WW2 German 1940 Luftwaffe Hauptfeldwebel Lehrgang Gießen Discipline Regulations Documents

Excellent original January 1940 German Luftwaffe instructional document grouping from the Hauptfeldwebel-Lehrgang (First Sergeant/Senior NCO course) of the Flughafenbereich Gießen.

This is a particularly interesting early-war administrative training grouping dealing with the duties of senior Luftwaffe NCOs, military discipline, punishment, complaints, personnel records and clothing administration. The material is typewritten and several sheets contain original period pencil notes, underlining and study markings.

The heading appearing repeatedly is:

“Hauptfeldwebel-Lehrgang – Kdo. des Flughafenbereichs Giessen – Januar 1940.”

Translation:

“Hauptfeldwebel Course – Command of the Gießen Airfield District – January 1940.”

Subjects represented in the grouping

Dienstobliegenheiten eines Bekleidungsverwalters – Duties of a Clothing Administrator.
This section explains responsibility for the receipt, storage, accounting, maintenance and issue of uniforms, equipment and clothing. It discusses clothing stores, repair workshops, inventory records, fire protection and the various books and lists that the administrator was required to maintain.

Disziplinarstrafordnung – Military Disciplinary Regulations.
Detailed instructional material concerning disciplinary authority and the punishments that could be imposed upon officers, NCOs and enlisted personnel. Punishments discussed include reprimands, room arrest, light and aggravated arrest, restriction of leave, punitive drill and reduction in rank.

Fragestellung aus der Disziplinarstrafordnung – Questions from the Disciplinary Regulations.
A lengthy examination/study sheet containing approximately 50 numbered questions concerning military punishment, arrest procedures, complaints, punishment records and the responsibilities of commanding officers.

Bestimmungen über Führen der Strafbücher – Regulations for Maintaining Punishment Books.
Instructions for Luftwaffe units concerning the recording of disciplinary, judicial and police-imposed punishments. It explains how names, transfers, offenses, promotions and punishment records were entered.

Beschwerdeordnung – Complaint Regulations.
Covers the formal procedure by which soldiers could submit complaints against disciplinary decisions and other matters, including the time limits and chain of command through which complaints were handled.

Particularly interesting named example – Obergefreiter Max Pumpe

One of the most interesting pages is headed “Verwarnung” (Warning) and concerns Obergefreiter Max Pumpe.

It is dated:

Gießen, 9 January 1940

and references:

5. K.G. 55

The document describes Pumpe’s repeated disciplinary problems, including:

• Overstaying leave on three occasions
• Neglect of weapons and clothing
• Insulting superiors on two occasions
• Unmilitary conduct in public and toward superiors
• Incurring debts totaling 285 Reichsmarks
• Failure to obey an order

His accumulated punishments are listed as:

3 days light arrest
29 days aggravated arrest
3 × ½-hour punitive drill
36 days restriction of leave

The commanding officer states that previous warnings had failed and that Pumpe was being given a final opportunity to improve, with possible discharge for lack of suitability if further disciplinary problems occurred.

The page identifies the issuing authority as a:

Hauptmann und Staffelkapitän – Captain and Squadron Commander

The KG 55 connection is particularly desirable. Kampfgeschwader 55 was an established Luftwaffe bomber formation, and surviving material documents personnel serving with the Geschwader during the war. Weitze

Historical significance

Rather than an ordinary individual personnel form, this grouping provides an unusually detailed look at the day-to-day administrative responsibilities of a Luftwaffe Hauptfeldwebel immediately after the outbreak of WWII.

The combination of January 1940 dating, Gießen airfield command provenance, Luftwaffe disciplinary regulations, handwritten study annotations, clothing administration material and the named KG 55 disciplinary case makes this an excellent research grouping.

The Max Pumpe sheet is especially interesting because it appears to have been included as a real-world example or instructional case demonstrating how disciplinary regulations were applied within an operational Luftwaffe unit.

Condition

Original period-used condition with expected age toning, edge wear, creasing, small edge tears, pencil annotations, underlining and handling wear. Some sheets remain grouped together with an old paper clip. Please examine all photographs carefully for exact contents and condition.

Guaranteed original WWII-period material.

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