Stalingrad exit tokens. Hadn't heard of those before.

[Feathered_IV]

Just saw this on ebay.  Interesting read in the description...

 

This type of tag permitted various personnel (Luftwaffe and Soldiers of the 6th Army) to be evacuated from the City of Stalingrad. Usually they were issued in case of injuries (medium to heavily wounded) and also on special occasions, subject to personal approval by the high commanders. Members leaving the city without possessing this type of tag, were considered deserters, would have been subject to execution at the airfield immediately upon landing. There were two types of these tag, round and diamond (square) shaped, and issued in five different colors, Red (wounded); White (reasons other than wounds, such as special members); Yellow (severe Illness); Black (unknown); and Orange (unknown).

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/WW2-German-Luftwaffe-Flying-Permit-Stalingrad-RARE-/231012373293?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35c969132d

 

Edited April 17, 2015 by Feathered_IV

[esxboi37]

The wounded also had a label (like a mortuary toe tag) either around there necks or attached to the front of there coats, which would have to be signed by a Wehrmacht doctor, and stating the reason for being discharged from the front line.. The labels would be checked by another doctor before entering the airfield and it was this officers final decision that would determine whether or not you actually got on to the airfield! And there was only limited space on the Ju52's or "Iron Annie's" as they were known, and most of the time the planes wouldn't even stop! They'd land, slow down, throw out supplies, grab as many soldiers as could get on the plane, all chasing the aircraft down the airfield, fighting each other to get on for the few minutes it was on the ground before it took off again! Usually with men still clinging to the doors, wings and even the wheels.. which of course any that didn't fall to there deaths straight away froze solid after a couple minutes! Feldgendarmerie units often had to resort to using their sub-machine guns to maintain order as thousands of decrepit German stragglers tried to escape their predicament at the few remaining airfields still held by the 6^th Army

 

Any unlucky enough not be airlifted out of Stalingrad straight away! would have to avoid being sent straight back to the front line by fanatical Nazi officers & the Feldgendarmerie (field military police) who were patrolling the airfields rounding up any and all of the walking wounded and order them straight back to front line!

 

Which is why so many chose to shoot them selves rather than face that again!

Edited April 29, 2015 by esxboi37

[Finkeren]

Yep, when the tables were finally turned, it hurt every bit as much being in the Wehrmacht as it had done being in the Red Army during the retreat in 1941.