Small Luftwaffe Signals Photo Album

[Bob Lyons]

I have a small photo album that I obtained recently, and with no history behind it at all, and then looking closer at one of the photos
in the album, and I noticed that one of the photos had a shot of a :Luftwaffe soldier with a push bike, and written on the rear mudguard
was the Feldpost Number (L49702) and that gave the secret of the unit away, it is Luftnachrichten Regiment 203. The 14th Kompanie was
in the III Abteilung at Rethel, France.



(Rethel is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture and third-most important city and economic center in the department.

It is situated on the river Aisne, near the northern border of Champagne and 37 km from Reims. Its inhabitants are called Rethélois.)





L49702
(2.1.1940-11.3.1943) 14. Kompanie Luftnachrichten-Regiment 203,
(25.11.1944-8.5.1945) 25.1.1945 gestrichen.


and from the internet (via Michael Holm's website)....


Luftnachrichten-Regiment 203

Kommandeure:

Oberst Eberhard Hettler, 10.42 - ?
Stab:

Formed 1.10.42 in Metz, from the old Stab/Luftnachrichten-Regiment 203.

Disbanded 9.44.

I. Abteilung:

Formed 1.10.42 in Metz, from the old Stab I./Luftnachrichten-Regiment 203. On 2.9.44 renamed Stab/Luftnachrichten-Abteilung 104.

1. Fernsprech- und Fernschreib-Betriebs-Kompanie in Metz from the old 1./Luftnachrichten-Regiment 203; disbanded 9.44
2. Funk-Kompanie in Metz from the old 2./Luftnachrichten-Regiment 203; disbanded 9.44
3. Flugmelde-Auswerte- und Betriebs-Kompanie in Metz from 1./Luftnachrichten-Abteilung 64; disbanded 9.44
4. Telegrafen-Bau-Kompanie in St. Dizier from the old 3./Luftnachrichten-Regiment 203; disbanded 9.44
5. Funkleit-Kompanie at Morhange (Stellung "Medea") (new); disbanded 9.44
6. Funkleit-Kompanie at (?) (Stellung "Milan") (new); disbanded 9.44
25. Technische-Kompanie in Metz from the old 4./Luftnachrichten-Regiment 203; from 9.44 attached to Luftnachrichten-Regiment 233
II. Abteilung:

Formed 1.10.42 in Florennes from the old Stab III./Luftnachrichten-Regiment 203. Disbanded 2.9.44.

7. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at Malonne (Stellung 7A) (new); disbanded 9.44
8. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at Onhaye(?) (Stellung 7B) (new); disbanded 9.44
9. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at Fumay(?) (Stellung 7C) (new); disbanded 9.44
10. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at Rockenberg bei Butzbach (Stellung "Nachtigall") (new); 10.43 renamed 10./Luftnachrichten-Regiment 215
11. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at Birkenfeld/Nahe (Stellung "Kauz") (new); 10.43 renamed 11./Luftnachrichten-Regiment 215
12. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at Erlenkopf bei Eusserthal (Stellung "Bergziege") (new); 10.43 renamed 12./Luftnachrichten-Regiment 215
10. - 12./203 was reformed 10.43:

10. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at Seurre(?) (Stellung "Dromedar") (see below); disbanded 9.44
11. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at Buxy(?) (Stellung "Buchfink") (see below); disbanded 9.44
12. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at Macon (Stellung "Maulwurf") (see below); disbanded 9.44
III. Abteilung:

Formed 1.10.42 in Guignoncourt. Disbanded 9.44.

13. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at Signy l'Abbaye (Stellung 8A) (new); disbanded 9.44
14. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at Rethel (Stellung 8B) (new); disbanded 9.44
15. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at Betheniville(?) (Stellung 8C) (new); disbanded 9.44
16. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at Seurre(?) (Stellung "Dromedar") (new); disbanded 10.43 or renamed 10./203
17. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at Buxy (Stellung "Buchfink") (new); disbanded 10.43 or renamed 11./203
18. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at Macon (Stellung "Maulwurf") (new); disbanded 10.43 or renamed 12./203
Data for 16. - 18./203 are uncertain.

IV. Abteilung:

Formed 1.10.42 in St. Dizier. Disbanded 9.44.

19. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at Vanault-les-Dames(?) (Stellung 9A) (new); disbanded 9.44
20. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at Vitry-le-Francois(?) (Stellung 9B) (new); disbanded 9.44
21. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at Joinville(?) (Stellung 9C) (new); disbanded 9.44
22. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at (?) (Stellung "?"); 1.44 renamed 21./Luftnachrichten-Regiment 200
23. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at (?) (Stellung "?"); 1.44 renamed 4./Luftnachrichten-Regiment 200
24. Flugmelde-Leit Kompanie at (?) (Stellung "?"); 1.44 renamed 16./Luftnachrichten-Regiment 200
A V. Abteilung was formed 1.44 under the 4th Jagd-Division; no details, disbanded 9.44


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© 1997-2005 Michael Holm

[Bob Lyons]

Some more photos from the album, it looks like the little album was hand made, and from Christmas 1943..

I don't know what the medal is that is being awarded (Luftschutz perhaps??) and the rank of 'kafu' (with umlauts over the u) is unknown to me also...

Bob

[Bob Lyons]

The abbreviation "Kafü" could be for Kameradschaftsführerin...

Bob

[Willmore]

Hi Bob.

Really interesting album, thank you for sharing it with us.

KaFü could also be an abbreviation for Kantinenführer (Canteen Leader).

German soldier slang -
Verzeichniseutsch/Soldatensprache – Wiktionary

Kind regards,

Will.

[Bob Lyons]

Thanks Will, yeah Kantinenführer is a possibility too, appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Cheers

Bob

[BlackCat1982]

Nice album Bob, thank you for posting. The medaille does look similar to a Luftschutz Medaille. However I'm not sure the ribbon colour matches, although to be fair it isn't easy to be sure from the photos. I wonder if the three ladies in #1 would be so keen to be seen on this young mans arm once the Allies came to town?