A cousin wearing military uniform

[heilanlassie]

I have recently been sent this photo of a paternal first cousin.
His name is Alfons Paul Chilla, and he was born on 29 June 1920 in Poland, the son of Franciszek Chilla and Helene Schacht.
I'm presuming that he served in WW2, although he would only have been 19 years old.
Can anyone confirm if the uniform he is wearing would have been from the Polish army?
It would be great to find out anything about him.

[RJ_Paton]

Given the Swastika on his cap badge and right side of his chest I doubt that this was in the Polish Army.  Depending upon where he came from he may have been one of the half million Polish males from the areas initially annexed by germany who were declared German citizens and conscripted into their army.

[tonepad]

He is in the Luftwaffe, with the rank of Flieger (Private).

Tony

[Andy J2022]

Given how dark his collar patch is, I think it was probably scarlet in colour, signifying that he served in a flak or anti-aircraft artillery regiment. For comparison, the outer circle of the cockade on his sidecap would have been red also, irrespective of which branch he served in.

[heilanlassie]

Given the Swastika on his cap badge and right side of his chest I doubt that this was in the Polish Army.  Depending upon where he came from he may have been one of the half million Polish males from the areas initially annexed by germany who were declared German citizens and conscripted into their army.

I am now not 100% certain that he was born in Poland - he may well have been born in Germany, so maybe he was conscripted into the German military, or maybe he just signed up. I don't know 

[heilanlassie]

He is in the Luftwaffe, with the rank of Flieger (Private).

Tony

Thank you for the information. It is very much appreciated.

[heilanlassie]

Given how dark his collar patch is, I think it was probably scarlet in colour, signifying that he served in a flak or anti-aircraft artillery regiment. For comparison, the outer circle of the cockade on his sidecap would have been red also, irrespective of which branch he served in.

Very interesting. Thank you for the information.

[tonepad]

Do you have an exact place of birth for Alfons?
Some parts of modern day Poland were Germany before WW2.
Schacht was originally a German surname.


Tony

[heilanlassie]

Do you have an exact place of birth for Alfons?
Some parts of modern day Poland were Germany before WW2.
Schacht was originally a German surname.

I am led to believe that Alfons was born in Liebenhof and died in Kwidzyn.


Tony