NO INSIGNIA
Oberstleutnant Franz Pöschl in a portrait taken in August 1945. Note the non-existence of breast eagle. The Wehrmacht in Norway post 8 May 1945 never had the status of POWs and remained a functioning military organisation under its own administration, albeit under strict restrictions and orders of the allies. This helps explain why we get these awards and promotions carrying on as well as some remarkable photos of their time in Norway during the summer of 1945 prior to them being shipped out of the country. They were required to remove the Wehrmacht Reichsadler insignia from their uniforms. However, unlike many other German POWs, especially those held by the Soviets or the French, the British were relatively lenient in certain cases—particularly where former Wehrmacht officers were seen as potential assets in the emerging Cold War. In Norway, where a significant number of German troops had surrendered at the end of World War II, the British oversaw the internment of German POWs, including high-ranking officers. What makes this situation especially notable is that the British permitted these prisoners—especially those deemed politically useful or cooperative—to retain their military decorations and insignia (apart from symbols explicitly tied to the National Socialist regime such as the Reichsadler). This leniency stemmed from early postwar plans to possibly enlist former German military personnel in the event of a conflict with the Soviet Union. Although this strategy was never formally enacted, its consideration shaped how some POWs were treated. This is precisely why Pöschl was able to keep his awards intact. Unlike countless other Wehrmacht POWs whose decorations were stripped, lost, or destroyed during captivity, Pöschl’s awards were preserved. His case stands out as a rare example where geopolitical pragmatism intersected with postwar military protocol, allowing him to emerge from captivity with his personal military honors undisturbed.
Source :
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forum/wehrmacht-era-militaria/photos-and-paper-items-forum/290064-kc-ceremony-franz-p%C3%B6schl-5-gj-division
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