Unteroffizieranwärter: Panzer-Division Hermann Göring

     An interesting studio portrait of a Unteroffizieranwärter (NCO Aspirant) of either a Sturmartillerie (assault artillery) or Sturmgeschütz (assault gun) unit belonging to the Luftwaffe's elite Hermann Göring Division. That he is a NCO candidate is indicated by the single loop of tress around his uniform's shoulderboards (Schulterstücke). That he belongs to either an assault artillery or assault gun unit is based on his uniform which is typical of those worn by such crews. It is a field grey version of the all-black uniform as worn by tank crews. This particular jacket is a pre-1944 version as it retains the white piping around the collars. After 1944, this was left off the uniform to simplify manufacture. A more telling indication of a possible early dating of the photograph is due to the white collartabs. There appears to be no piping around the collartabs and this was indicative of uniform changes after June 1943. Before this time, the collartabs would have had a pink piping. The totenkopf (death's head) pinned through the collartabs are the standard Heer (Army) model as used by Heer panzer troops. Another indicator of a 1943 date is that in January 1944, men were ordered to remove the white collartabs due to their conspicuousness and the totenkopf would be pinned directly to the collars. The shoulderboards were piped in pink in keeping with Waffenfarbe (Corps Colors) standards. The unit's cufftitle (seen on his right sleeve), for enlisted men, was a mid- to dark blue band with block capital letters spelling out HERMANN GÖRING. 

     His only decoration is the Hitler Jugend Leistungsabzeichen (Hitler Youth Proficiency Badge) which was awarded to a Hitler Youth member who excelled in physical fitness/sports as well as ideological proficiency all of which was measured by means of numerous tests. He appears to be wearing a white service shirt with a black tie. It is likely this choice was done for his portrait as in the field, the regular blue or field grey colored service shirts were the usual fare for such crews.