German army ww2 units Numbering of German units. The insignia of the units and army-level troops of the field army are now widely known by the enemy. This enabled the German Army to train 300,000 conscripts a year. 2: Army Groups, Armies, Army Task Forces and Army Detachments. The Nazi German Army THE GERMAN WORLD WAR II ORGANIZATIONAL SERIES 1/I 01. Major units above corps level are listed here. Panzer-Division 4. This list may not reflect recent changes. Schneider) Sledgehammers: Strength and Flaws of Tiger Tank Battailions in WWII (C. 1943: Mechanized Army Formations Mechanized GHQ Units Mechanized Waffen-SS Formations Army Divisions Static Units Higher Headquarters GHQ Service Units 06. See full list on ww2-weapons. Heeres-units are General Headquarters (GHQ) units. East vs. Mar 12, 2017 · As shown in Figure 2 in Section I, the German Army in the field is organized into army groups, armies, corps, and divisions. Jäger Divisions (11 P) L. Heavy Tank Battalion Heavy Tank Company (Nov 1944—May 1945) Infantry Battalion (New Type) of the Infantry Regiment Rifle Company (May 1944—May 1945) Heavy Company (May 1944—May 1945) This order of battle lists the German units of armeegruppe, armee, korps, anddivision size as well as the chief of staff (Cos), as of June 6th, 1944,including the respective commanders and dates of command of all units. 39 1 st and 2 nd Welle Army Infantry Divisions An elite combat unit in the German Army (Heer) during World War II that fought primarily on the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union. 39 Mechanized Army Formations and Waffen-SS Formations (3rd Revised Edition) 1/II-1 01. Colonel H. 39 3 rd and 4 th Welle Army Infantry Divisions 1/III 01. 39 1 st and 2 nd Welle Army Infantry Divisions 1/II-2 01. As distinguished from Armee, which is a field unit. Light mechanized divisions. Concise and easy to understand explanations of small military unit organizations. ) (component units), which was added to the front of their number. Until the fall of 1943 German airborne forces comprised only one corps with two parachute divisions. Division: Arabic Whereas the SA now lost its power, Hitler allowed the German Army to grow rapidly. com The largest single German organizational formation during WWII. In 1935 he introduced military conscription. This is a list of German military units during World War II which contains all military units that served with the German Armed Forces (Wehrmacht). GERMAN ARMY WW2 ORDER OF BATTLE. Although not exhaustive, it does provide a very comprehensive list of units, formations and command authorities and information on hierarchical structures. Wilbeck). Roughly 87% of the German divisional groupings earmarked for the invasion on 22 June 1941 were infantry formations, including a small proportion of motorized-infantry, mountain, Jäger, and security divisions. You also have access to the battle order of these units. List of World War II military units of Germany This page was last edited on 21 January 2024, at 23:49 (UTC). The years 1939-42 are generally defined as a period of military and territorial expansion for The Third Reich. ) One-time change: Light mechanized divisions []. Motorized infantry divisions of the German Army were titled Infanterie-Division (motorisiert). I'd say that compared to elite units of German Army, like 1st Fallschirmjäger or Großdeutschland, elite SS units were similar in prestige and capabilities. Military Review, Sep 1940). 06. The German Army in World War II . The following lists German active and reserve units within the structure of the German Army. Despite the small share of the overall force structure (13%), these fully mobile formations, along with the Luftwaffe, played a decisive role in the offensive Blitzkrieg doctrine. 42 – 9. [4] Gebirgsjäger (German pronunciation: [ɡəˈbɪʁksˌjɛːɡɐ]) is a German military term for light infantry trained in mountain warfare. The 15th Medical Battalion (German: Sanitätsabteilung 15) was a non-combat battalion of the German Army Medical Service during the First World War, the interwar period and the Second World War. Members of this unit took part in seizing operationally important targets by way German Army Elite Units 1939-45 (Osprey, Gordon Williamson) Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945 (Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv und Arbeitskreis Wehrforschung) Tigers in Combat I + II (W. Battalion: Roman. Dv. For the purposes of this study, the following equivalents have been used. In June 1946, more than 12 months after the official end of World War II, the Feldgendarmerie became the last German units to surrender their arms. It was based in Frankfurt and Kassel and consisted of personnel from Hesse. org, so we have compiled a table to help explain what the unit or group names mean, what units made up larger WW2 army units, the rough size of the unit, and what rank of officer or NCO was generally in charge. At the time of the mobilization on 26 August 1939, the German army had 51 divisions: 35 infantry divisions, 4 motorized infantry divisions, 5 Panzer (tank) divisions and one tank brigade, 4 light divisions and 3 mountain divisions. Almost all divisions were employed in areas on the Eastern front with the exception of the 325th Security Division which operated within occupied France. 