BDM-members used as Flakhelferinnen ??

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cemifor

cemifor

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I'm trying to find information on this subject: BDM-members used as Flakhelferinnen ??

Chris McNab writes in his book Hitlers Armies – A history of the German War Machine 1939-45:

"Members of the BDM pressed into service as Flakhelferinnen towards the end of the war had no uniform of their own, as they were officially not supposed to be perferming these duties. Those who did serve probably wore the same uniform that Flakhelferinnen over the age of 18 were issued with."

Does someone have information on this subject ??
 
Luftwaffenhelfer - Wikipedia

[...]

In August 1944, some 660,000 regular male soldiers and 450,000 female helpers (anti-aircraft personnel) in all departments served with the Luftwaffe within the 'auxiliary antiaircraft defense'. Many of the girls came from the Bund Deutscher Mädel (BDM), although they had to officially join the Wehrmacht, because it was forbidden for BDM members to do armed duty. In 1945, "Flakhelferinnen" and other female assistants were trained and allowed to carry weapons to defend themselves.

[...]

On April 1944 the Germans had requested the drafting of 7000 Latvian boys, aged 14–16, and 400 girls, all for service as Air Defense auxiliaries. However, the Self-Administration of Latvia refused and consented only to invite the youths to volunteer. As the situation at the Eastern Front worsened, in June and July the Self-Administration did agree to draft boys born in 1927 and 1928. From July 28 to September 9, 4139 boys were drafted, 525 of whom were volunteers.

[...]
 
Beginning in March 1944 it is true to say that BDM girls were organised into Flak units but such units were few and far between. Initially female volunteers were recruited as Wehrmachtshelfer with specific Flak training being given to some of them. The flak units were comanded by BDM leaders or NS-Frauenschaft leaders. But... the girls did not operate the guns but rather the associated equipment (Messgeräte). Later on I'm sure that some gung-ho girls got directly involved in firing the flak guns but policy even in April 1945 was that girls were not permitted to be employed in direct combat. Rüdiger's book relates the story of a BDM flak unit consisting of leaders that was seconded to the SS in Prague. They were unique in being the only female flak unit known to have worn the large BDM cloth diamond on the left sleeve of their flak uniform. Whether all females in such units wore the HJ flak uniform is not stated but certainly that unit did.

Source, Die Hitler-Jugend, Selbstverständnis und Aufgabengebiete. Jutta Rüdiger 4th issue 1998 p305
 
Thanks, crack. :yo:

I know Rüdigers book, but it's (and her other books) missing in my reference "library". I've been thinking about it before, but now I better order the book. :001_cool:

...
 
Tim Heath, a british author wrote several books about the women in the Reich, the first two books are about the BDM... "Doves among Eagles" is the first book... There are several interviews to BDM girls in services of Flak there.
 
There was even a so-called SS-Helferinnenkorps. The fact as such can be found in Buddrus (possibly the matter is identical with the one in Rüdiger).

The few facts:
existed since at least September 1944 (apparently founded in 1942 as a part of the Waffen-SS),
Reichsbeauftragte für die SS-Helferinnen im SS-Hauptamt, Berlin: Hmf. Ilse Staiger
February 1945: first leaders' course for female SS helpers in Niederehnheim (Oberkirch castle).
SS-Helferinnenschule in Heidenheim.

Overall, the academic literature on women is still very scanty.
 
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