Hi, I’m trying to find out my granddads history, he died 15 years ago so I can’t ask him, and my family say they don’t know much about him... I have found this photo of him as a teenager and I am looking for some one to try and help identify the uniform badges, I know it’s not a clear picture but I’m hoping someone can help, I think the eagle badge on the uniform looks like a nazi badge but I could be so wrong as I have no real knowledge of this subject, hence why I thought people on this forum might be able to help me. The only information I have on him is that he was born in Lithuania and was forced to join the army, apparently, he then ended up in Scotland after the war. That’s the only information I have on him. if anyone could shed any light on the uniform or badge I would appreciate it so much. If not thank you anyways.
Definitely Wehrmacht, probably Luftwaffe (I am absolutely no expert on uniforms). If it is any consolation: Wehrmacht and Nazi are not necessarily the same thing - in dubio pro reo
This looks to me like a Luftwaffe uniform. Your grandfather seems to have the insignia for a private on his lapels.
Luftwaffe eagle on chest. Rank on collar is Flieger. Ranks and insignia of the Luftwaffe (1935–1945) - Wikipedia
Thank you everyone for replying and so fast too. I’ve googled Luftwaffe but don’t understand if he was “good” or “bad”, this sounds stupid but if he was in the Luftwaffe I didn’t realise he could join a German army if he was Lithuanian and in Lithuanian, like I said before I have absolutely no knowledge of wars and Army’s... so please excuse my stupidity... I will def research them up now... Does this make him a war criminal or a nazi? I’m so confused right now.
It looks Luftwaffe to me, the collor of the collarpatches are dark in this B/W pic. if they are red =Anti-Aircraft ( Flak) , brown = signals, dark blue = Medical. kind regards, Jef By the way, a flieger has yellow collarpatches
He may have been a Nazi Party member , he may not. He may have been conscripted into the Luftwaffe . He may have been a storeman or the chap that fixed planes.
Was he in Scotland as a prisoner of war ? If so, then there ought to be records in the UK of his rank and branch etc.
Some categories in German-occupied territories were subjected to conscription into the German armed forces. This applied I believe to all "Volksdeutsche" (ethnic Germans) and if I recall the definition of Volksdeustche got progressively broader in order to meet German manpower needs.If your grandfather was even partially ethnic German he may have been a conscript, not a volunteer.
If your grandad became a British citizen after the war his naturalisation papers may be at the Public Records Office. I believe on naturalisation he would have had to declare part of his ancestry & provide referees to vouch for him. Could also as part of the process have had to be declared in a newspaper, perhaps The Times or London Gazette (both have online indexes). Difficult to research in person at the PRO I know at the moment, and not sure what arrangements are in place for family enquiries such as this. Naturalisation, registration and British citizenship - The National Archives