09. OKH = Oberkommando der Heer; OKL = Oberkommando der Luftwaffe; OKM = Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine; Above all other organizational and administrative structures that controlled the German military and civilian infrastructure, the command and control of the Wehrmacht was the highest organizational position. By 1938 it had 36 infantry divisions of 600,000 men. Keyword: World War, 1939-1945 World War Two WWII Axis Powers German Army Order of battle: Subject: Germany -- Armed Forces -- History -- World War, 1939 Aug 17, 2009 · He became the first German general to surrender his command to Commonwealth forces in World War II when Bardia fell on 2 January 42. West German Panzer Units Apr 11, 2005 · Hello to all, in this article you will find out how the German Army took care of its sick and wounded men in the Poland Campaign. The 1st Army was activated on 26 August 1939, in Wehrkreis XII with General Erwin von Witzleben in command. OB stands for Oberbefehlshaber or Army Command OB Niederlande - Netherlands OB Nordost - Northeast THE GERMAN WORLD WAR II ORGANIZATIONAL SERIES 1/I 01. 272) of 23 May 1943, and the symbols of the organizational charts (Kriegsgliederung des Feldheeres – 1. The Wehrmacht was created by Adolf Hitler on March 16, 1935, and formally disbanded by the Allies on August 20, 1946. German infantry divisions were called just that: Infanterie-Division. Panzer-Division When World War II began, the entire Heer was split into two separate parts. Usually consisted of hundreds of various units and upwards of a few hundred thousand men, all of which operated in a far-ranging geographic region of the front. 12. com is a non-political German military history research site regarding the details of the German armed forces between 1918 and 1945. Between 1939 and 1945 close to 13 million served in the Heer. Jun 6, 2021 · When studying World War 2, a common question is what precisely each army group or unit name means. The Organization of the Medical Service of the German Army and its Employment in the Campaign Against Poland (An article by Lieut. ' army ') was the land forces component of the Wehrmacht, [b] the regular armed forces of Nazi Germany, from 1935 until it effectively ceased to exist in 1945 and then was formally dissolved in August 1946. The German Army (German: Heer, German: ⓘ; lit. Although some were Mar 28, 2023 · Government Service Official (civilian employed by the military) H (h) holländisch: Dutch (Netherlands) H: Herbert-Gerät: box girder floating bridge equipment: H, Haub: Haubitze (gun-) howitzer: H-Heere(s-) The Army. 24. The units of the Army Group South in Southern Russia were largely completely refreshed at the cost of the others. WWII; WWI and Interwar; Shop. 44 Mechanized Army Formations Re-activated military police, who received extra rations as pay, were identified by an armband stating Wehrmachtordnungstruppe (Armed Forces Order Troop). Army groups, armies, corps and divisions. About. E. Out of 151 divisions that the Germans deployed against the Red Army, only 19 were Panzer divisions (17 immediately available and 2 in reserve). Dec 12, 2014 · Army Divisions GHQ Service Units Static Units : 04. Its primary mission was to take defensive positions and guard the western defences of Germany against Allied forces along the Maginot Line during the attack on Poland, [1] making it the principal German combatant during the short-lived French Saar Offensive. The three primary branches of the Wehrmacht were the Heer (army), Luftwaffe (air force), and Kriegsmarine (navy). Discover the battle order of the German army present or engaged in the west and in Normandy, from D-Day and until the end of August 1944. Apr 2, 2022 · Explanation of German Units and Organizational Symbols: The symbols in this work are based on the official German handbook of military symbols (H. The Brandenburgers (German: Brandenburger) were members of Nazi Germany's Wehrmacht special forces unit during World War II. Nov 17, 2024 · Insignia of the units and army-level troops of the field army. Hartleben, Medical Corps, German Army. The actual average strength in the army, however, was only 88%. One of the most highly