DLV
The German Air Sports Association (German: Deutscher Luftsport-Verband; DLV), sometimes also called Reich Air Sports Association, was an association founded by the NSDAP from March 1933 to April/May 1937 to create a uniform basis for military flight training. In 1937, the DLV was dissolved and its successor organization, the National Socialist Flying Corps (NSFK), was founded. The NSFK was a public corporation and thus subordinate to the Reich Aviation Minister, Hermann Göring.
Contents
History
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The association, divided into regional air sports groups, was considered the successor to the German Aviation Association (DLV), founded in 1902. The association's chairman was Hermann Göring, and the vice-chairman was Ernst Röhm. Within the DLV, Göring developed, among other things, the later successful plan to establish the "Luftwaffe", a new air force as an independent branch of the army, separate from the army, against the wishes of the old Imperial German Army and Reichswehr generals.
- "The Führer has ordered that all forces of German aviation be unified. I have therefore agreed with the Chiefs of Staff of the SA and the Reichsführer of the SS to unite these forces within the framework of the German Air Sports Association. They will form the core of new air squadrons there." — Hermann Göring
The soldiers of the Reichswehr who, between 1933 and the Luftwaffe's unveiling in 1935, were transferred to the command of the Reich Air Ministry, were formally discharged from active service and admitted to the Fliegerschaft (flying troops), which was corporately affiliated with the German Air Sports Association. The DLV's command authorities could not issue commands within this sub-organization.
These soldiers and pilots, in addition to their former rank with the suffix "a. D." (retired), held a DLV leadership rank and wore special insignia on their uniforms, since 10 April 1934, with two shoulder straps instead of one; however, many disregarded this, including Bruno Loerzer, who still wore only one shoulder strap when appointed Reich Air Sports Leader (Reichsluftsportführer).
Training
Training took place in various locations, but, as before the First World War, Döberitz airfield proved to be the central hub for preparation for military aviation, while Seligenstadt served as the association's testing ground. Some DLV pilots, the most talented, were sent to southern Italy. Wearing the uniforms of the Regia Aeronautica Italiana, the Royal Italian Air Force, these pilots learned aerial combat shooting, general flying skills, and the art of fighter piloting, primarily from German instructors of the former Imperial Air Force.
Advertising pilots
Most DLV pilots, however, had to train as "advertising pilots" on old training aircraft. The squadrons were given cover names, such as "Advertising Squadron Central Germany in the German Air Sports Association" in Döberitz. This squadron became the nucleus of the new Luftwaffe (→ Döberitz Air Wing). Other units had more evocative names, such as "Repair Workshop and Spare Parts Depot of the Reichsbahn (Freight Routes)" in Brandenburg or "Nautical Surveying Department" on the Bug peninsula on the Baltic Sea. In 1935, the uniform of the German Air Sports Association (DLV) became the Luftwaffe uniform with minor modifications (military shoulder boards, etc.).
President
On 25 March 1933, Bruno Loerzer became the first President of the German Air Sports Association (until 25 October 1935) and from 26 July 1935 Reich Air Sports Leader, before returning to the Luftwaffe as a colonel at the end of 1935 and being appointed commander of a fighter wing in 1937. In 1938, he became Inspector of Fighter Pilots. From 1 November 1935, the future General of the Air Force, Alfred Mahncke, was President of the German Air Sports Association (DLV) and Reich Air Sports Leader, as well as Inspector of the Air Force Reserve.
SA/SS
Following the "Machtübernahme"", the SA and SS air squadrons were incorporated into the German Air Sports Association (DLV). This ended their SA and SS memberships, apparently to the regret of those affected, including Eduard Ritter von Schleich. In an order dated 15 May 1933, Ernst Röhm emphasized that this decision had been difficult for him:
- "However, because the DLV's air squadrons are composed solely of SA and SS men and are to continue to be made available to the SA on a case-by-case basis, the connection to the SA and SS units is ensured, so that even after their disbandment, the air squadrons can still consider themselves members of the large brown army."
Leader ranks of the DLV
Before the Luftwaffe was officially revealed in March 1935, the military pilots of the still-camouflaged air force apparatus were listed as part of the German Air Sports Association (DLV) and had ranks that were still strongly based on the Prussian/German army ranks, but were often given aviation-related designations (e.g., pilot), with the DLV serving as the umbrella organization for military training until the Luftwaffe of the Wehrmacht was officially established. It is important to note that, albeit the majority, not all officers of the DLV would automatically become officers of the Luftwaffe.
| Air sports rank | comparable military rank |
|---|---|
| DLV-Fliegerchef | Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General) |
| DLV-Fliegervizechef | Generalmajor (Generalmajor) |
| DLV-Fliegerkommodore | Oberst (Colonel), Kapitän zur See |
| DLV-Fliegervizekommodore | Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel), Fregattenkapitän |
| DLV-Fliegerkommandant | Major, Korvettenkapitän |
| DLV-Fliegerkapitän | Rittmeister/Hauptmann (Captain), Kapitänleutnant |
| DLV-Schwarmführer | Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant), Oberleutnant zur See |
| DLV-Kettenführer | Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant), Leutnant zur See |
| DLV-Obermeister (Oberflugmeister, Oberfunkmeister, Oberortermeister, Oberwerkmeister) | Oberfeldwebel and comparable naval ranks |
| DLV-Meister | Feldwebel |
| DLV-Untermeister | Unterfeldwebel |
| DLV-Flugzeugführer (also: DLV-Bordfunker and DLV-Oberwart) | Unteroffizier (NCO) |
| DLV-Hilfsflugzeugführer (Hilfsbordfunker, Unterwart) | Gefreiter |
| DLV-Oberflieger | Oberflieger |
| DLV-Flieger | Flieger |
Ring der Flieger e. V.
The Ring of Aviators e. V. or Ring of German Aviators (RDF) (also called "Fliegerring") was the association of various aviation "comradeship associations" after the First World War.
The first chairman of the flying club was Ernst von Hoeppner, a former General of Cavalry and Commanding General of the Air Force (Kogenluft) in the First World War, who served until his death. He was succeeded in 1922 by the former Inspector of the Air Force, Lieutenant General (ret.) Walter von Eberhardt. The managing director was First Lieutenant Ottfried Fuchs of the Reichswehr.
The club published a newsletter six times a year (1921–1926: Flieger-Ring-Nachrichtenblatt; 1927–1933: Luftwacht: Zeitschrift für das Weltflugwesen; Nachrichtenblatt des Ring der Flieger). The anniversary of the death of fighter ace Oswald Boelcke (40 aerial victories, killed in action in 1916) on 28 October became the occasion for the Oswald Boelcke Commemoration from 1920 onwards.
Following the re-authorization of recreational powered flight in May 1922, the "Ring der Flieger e. V." (Association of Aviators) participated in organizing aviation events. From 1928 to 1932, the association was involved in proposing the Hindenburg Cup, the highest award for a German powered aircraft pilot, to the Reich President.
The "Ring der Flieger e. V.", together with architect Johannes Moßner, also erected the aviators' memorial on the Wasserkuppe in the Rhön Mountains and inaugurated it with a solemn ceremony on 30 August 1923.
Integration into the DLV
On 29 October 1933, Fritz Siebel, the last chairman of the association, presented the only surviving standard of the Fliegertruppe from the First World War to Bruno Loerzer, president of the organized, uniformed German Air Sports Association, a Pour le Mérite knight, as a symbol of integration. The "Ringhaus" on the Wasserkuppe, in the former barracks area, still bears witness to the club's earlier existence. It was also designed by the Munich architect Johannes Moßner, a former fighter pilot.
