzergrenadiere, Jäger, Wachbattalion
Maroon - Fallschirmjäger, KSK, Fernspäher
Red - Artillerie, Topografietruppe, Heeresflugabwehr, Fernmelder, Pioniere, ABC-Abwehr, Op-Info, Instandsetzung, Nachschub, Feldjäger
Blue - Sanitäter

 

C, dont forget we have the PPCLI over there, who are regular infantry, and JTF2, similar to the SAS. Also The British have a Royal Marine Commando over there. No 40 Bish? Most of the troops over there are of pretty high caliber. I presume the Germans will be sending similar troops.

 

I have a question for those of you familiar with the German army. let me first say I know nothing of the post war German military. The only thing I can ever recall reading was an article by a former german soldier (draftee)In fact I believe the article was in Playboy, see some people DO read the articles in playboy. Anyhow this was back in the 70's. This guy claimed that the army was in terrible condition no one wanted to be there, or learn anything. Again before everyone jumps down my throat. I have abolutly no idea if any of what the man was saying is true. What are the facts?

 

Dear Andreas-i have the guide in front of me..
Fallschirmjager of teh modern-day Bundeswehr wear red berets...

The Camouflage WAS kept and was widely distributed, mostly to Elite force officers-sorry for the confusion-i shouldv'e been clearer

 

Andreas, only the Heer parts of the Wachbattalion wear green berets, the marinesicherung and Luftwaffe companies have their own berets. The Mariners have navy blue berets with golden Marinesicherung-insignia on them while the 2 Luftwaffe companies wear dark blue berets with the Oak Leaves and Gothic 'W' as insignia.

 

Miro - yes, you're quite correct there, sorry.

Panzerknacker - "maroon" was BS, sorry about that. The colour they have is not red in the traditional sense. It's called "Bordeuaxrot" officially, but it looks purplish and dark. Anybody with a bright red beret is NOT a FJ guy. And if your guide says he is, then it's plain wrong! Hope this clears it up.

I have no knowledge of ANY German WW2 uniforms being worn in the Bundeswehr, that also includes the camo stuff. At any rate, nobody I know remembers ever having seen or heard of SS camo pattern uniform parts in the Bundeswehr.

The new stuff, is, as I said, pretty recent.

Billy Bones - 1970 was a difficult time for the army. It was the time just after the big student riots in Germany, which were about as left as you can get without being communist in general, and quite further left than that in some cases. Anyway, this was the time when it was openly discussed whether Germany should not be entirely neutral and without any sort of armed forces. So that explains that.

Today there are numerous difficulties because of bad pay and because the risks are a lot higher than they used to be. Back in 1980 or even 1990, all you were waiting for was the Russians, and they never came. These days you have to get your ass into the line of fire half the time. Coupled with bad pay and plenty of alternatives....

Also the army is not getting enough funds anymore. The current situation is such that spending must be increased drastically or... well, I won't go on, this post is already long enough as it is!

 

Billy--believe me--I havent forgotten the Canadians. Im very sad at the fact that forur Canadian soldiers were killed by our airforces. I Just had not known what Canadian units were there by our side.

Ill tell you all something--I do thank God, that we do have great friends as the British, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and now the Germans. If Isreal gets chopped--America is the next--then the British--see where this thing is going?

Articles in Playboy? WHAT Articles? Sadly though today--most of it is only Ads and other junk and im not going to pay $8.00 for that magazine although the ladies are worth it.

Bordeaux Red was also used at the colors for the Smoke Troops, who were also the ones who operated the Nebelwerfers. I have a nice set of Officers collar tabs--definately used but in about a very fine condition--these are extremely difficult to find and are very expensive. I also have a set of enlisted mens shoulderboards.

The USA version of these guys were in Chemical Battalions.