trained, battle hardened, and well equipped units of the German Army. Glossary of German Military Terms; WW2 Germany Statistics, Numbers, and Losses; WW2 German Indentification Documents and Tags; Weapons and equipment The essential element for war waging at the time of Barbarossa was the infantry soldier: a uniformed young man armed with a rifle. Vol. In 1939 the German Army had 98 divisions available for the invasion of Poland. Before embarking on any study of German unit histories it’s helpful to have access to research material regarding ranks, formations, terms and other related concepts. W. 1944: Mechanized Army Formations Mechanized GHQ Units Infantry divisions of the German Army in World War II (1 C, 2 P) J. For smaller units, see List of German corps in World War II and List of German divisions in World War II. 43 Mechanized Army Formations Mechanized GHQ Units Mechanized Waffen-SS Formations Army Divisions Static Units Higher Headquarters 06. 11. [1] Originally, the unit was formed by and operated as an extension of the military's intelligence and counter-espionage organ, the Abwehr. Soldiers of the 291. As the war progressed and Germany was facing manpower shortages, many units had their organization adjusted to increase the overall fighting strength of the German Army. HAA: Heeres-Artillerie Pages in category "German World War II special forces" The following 17 pages are in this category, out of 17 total. May 12, 2021 · These units were referred to as Teileinheit (T. Truck c olumn of a motorized infantry regiment with motorcycle troops in the lead, Poland, September 1939 (Photo: Bundesarchiv) NOTE ON NOMENCLATURE. Apr 23, 2025 · Wehrmacht, the armed forces of the Third Reich. Text is available under the Creative Commons THE GERMAN WORLD WAR II ORGANIZATIONAL SERIES 1/I 01. The numbering schematic for German units followed a strict code: Kompanie: Arabic. This question arises a fair bit with readers of WorldWar2Facts. Panzer divisions were the key element of German success in the blitzkrieg operations of the early years of World War II. OB West: GFM von Rundstedt 3. 5 in) wide worn on the right breast, above the pocket. In the spring of 1938,German attempts to join independent Austria into the greater German Reich werefinally successful, and in the process, all units of the Austrian Armedforces – theÖsterreichischen Bundesheer – were taken en masse into the GermanWehrmacht. 1943: Army Divisions GHQ Service Units : 01. The German distribution of ground forces by theaters of war in the summer (June-July) 1942 after TOE (tables of organization and equipment). For enlisted uniforms it was jacquard-woven ("BeVo") or sometimes machine-embroidered in silver-grey rayon, for officers machine- or hand-embroidered in white silk or bright aluminum wire, and for generals hand-embroidered in gold bullion. The final battles in the East and the last German Orders of Battle from April 30, 1945. Panzer-Division 3. Contains tables of known units, a roster of senior officers, a glossary of German abbreviations and an index of German terms and designations. 1: Armed Forces High Command, Army High Command, Wehrkreise. TANK DIVISIONS (Panzer-Divisionen) 1. Army: divisions May 9, 2019 · A seminal work of extraordinary, detailed, and meticulously researched scholarship, "German Ground Forces of World War II: Complete Orders of Battle for Army Groups, Armies, Army Corps, and Other Commands of the Wehrmacht and Waffen SS, September 1, 1939 to May 8, 1945" is a critically important and unreservedly recommended addition to ♦ Motorized Infantry Divisions 1939-41 ♦. TheFeldheer (Field Army) was created for the exclusive control of all military operations, and the Ersatzheer (Replacement Army) was created to control all the training, procurement, and administration of the Heimatkriegsgebiet (Zone of the Interior). The 17 volumes of the series, scanned with automatic text recognition, can be downloaded on this page and used for independent research. They must therefore be changed. 44 Mechanized GHQ Units Mechanized Waffen-SS Formations Army Divisions Static Units Higher Headquarters 16. 