| Agency Name: | National Socialist Flyers Corps |
| Nativename: | Nationalsozialistisches Fliegerkorps - NSFK |
| Picture Width: | 250px |
| Formed: | 15 April 1937 |
| Preceding1: | German Air Sports Association |
| Dissolved: | 8 May 1945 |
| Jurisdiction: | Nazi Germany Occupied Europe |
| Chief1 Name: | Friedrich Christiansen |
| Chief1 Position: | Korpsführer |
| Chief2 Name: | Obergruppenfuher Gerhard Sporleder |
| Chief2 Position: | Stabsführer |
| Chief3 Name: | Obergruppenfuhrer |
| Chief3 Position: | Stabsführer |
The National Socialist Flyers Corps (de|Nationalsozialistisches Fliegerkorps; NSFK) was a paramilitary aviation organization of the Nazi Party.
NSFK was founded 15 April 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 NSFK organization was based closely on the para-military organization of the Sturmabteilung (SA). A similar group was the National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK). During the early years of its existence, the NSFK conducted military aviation training in gliders and private airplanes.
Friedrich Christiansen, originally a Generalleutnant then later a Luftwaffe General der Flieger, was NSFK Korpsführer from 15 April 1937 until 26 June 1943, followed by Generaloberst Alfred Keller until 8 May 1945. Hermann Goering as Reich Marshal was nominal head of the NSFK and was occasionally consulted on issues surrounding heavy transport, as at the Battle of Stalingrad.
The paramilitary rank system was in use by the NSFK between the years of 1933 and 1945. The ranks were designed after paramilitary rank titles of the Sturmabteilung. Most ranks of the NSFK were also used by the National Socialist Motor Corps which maintained its own paramilitary rank system.
As with most Nazi paramilitary groups, rank patches were worn on a single collar opposite a badge of unit membership. The exception was for the ranks Standartenführer and above which displayed rank insignia on both collars.
As of 1937, the final rank pattern of the National Socialist Flyer Corps was as follows:[1] [2] [3]
| Insignia | NSFK Rank | Translation | Luftwaffe equivalent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collar | Shoulder | |||
| Korpsführer | Corps Leader | Generalfeldmarschall | ||
| Ehrenführer | Honorary Leader | Generaloberst | ||
| Obergruppenführer | Senior Group Leader | General | ||
| Gruppenführer | Group Leader | Generalleutnant | ||
| Brigadeführer | Brigade Leader | Generalmajor | ||
| Oberführer | Senior Leader | Oberst | ||
| Standartenführer | Regiment Leader | Oberst | ||
| Obersturmbannführer | Senior Assault Unit Leader | Oberstleutnant | ||
| Sturmbannführer | Assault Unit Leader | Major | ||
| Hauptsturmführer | Chief Assault Leader | Hauptmann | ||
| Obersturmführer | Senior Assault Leader | Oberleutnant | ||
| Untersturmführer | Junior Assault Leader | Leutnant | ||
| Obertruppführer | Senior Troop Leader | Stabsfeldwebel | ||
| Truppführer | Troop Leader | Hauptfeldwebel | ||
| Oberscharführer | Senior Squad Leader | Oberfeldwebel | ||
| Scharführer | Squad Leader | Unteroffizier | ||
| Rottenführer | Section Leader | Obergefreiter | ||
| Sturmmann | Storm Trooper | Gefreiter | ||
| Mann | Trooper | Flieger | ||
| None | Anwärter | Candidate | None | |
Source:[4]
Source:[5]
