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. 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 gliders 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	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
		Hilfsfliegerführer	Assistant Troop Leader	Obergefreiter
		Oberflieger	Senior Trooper	Gefreiter
		Flieger	Trooper	Flieger

See also

• Aircrew Badge (Nazi)