02. Infanterie-Division in Russia, June 1941 (Bundesarchiv) NOTE ON NOMENCLATURE. Pages in category "Military units and formations of the German Army in World War II" The following 7 pages are in this category, out of 7 total. Panzer-Division 2. This article lists divisions of the Wehrmacht (German Armed Forces) and Waffen-SS active during World War II, including divisions of the Heer (army), Luftwaffe (air force), and the Kriegsmarine (navy). The designation "Light" (leichte in German) had various meanings in the German Army of World War II. Feldgrau. There were a series of 5 Light divisions; the first four were pre-war mechanized formations organized for use as mechanized cavalry, and the fifth was an ad hoc collection of mechanized elements rushed to Africa to help the Italians and organized into a division Security Divisions (German: Sicherungs-Divisionen) were German rear-area military units engaged in Nazi security warfare in occupied Europe during World War II. 07. German British (Br) or US nearest equivalent Gruppe Section (Br), Squad (US) Jun 12, 2021 · Military Organizations: 1 September 1939 The German Army: 10 May 1940 The German Army and Waffen-SS: 22 June 1941 The German Army The Waffen-SS: 1942 The German Army: 23 October 1942 Panzer-Division (Afrika) Leichte Afrika Division (mot) 1943 The German Army: 19 May 1943 Sturmdivision Rhodos: 1 November 1943 German Army and Waffen-SS: 1944 The Discusses the types of unit and unit histories. 43 Army Divisions Static Units 01. Currently used in the militaries of Germany , Austria and Switzerland , the term includes the word jäger , another German military term used to denote light infantry troops. 42 – 7. 44 Chief of Staff: Genlt Blumentritt 9. 1943) . Luftwaffe Field Divisions (14 P) M. The German army raised an incredible 315 infantry divisions during World War II—a stunning total, considering that America formed only sixty-six Army infantry divisions THE ARMORED DIVISIONS . Divisions are the largest units in the German Army known to have a prescribed organization, and those divisions which function as tactical units are normally the smallest formations which include units of various arms and Dec 12, 2014 · THE GERMAN ARMY 1939 – 1945: An Order of Battle: In Preparation: Vol. These units were given the header Kriegsetat 44. 44 Mechanized Army ♦ Infantry Divisions 1939-45 ♦. 39 Higher Headquarters — Mechanized GHQ Units — Static Units (2nd Revised The situation further deteriorated after Hitler, technically a civilian, appointed himself commander in chief of the army, an act unprecedented in Prussian or German history. The red cross, the protective sign used by the Army Medical Service. No doubt a distinction he could have done without. Regiment: Arabic. German Wehrmacht Security Units in WWII Sicherung (Security) units are an unheralded but nonetheless important part of the historiography of the German military machine during the Second World War. The multiplicities of the military authorities (for example: some coastal artillery batteries are armed by the Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe infantry units alongside those of the Wehrmacht and the SS) and the counterproductive competition between these armies (particularly strong between the Wehrmacht and the SS) are particularly harmful for the These German commanders also received honorary military or leading titles between their units at charge; for example Helmuth von Pannwitz received the title of "Ataman" from his Cossack units. Generalleutnant Helmuth von Pannwitz; Oberst Hans-Joachim von Schultz; Oberstleutnant Günther von Steinsdorff; Oberst von Baath; Oberst Freiherr von Nolcken A Panzer division was one of the armored (tank) divisions in the army of Nazi Germany during World War II. There were a series of 5 Light divisions; the first four were pre-war mechanized formations organized for use as mechanized cavalry, and the fifth was an ad hoc collection of mechanized elements rushed to Africa to help the Italians and organized into a division once Feb 10, 2016 · These units were quite effective in combat because they were more risk-takers, but the cost was that they had more losses as well. Reserve units do not possess any heavy equipment and their personnel is intended as replacements for losses sustained by regular units. Between 1935 and 1945 this force grew to consist of hundreds of Divisions, dozens of Army Groups and thousands of smaller supporting units. German Infantry Battalion structure and terminology The German Army had its own vocabulary for unit designations, which does not easily translate to familiar British or US Army terms. Army Divisions Static Units 04. On tunics this took the form of a cloth patch about 9 cm (3. For this reason it is ordered: 1. The 1943 organizational symbols were simplified. The Heer initially consisted of 21 Divisional sized units and 3 Army Groups to control them, as well as numerous smaller formations. In addition Panzer Divisions 1935-1939 - Panzer Divisions 1940-1945 Waffen SS Panzer Divisions 1943-1945 Wehrmacht Panzer Division (mid-1942) - Wehrmacht Panzer Division (1944) Waffen SS Panzer Division (1944) Unit Strength in 1939/40 - Numbering System in Panzer Divisions Strength of the most important Division types of the German Field Army in 1939 The List of World War II military units of Germany contains all military units to serve with the armed forces of Germany during World War II. 15. For smaller units, see list of German corps in World War II and list of German divisions in World War II. 44 Oberkommando der Wehrmacht Diagram. 39 1 st and 2 nd Welle Army Infantry Divisions The best infantry units in the 1944 German Army were the parachute divisions, administratively under the Luftwaffe but tactically always subordinated to Army command. ffukmbozkwgpfhopbuqvvbrsqcffzhjgjmcdotgwzkzhxcrtyjvvuzqsgzkvwtjdiiuwuneodgha
