National Socialist Flyers Corps

The National Socialist Flyers Corps (German: Nationalsozialistisches Fliegerkorps; NSFK) was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party that was founded in the early 1930s 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. 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.

The National Socialist Flyers Corps continued to exist after the Luftwaffe was founded, but to a much smaller degree. During World War II, the NSFK mainly performed air defense duties such as reserve anti-aircraft service.

External links

• Axis History Factbook — NSFK

The N.S.F.K. (National Socialist Flying Corp) was created in January of 1932, to promote interest in aviation throughout Germany. It was a male dominated association, although females were not discouraged from participating in events. The NSFK was very closely associated with the Hitler Youth (HJ) organization. Events by the NSFK involved model building with flying competitions of the completed projects, educational classes related to aeronautics followed by building and flying actual glider aircraft. Glider flying was the mainstay activity of the NSFK, although ballooning and balloon competitions were also held by the NSFK. As with most NSDAP organizations, sporting events of all kinds were popular and encouraged within the ranks of the NSFK. Essentially, the NSFK was divided into three sections - powered flight, gliders and ballooning. The NSFK also operated a ski school at Zell-am-See in Austria. The NSFK utilized nearly 4000 glider flying sites throughout Germany. The NSFK owned a total of sixteen gliding/aviation schools and four larger State Soaring Schools (Reichssegelschulen). The most famous of these soaring schools was one on the Wasserkuppe in the Rhon mountains, an area where the Fliegerdenkmal had been erected as a memorial to Germany's WWI fliers. Following the rise to power of Adolf Hitler, a Fuhrer decree incorporated the NSFK as a legal corporation into the Reich, and subsequently disbanded another aeronautical organization, the DLV (Deutsche Luftsport Verband). Led by a Korpsfuhrer, the first was Friedrich Christiansen, the NSFK continued its aeronautical educational focus and aviation events including model flight competitions, glider competitions and flying days were held throughout Germany. Membership in the NSFK was voluntary and exclusive. Members of the NSFK were prohibited from being members of other associations or groups such as the SS, the SA or the NSKK. Although participation in the NSFK could eventually lead to a pilots license, this license was not recognized by the Luftwaffe. An NSFK pilot would still need to complete flight training with the German Luftwaffe to become a Luftwaffe pilot. In most cases, NSFK aircraft and gliders had to share airfield space with Luftwaffe units and squadrons. There is no doubt that many future Luftwaffe pilots got their training and interest in aviation from participation in the NSFK. It is estimated that over 16,000 gliders were produced by Germany during WWII. At the age of 14, NSFK members or Hitler Youth members could begin their training toward earning their glider pilots rating.