National Socialist Flyers Corps

NSFK pennant

The National Socialist Flyers Corps (German: Nationalsozialistisches Fliegerkorps; NSFK) was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party that was founded April 15, 1937 as a successor to the German Air Sports Association; the latter had been active during the years when a German air force was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles. The organization was based closely on the organization of the Sturmabteilung (SA) and maintained a system of paramilitary ranks closely associated with the SA. A similar group was the National Socialist Motor Corps.

During the early years of its existence, the NSFK conducted military aviation training in gliders and private airplanes. When Nazi Germany formed the Luftwaffe, many NSFK members transferred to it. As all such prior NSFK members were also Nazi Party members; this gave the new Luftwaffe a strong Nazi ideological base in contrast to the other branches of the German military, who were composed of "Old Guard" officers from the German aristocracy.

General der Flieger Friedrich Christiansen was NSFK Korpsführer from April 15, 1937 until June 26, 1943, followed by Generaloberst Alfred Keller until May 8, 1945.

The National Socialist Flyers Corps continued to exist after the Luftwaffe was founded, but to a much smaller degree. In 1942 it comprised the following regional Gruppen (groups):

• Gruppe 1: Ostland (Königsberg)
• Gruppe 2: Nord (Stettin)
• Gruppe 3: Nordwest (Hamburg)
• Gruppe 4: Berlin-Brandenburg (Berlin)
• Gruppe 5: Wartheland (Posen)
• Gruppe 6: Schlesien (Breslau)
• Gruppe 7: Elbe-Saale (Dresden)
• Gruppe 8: Mitte (Eschwege)
• Gruppe 9: Weser-Elbe (Hannover)
• Gruppe 10: Westfalen (Dortmund)
• Gruppe 11: Hessen-Westmark (Frankfurt/Main)
• Gruppe 12: Niederrhein (Essen)
• Gruppe 13: Main-Donau (Nürnberg)
• Gruppe 14: Hochland (München)
• Gruppe 15: Schwaben (Stuttgart)
• Gruppe 16: Südwest (Strassburg)
• Gruppe 17 Ostmark (Wien)

During World War II, the NSFK mainly performed air defense duties such as reserve anti-aircraft service.

External links

• Axis History Factbook – NSFK