German army ww2 units Numbering of German units. The insignia of the units and army-level troops of the field army are now widely known by the enemy. This enabled the German Army to train 300,000 conscripts a year. 2: Army Groups, Armies, Army Task Forces and Army Detachments. The Nazi German Army THE GERMAN WORLD WAR II ORGANIZATIONAL SERIES 1/I 01. Major units above corps level are listed here. Panzer-Division 4. This list may not reflect recent changes. Schneider) Sledgehammers: Strength and Flaws of Tiger Tank Battailions in WWII (C. 1943: Mechanized Army Formations Mechanized GHQ Units Mechanized Waffen-SS Formations Army Divisions Static Units Higher Headquarters GHQ Service Units 06. See full list on ww2-weapons. Heeres-units are General Headquarters (GHQ) units. East vs. Mar 12, 2017 · As shown in Figure 2 in Section I, the German Army in the field is organized into army groups, armies, corps, and divisions. Jäger Divisions (11 P) L. Heavy Tank Battalion Heavy Tank Company (Nov 1944—May 1945) Infantry Battalion (New Type) of the Infantry Regiment Rifle Company (May 1944—May 1945) Heavy Company (May 1944—May 1945) This order of battle lists the German units of armeegruppe, armee, korps, anddivision size as well as the chief of staff (Cos), as of June 6th, 1944,including the respective commanders and dates of command of all units. 39 1 st and 2 nd Welle Army Infantry Divisions An elite combat unit in the German Army (Heer) during World War II that fought primarily on the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union. 39 Mechanized Army Formations and Waffen-SS Formations (3rd Revised Edition) 1/II-1 01. Colonel H. 39 3 rd and 4 th Welle Army Infantry Divisions 1/III 01. 39 1 st and 2 nd Welle Army Infantry Divisions 1/II-2 01. As distinguished from Armee, which is a field unit. Light mechanized divisions. Concise and easy to understand explanations of small military unit organizations. ) (component units), which was added to the front of their number. Until the fall of 1943 German airborne forces comprised only one corps with two parachute divisions. Division: Arabic Whereas the SA now lost its power, Hitler allowed the German Army to grow rapidly. com The largest single German organizational formation during WWII. In 1935 he introduced military conscription. This is a list of German military units during World War II which contains all military units that served with the German Armed Forces (Wehrmacht). GERMAN ARMY WW2 ORDER OF BATTLE. Although not exhaustive, it does provide a very comprehensive list of units, formations and command authorities and information on hierarchical structures. Wilbeck). Roughly 87% of the German divisional groupings earmarked for the invasion on 22 June 1941 were infantry formations, including a small proportion of motorized-infantry, mountain, Jäger, and security divisions. You also have access to the battle order of these units. List of World War II military units of Germany This page was last edited on 21 January 2024, at 23:49 (UTC). The years 1939-42 are generally defined as a period of military and territorial expansion for The Third Reich. ) One-time change: Light mechanized divisions []. Motorized infantry divisions of the German Army were titled Infanterie-Division (motorisiert). I'd say that compared to elite units of German Army, like 1st Fallschirmjäger or Großdeutschland, elite SS units were similar in prestige and capabilities. Military Review, Sep 1940). 06. The German Army in World War II . The following lists German active and reserve units within the structure of the German Army. Despite the small share of the overall force structure (13%), these fully mobile formations, along with the Luftwaffe, played a decisive role in the offensive Blitzkrieg doctrine. 