German Air Sports Association

The German Air Sports Association (Deutscher Luftsportverband, or DLV e. V.) was an organisation set up by the Nazi Party in March 1933 to establish a uniform basis for the training of military pilots. Its chairman was Hermann Göring and its vice-chairman Ernst Röhm.

Pennant of the German Air Sports Association

History

Since the Treaty of Versailles officially forbade Germany from building fighter planes of any sort, the German Air Sports Association used gliders to train men still officially civilians for the future Luftwaffe.[1] The first steps towards the Luftwaffe's formation were undertaken just months after Adolf Hitler came to power. Hermann Göring, a World War I ace with 22 victories and the holder of the Orden Pour le Mérite, became National Kommissar for aviation with former Deutsche Luft Hansa director Erhard Milch as his deputy. On 25 March 1933 the German Air Sports Association absorbed all private and national organizations, whilst retaining its 'sports' title. In April 1933 the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM – Reich Air Ministry) was established. The RLM was in charge of development and production of aircraft, and soon afterwards the test site or Erprobungsstelle at Rechlin became its testing ground, a military airfield that had been first established in August 1918. Göring's control over all aspects of aviation became absolute, with the exception of gilders and balloons over which Milch had control as deputy kommissar because Goring’s weight prevented him from flying in either.

The German Air Sports Association was dissolved in 1937 and replaced with the National Socialist Flyers Corps, a corporation under public law and subordinate to Reichsluftfahrtminister Göring.

Insignia
Insignia DVL Rank[2] Translation Luftwaffe equivalent
Collar Shoulder
Minister Minister General
Fliegerchef Aviator Chief Generalleutnant
Fliegevizechef Vice Aviator Chief Generalmajor
Kommodore Commodore Oberst
Vizekommodore Vice Commodore Oberstleutnant
Kommandant Commandant Major
Kapitän Captain Hauptmann
Schwarmführer Flight Leader Oberleutnant
Kettenführer Chain Leader Leutnant
Oberflugmeister Senior Flight Master Oberfeldwebel
Flugmeister Flight Master Feldwebel
Unterflugmeister Sub Flight Master Unterfeldwebel
Oberfliegerführer Senior Troop Leader Unteroffizier
Fliegerführer Troop Leader Hauptgefreiter
Hiltsfliegerführer Assistant Troop Leader Obergefreiter
Oberflieger Senior Trooper Gefreiter
Flieger Trooper Flieger

See also

References
  1. The World at War Episode 1 New Germany
  2. "Luftsportverband (DLV) Collar Tabs and Shoulder Straps". GermanDaggers.com. 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2018.


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