German Air Sports Association
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Wimpel_DLV.svg/220px-Wimpel_DLV.svg.png)
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.
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.
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 | |
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Collar | Shoulder | |||
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Minister | Minister | General | |
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Fliegerchef | Aviator Chief | Generalleutnant | |
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Fliegevizechef | Vice Aviator Chief | Generalmajor | |
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Kommodore | Commodore | Oberst |
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Vizekommodore | Vice Commodore | Oberstleutnant |
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Kommandant | Commandant | Major |
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Kapitän | Captain | Hauptmann | |
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Schwarmführer | Flight Leader | Oberleutnant | |
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Kettenführer | Chain Leader | Leutnant | |
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Oberflugmeister | Senior Flight Master | Oberfeldwebel |
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Flugmeister | Flight Master | Feldwebel | |
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Unterflugmeister | Sub Flight Master | Unterfeldwebel | |
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Oberfliegerführer | Senior Troop Leader | Unteroffizier | |
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Fliegerführer | Troop Leader | Hauptgefreiter | |
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Hiltsfliegerführer | Assistant Troop Leader | Obergefreiter | |
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Oberflieger | Senior Trooper | Gefreiter | |
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Flieger | Trooper | Flieger |
See also[]
References[]
- ^ The World at War Episode 1 New Germany
- ^ "Luftsportverband (DLV) Collar Tabs and Shoulder Straps". GermanDaggers.com. 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
- Sports organizations established in 1933
- Organizations disestablished in 1937
- Nazi Party organizations
- Irregular military air services
- Aviation organisations based in Germany
- 1933 establishments in Germany
- 1937 disestablishments in Germany
- Hermann Göring
- Gliding associations
- Gliding in Germany
- Nazi Germany stubs