42 – 9. [4] Gebirgsjäger (German pronunciation: [ɡəˈbɪʁksˌjɛːɡɐ]) is a German military term for light infantry trained in mountain warfare. The 15th Medical Battalion (German: Sanitätsabteilung 15) was a non-combat battalion of the German Army Medical Service during the First World War, the interwar period and the Second World War. Members of this unit took part in seizing operationally important targets by way German Army Elite Units 1939-45 (Osprey, Gordon Williamson) Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945 (Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv und Arbeitskreis Wehrforschung) Tigers in Combat I + II (W. Battalion: Roman. Dv. For the purposes of this study, the following equivalents have been used. In June 1946, more than 12 months after the official end of World War II, the Feldgendarmerie became the last German units to surrender their arms. It was based in Frankfurt and Kassel and consisted of personnel from Hesse. org, so we have compiled a table to help explain what the unit or group names mean, what units made up larger WW2 army units, the rough size of the unit, and what rank of officer or NCO was generally in charge. At the time of the mobilization on 26 August 1939, the German army had 51 divisions: 35 infantry divisions, 4 motorized infantry divisions, 5 Panzer (tank) divisions and one tank brigade, 4 light divisions and 3 mountain divisions. Almost all divisions were employed in areas on the Eastern front with the exception of the 325th Security Division which operated within occupied France. 09. OKH = Oberkommando der Heer; OKL = Oberkommando der Luftwaffe; OKM = Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine; Above all other organizational and administrative structures that controlled the German military and civilian infrastructure, the command and control of the Wehrmacht was the highest organizational position. By 1938 it had 36 infantry divisions of 600,000 men. Keyword: World War, 1939-1945 World War Two WWII Axis Powers German Army Order of battle: Subject: Germany -- Armed Forces -- History -- World War, 1939 Aug 17, 2009 · He became the first German general to surrender his command to Commonwealth forces in World War II when Bardia fell on 2 January 42. West German Panzer Units Apr 11, 2005 · Hello to all, in this article you will find out how the German Army took care of its sick and wounded men in the Poland Campaign. The 1st Army was activated on 26 August 1939, in Wehrkreis XII with General Erwin von Witzleben in command. OB stands for Oberbefehlshaber or Army Command OB Niederlande - Netherlands OB Nordost - Northeast THE GERMAN WORLD WAR II ORGANIZATIONAL SERIES 1/I 01. 272) of 23 May 1943, and the symbols of the organizational charts (Kriegsgliederung des Feldheeres – 1. The Wehrmacht was created by Adolf Hitler on March 16, 1935, and formally disbanded by the Allies on August 20, 1946. German infantry divisions were called just that: Infanterie-Division. Panzer-Division When World War II began, the entire Heer was split into two separate parts. Usually consisted of hundreds of various units and upwards of a few hundred thousand men, all of which operated in a far-ranging geographic region of the front. 12. com is a non-political German military history research site regarding the details of the German armed forces between 1918 and 1945. Between 1939 and 1945 close to 13 million served in the Heer. Jun 6, 2021 · When studying World War 2, a common question is what precisely each army group or unit name means. The Organization of the Medical Service of the German Army and its Employment in the Campaign Against Poland (An article by Lieut. ' army ') was the land forces component of the Wehrmacht, [b] the regular armed forces of Nazi Germany, from 1935 until it effectively ceased to exist in 1945 and then was formally dissolved in August 1946. The German Army (German: Heer, German: ⓘ; lit. Although some were Mar 28, 2023 · Government Service Official (civilian employed by the military) H (h) holländisch: Dutch (Netherlands) H: Herbert-Gerät: box girder floating bridge equipment: H, Haub: Haubitze (gun-) howitzer: H-Heere(s-) The Army. 24. The units of the Army Group South in Southern Russia were largely completely refreshed at the cost of the others. WWII; WWI and Interwar; Shop. 44 Mechanized Army Formations Re-activated military police, who received extra rations as pay, were identified by an armband stating Wehrmachtordnungstruppe (Armed Forces Order Troop). Army groups, armies, corps and divisions. About. E. Out of 151 divisions that the Germans deployed against the Red Army, only 19 were Panzer divisions (17 immediately available and 2 in reserve). Dec 12, 2014 · Army Divisions GHQ Service Units Static Units : 04. Its primary mission was to take defensive positions and guard the western defences of Germany against Allied forces along the Maginot Line during the attack on Poland, [1] making it the principal German combatant during the short-lived French Saar Offensive. The three primary branches of the Wehrmacht were the Heer (army), Luftwaffe (air force), and Kriegsmarine (navy). Discover the battle order of the German army present or engaged in the west and in Normandy, from D-Day and until the end of August 1944. Apr 2, 2022 · Explanation of