National Socialist Flyers Corps

Template:Short description Template:Template other Template:Sidebar with collapsible lists The National Socialist Flyers Corps (Template:Langx; NSFK) was a paramilitary aviation organization of the Nazi Party.

History

NSFK was founded 15 April 1937 as a successor to the German Air Sports Association; the latter had been active during the years when a German air force was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles. The NSFK organization was based closely on the para-military organization of the Sturmabteilung (SA). A similar group was the National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK). During the early years of its existence, the NSFK conducted military aviation training in gliders and private airplanes.

Leadership

Friedrich Christiansen, originally a Generalleutnant then later a Luftwaffe General der Flieger, was NSFK Korpsführer from 15 April 1937 until 26 June 1943, followed by Generaloberst Alfred Keller until 8 May 1945. Hermann Goering as Reich Marshal was nominal head of the NSFK and was occasionally consulted on issues surrounding heavy transport, as at the Battle of Stalingrad.

Ranks, uniforms and other insignia

The paramilitary rank system was in use by the NSFK between the years of 1933 and 1945. The ranks were designed after paramilitary rank titles of the Sturmabteilung. Most ranks of the NSFK were also used by the National Socialist Motor Corps which maintained its own paramilitary rank system.

As with most Nazi paramilitary groups, rank patches were worn on a single collar opposite a badge of unit membership. The exception was for the ranks Standartenführer and above which displayed rank insignia on both collars.

Rank insignia

As of 1937, the final rank pattern of the National Socialist Flyer Corps was as follows:

Insignia		NSFK Rank	Translation	Luftwaffe equivalent
Collar	Shoulder
File:NSFK-Korpsführer.svg	File:NSFK-Korpsführer shoulder.svg	Korpsführer	Corps Leader	Generalfeldmarschall
File:NSFK-Ehrenführer.svg	File:NSFK-Gruppenführer shoulder.svg	Ehrenführer	Honorary Leader	Generaloberst
File:NSFK-Obergruppenführer.svg		Obergruppenführer	Senior Group Leader	General
File:NSFK-Gruppenführer.svg		Gruppenführer	Group Leader	Generalleutnant
File:NSFK-Brigadeführer.svg		Brigadeführer	Brigade Leader	Generalmajor
File:NSFK-Oberführer.svg		Oberführer	Senior Leader	Oberst
File:NSFK-Standartenführer.svg		Standartenführer	Regiment Leader	Oberst
File:NSFK-Obersturmbannführer.svg		Obersturmbannführer	Senior Assault Unit Leader	Oberstleutnant
File:NSFK-Sturmbannführer.svg		Sturmbannführer	Assault Unit Leader	Major
File:NSFK-Hauptsturmführer.svg	File:Luftwaffe epaulette Leutnant.svg	Hauptsturmführer	Chief Assault Leader	Hauptmann
File:NSFK-Obersturmführer.svg		Obersturmführer	Senior Assault Leader	Oberleutnant
File:NSFK-Untersturmführer.svg		Untersturmführer	Junior Assault Leader	Leutnant
File:NSFK-Obertruppführer.svg	File:Luftwaffe epaulette Mannschaften.svg	Obertruppführer	Senior Troop Leader	Stabsfeldwebel
File:NSFK-Truppführer.svg		Truppführer	Troop Leader	Hauptfeldwebel
File:NSFK-Oberscharführer.svg		Oberscharführer	Senior Squad Leader	Oberfeldwebel
File:NSFK-Scharführer.svg		Scharführer	Squad Leader	Unteroffizier
File:NSFK-Rottenführer.svg		Rottenführer	Section Leader	Obergefreiter
File:NSFK-Sturmmann.svg		Sturmmann	Storm Trooper	Gefreiter
File:NSFK-Mann.svg		Mann	Trooper	Flieger
None		Anwärter	Candidate	None

Uniforms

• File:Organisationsbuc00nati 0 orig 0711 ORGANISATIONSBUCH DER NSDAP 1943 Tafel 70 Das Nationalsozialistische Fliegerkorps NSFK. Standarte Sturmfahne Public domain CROPPED.jpg
• File:Organisationsbuc00nati 0 orig 0712 ORGANISATIONSBUCH DER NSDAP 1943 Tafel 71 Das Nationalsozialistische Fliegerkorps NSFK. Rottenführer im grosse Dienstanzug, Standartenführer im kleinen Dienstanzug Public domain CROPPED.jpg
• File:Organisationsbuc00nati 0 orig 0713 ORGANISATIONSBUCH DER NSDAP 1943 Tafel 72 Das Nationalsozialistische Fliegerkorps NSFK. Standartenführer im Ausgehanzug, Sturmbannführer im Abendanzug Public domain CROPPED.jpg
• File:Organisationsbuc00nati 0 orig 0714 ORGANISATIONSBUCH DER NSDAP 1943 Tafel 73 Das Nationalsozialistische Fliegerkorps NSFK. Dienstgradabzeichen (Kragenspiegeln u. Schulterklappen) etc. Public domain CROPPED.jpg

Source:

Rank flags

• NSFK Korpsführer
  NSFK Korpsführer
• NSFK Stabsführer
  NSFK Stabsführer
• NSFK Gruppenführer
  NSFK Gruppenführer
• NSFK Standartenführer
  NSFK Standartenführer
• NSFK Sturmangehörige
  NSFK Sturmangehörige
• NSFK Sturmführer
  NSFK Sturmführer
• NSFK Standarte
  NSFK Standarte
• NSFK Vehicle pennant
  NSFK Vehicle pennant
• NSFK White vehicle pennant
  NSFK White vehicle pennant
• NSFK Blue vehicle pennant
  NSFK Blue vehicle pennant

Source:

NSFK badges

• The Free Balloon Pilot Badge (Das Abzeichen für Freiballonführer). This was authorized on 10 March 1938 by NSFK Korpsführer, Christiansen.Template:Sfn
• The Motor Aircraft Pilot Badge (Das Abzeichen für Motorflugzeugführer). This was authorized on 12 July 1938 by Christiansen.Template:Sfn
• The Large Glider Flyer Badge (Das Große Segelfliegerabzeichen). This was authorized on 26 January 1942 by Christiansen.Template:Sfn