Germany, Luftwaffe. The Logbooks & Photographs of Highly Decorated Dive Bomber Stalingrad Veteran, Ferdinand Schwarz, of the Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 “Immelmann”

An incredible grouping of Luftwaffe flight logbooks, ancestral documents, and photographs belonging to Ferdinand Schwarz and his wife Aloisia Bammer, consisting of:

1. A series of two sequential flight logbooks belonging to Feldwebel Ferdinand Schwarz of the Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 “Immelmann”, presumably flying a Stuka dive bomber. Both books combined list over 700 missions, with the majority on the eastern front over Stalingrad. Ferdinand documents every mission in great detail, including the “reason for flight”, the areas, day and time of his departures and landing. He also lists “remarks” for each flight, ranging from action against infantry, artillery, tanks, and bridges. Each log book has a blue cardstock exterior cover, and measures 208 mm (w) x 146 mm (l).

2. A Luftwaffe armband compass constructed of black bakelite with a two-piece leather armband and aluminum prong clasp. The compass has a see-through bakelite top that reveals a free-floating disc submerged in liquid, acting as the compass. The reverse of the compass is marked “Armband Kompass. Bauart: Kadlec, Baumuster: Ak 39, Werk Nr. 57-055, Aforderz: FL 23235”. It is functional and points North, measuring 60 mm in diameter and 20 mm tall.

3. A large period original black-and-white photograph printed on white paper, depicting Luftwaffe dive bomber pilot Feldwebel Ferdinand Schwarz in his Luftwaffe uniform standing by a fence with his left arm perched on a chain-link section. Clearly visible are numerous awards, including the ribbon for the Iron Cross 1939 II. Class, a Luftwaffe Long Service medal ribbon, an Iron Cross 1939 I. Class, an Air Gunner’s and Flight Engineer’s Badge, a German Cross in Gold, as well as a Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe with Pennant. The photograph measures 240 mm (w) x 300 (m).

4. The Family Register/Household Register of Ferdinand Schwarz and his wife Aloisia Bammer. It consists of a hard-cover booklet with cardstock front and back covers, with a textured brown leather exterior, embossed with “Deutsches Einheits Familienstammbuch” in gilt capitalized lettering. The book states that Ferdinand was born on February 12th, 1917 in Amstetten. He was a Roman catholic and prior to getting married lived in Kufstein. Aloisia was born on July 8th, 1916 in Strass. She was also a Roman Catholic and worked as a teacher. They got married on March 25th, 1944 in Strass in Steiermark (Austria). It is accompanied by a wedding photograph of Ferdinand Schwarz and his wife Aloisia Bammer, depicting Ferdinand in his Luftwaffe uniform, clearly depicting his rank of Feldwebel of the Luftwaffe, along with some of his awards, including the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe with Pennant. Aloisia is in her wedding dress with a veil. The photograph measures 137 mm (w) x 87 mm (l) and is dated March 25th, 1944 in pencil on the reverse.

5. The booklet for the DRL (Deutsche Reichsauszeichnung für Leibesübungen) in Bronze belonging to Aloisia (Luise) Bammer. It contains a photograph of Aloisia, her signature, and birthdate. It certifies that she passed the trials of Group 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and earned the DRL Badge in Bronze on February 18th, 1941. It measures 147 mm (w) x 209 mm (l).

6. The complete Ahnenpass/Ancestor Pass of Aloisia Bammer. All entries are written in pen and are certified accurate by a registrar of Strass on or before January 25th 1944 - two months before the couple got married. It measures 135 mm (w) x 205 mm (l). The ancestor pass is accompanied by nineteen familial documents that would have been required to complete the ancestor pass and to prove aryan lineage, including birth certificates, baptismal documents, citizenship certificates, and death certificates.

7. The complete Ahnenpass/Ancestor Pass of Ferdinand Schwarz. All entries are written in pen and are certified accurate by a member of the Catholic Parish Office of Denzig in Vorarlberg. It measures 135 mm (w) x 205 mm (l).

8. The Wehrpass of Aloisia’s Grandfather, Karl Brey. It features a photograph of Karl, as well as his signature, and states that he was born on December 2nd, 1875 in Straß Leibnitz-Steiermark. He was a citizen of the German Reich and a catholic. He served in World War I between August 1st, 1914 and November 1st, 1918 and spent time as a prisoner of war in Italy between November 2nd, 1918 and August 21st, 1919. He was a recipient of several Imperial awards, but the exact name and number is illegible. The Wehrpass measures 105 mm (w) x 148 mm (l).

9. A pocket-photo album spanning eighteen pages with photographs attached to both sides of each page. Photos show some wartime photographs but mostly of life at home. The album has padded cardstock covers with a textured black faux leather exterior, measuring 120 mm (w) x 85 mm (l).

10. Included are forty three photographs of Aloisia’s and Ferdinand’s family, with some male family members in military uniform. Most photographs are formal studio photographs of the family, with children.

Footnote: Ferdinand Schwarz was born on February 12th, 1917 and served in the Luftwaffe in the Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 “Immelmann”, likely as a pilot of a Junkers 87 dive bomber. According to his familial documents him and his wife, Aloisia (born on July 8th, 1916) were of Arian descent. Ferdinand went on over 700 flight missions, with the majority in Russia over Stalingrad and the surrounding area. In his flightbooks, he records details of each mission, many of which resulted in successful kills of infantry, artillery, tanks, and the destruction of bridges. He was the recipient of the Iron Cross 1939 II. Class, a Luftwaffe Long Service medal, the Iron Cross 1939 I. Class, the Air Gunner’s and Flight Engineer’s Badge, the German Cross in Gold, the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe with Pennant, as well as the Luftwaffe Honour Goblet (Luftwaffe Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg), awarded on September 13th, 1942.