German Units and Organizational Symbols: The symbols in this work are based on the official German handbook of military symbols (H. The Brandenburgers (German: Brandenburger) were members of Nazi Germany's Wehrmacht special forces unit during World War II. Nov 17, 2024 · Insignia of the units and army-level troops of the field army. Hartleben, Medical Corps, German Army. The actual average strength in the army, however, was only 88%. One of the most highly trained, battle hardened, and well equipped units of the German Army. Glossary of German Military Terms; WW2 Germany Statistics, Numbers, and Losses; WW2 German Indentification Documents and Tags; Weapons and equipment The essential element for war waging at the time of Barbarossa was the infantry soldier: a uniformed young man armed with a rifle. Vol. In 1939 the German Army had 98 divisions available for the invasion of Poland. Before embarking on any study of German unit histories it’s helpful to have access to research material regarding ranks, formations, terms and other related concepts. W. 1944: Mechanized Army Formations Mechanized GHQ Units Infantry divisions of the German Army in World War II (1 C, 2 P) J. For smaller units, see List of German corps in World War II and List of German divisions in World War II. 43 Mechanized Army Formations Mechanized GHQ Units Mechanized Waffen-SS Formations Army Divisions Static Units Higher Headquarters 06. 11. [1] Originally, the unit was formed by and operated as an extension of the military's intelligence and counter-espionage organ, the Abwehr. Soldiers of the 291. As the war progressed and Germany was facing manpower shortages, many units had their organization adjusted to increase the overall fighting strength of the German Army. HAA: Heeres-Artillerie Pages in category "German World War II special forces" The following 17 pages are in this category, out of 17 total. May 12, 2021 · These units were referred to as Teileinheit (T. Truck c olumn of a motorized infantry regiment with motorcycle troops in the lead, Poland, September 1939 (Photo: Bundesarchiv) NOTE ON NOMENCLATURE. Apr 23, 2025 · Wehrmacht, the armed forces of the Third Reich. Text is available under the Creative Commons THE GERMAN WORLD WAR II ORGANIZATIONAL SERIES 1/I 01. The numbering schematic for German units followed a strict code: Kompanie: Arabic. This question arises a fair bit with readers of WorldWar2Facts. Panzer divisions were the key element of German success in the blitzkrieg operations of the early years of World War II. OB West: GFM von Rundstedt 3. 5 in) wide worn on the right breast, above the pocket. In the spring of 1938,German attempts to join independent Austria into the greater German Reich werefinally successful, and in the process, all units of the Austrian Armedforces – theÖsterreichischen Bundesheer – were taken en masse into the GermanWehrmacht. 1943: Army Divisions GHQ Service Units : 01. The German distribution of ground forces by theaters of war in the summer (June-July) 1942 after TOE (tables of organization and equipment). For enlisted uniforms it was jacquard-woven ("BeVo") or sometimes machine-embroidered in silver-grey rayon, for officers machine- or hand-embroidered in white silk or bright aluminum wire, and for generals hand-embroidered in gold bullion. The final battles in the East and the last German Orders of Battle from April 30, 1945. Panzer-Division 3. Contains tables of known units, a roster of senior officers, a glossary of German abbreviations and an index of German terms and designations. 1: Armed Forces High Command, Army High Command, Wehrkreise. TANK DIVISIONS (Panzer-Divisionen) 1. Army: divisions May 9, 2019 · A seminal work of extraordinary, detailed, and meticulously researched scholarship, "German Ground Forces of World War II: Complete Orders of Battle for Army Groups, Armies, Army Corps, and Other Commands of the Wehrmacht and Waffen SS, September 1, 1939 to May 8, 1945" is a critically important and unreservedly recommended addition to ♦ Motorized Infantry Divisions 1939-41 ♦. TheFeldheer (Field Army) was created for the exclusive control of all military operations, and the Ersatzheer (Replacement Army) was created to control all the training, procurement, and administration of the Heimatkriegsgebiet (Zone of the Interior). The 17 volumes of the series, scanned with automatic text recognition, can be downloaded on this page and used for independent research. They must therefore be changed. 44 Mechanized GHQ Units Mechanized Waffen-SS Formations Army Divisions Static Units Higher Headquarters 16. 02. Infanterie-Division in Russia, June 1941 (Bundesarchiv) NOTE ON NOMENCLATURE. Pages in category "Military units and formations of the German Army in World War II" The following 7 pages are in this category, out of 7 total. Panzer-Division 2. This article lists divisions of the Wehrmacht (German Armed Forces) and Waffen-SS active during World War II, including divisions of the Heer (army), Luftwaffe (air force), and the Kriegsmarine (navy). The designation "Light" (leichte in German) had various meanings in the German Army of World War II. Feldgrau. There were a series of 5 Light divisions; the first four were pre-war mechanized formations organized for use as mechanized cavalry, and the fifth was an ad hoc collection of mechanized elements rushed to Africa to help the Italians and organized into a division Security Divisions (German: Sicherungs-Divisionen) were German rear-area military units engaged in Nazi security warfare in occupied Europe during World War II. 07. German British (Br) or US nearest equivalent Gruppe Section (Br), Squad (US) Jun 12, 2021 · Military Organizations: 1 September 1939 The German Army: 10 May 1940 The German Army and Waffen-SS: 22 June 1941 The German Army The Waffen-SS: 1942 The German Army: 23 October 1942 Panzer-Division (Afrika) Leichte Afrika Division (mot) 1943 The German Army: 19 May 1943 Sturmdivision Rhodos: 1 November 1943 German Army and Waffen-SS: 1944 The Discusses the types of unit and unit histories. 43 Army Divisions Static Units 01. Currently used in the militaries of Germany , Austria and Switzerland , the term includes the word jäger , another German military term used to denote light infantry troops. 42 – 7. 44 Chief of Staff: Genlt Blumentritt 9. 1943) . Luftwaffe Field Divisions (14 P) M. The German army raised an incredible 315 infantry divisions during World War II—a stunning total, considering that America formed only sixty-six Army infantry divisions THE ARMORED DIVISIONS . Divisions are the largest units in the German Army known to have a prescribed organization, and those divisions which function as tactical units are normally the smallest formations which include units of various arms and Dec 12, 2014 · THE GERMAN ARMY 1939 – 1945: An Order of Battle: In Preparation: Vol. These units were given the header Kriegsetat 44. 44 Mechanized Army ♦ Infantry Divisions 1939-45 ♦. 39 Higher Headquarters — Mechanized GHQ Units — Static Units (2nd Revised The situation further deteriorated after Hitler, technically a civilian, appointed himself commander in chief of the army, an act unprecedented in Prussian or German history. The red cross, the protective sign used by the Army Medical Service. No doubt a distinction he could have done without. Regiment: Arabic. German Wehrmacht Security Units in WWII Sicherung (Security) units are an unheralded but nonetheless important part of the historiography of the German military machine during the Second World War. The multiplicities of the military authorities (for example: some coastal artillery batteries are armed by the Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe infantry units alongside those of the Wehrmacht and the SS) and the counterproductive competition between these armies (particularly strong between the Wehrmacht and the SS) are particularly harmful for the These German commanders also received honorary military or leading titles between their units at charge; for example Helmuth von Pannwitz received the title of "Ataman" from his Cossack units. Generalleutnant Helmuth von Pannwitz; Oberst Hans-Joachim von Schultz; Oberstleutnant Günther von Steinsdorff; Oberst von Baath; Oberst Freiherr von Nolcken A Panzer division was one of the armored (tank) divisions in the army of Nazi Germany during World War II. There were a series of 5 Light divisions; the first four were pre-war mechanized formations organized for use as mechanized cavalry, and the fifth was an ad hoc collection of mechanized elements rushed to Africa to help the Italians and organized into a division once Feb 10, 2016 · These units were quite effective in combat because they were more risk-takers, but the cost was that they had more losses as well. Reserve units do not possess any heavy equipment and their personnel is intended as replacements for losses sustained by regular units. Between 1935 and 1945 this force grew to consist of hundreds of Divisions, dozens of Army Groups and thousands of smaller supporting units. German Infantry Battalion structure and terminology The German Army had its own vocabulary for unit designations, which does not easily translate to familiar British or US Army terms. Army Divisions Static Units 04. On tunics this took the form of a cloth patch about 9 cm (3. For this reason it is ordered: 1. The 1943 organizational symbols were simplified. The Heer initially consisted of 21 Divisional sized units and 3 Army Groups to control them, as well as numerous smaller formations. In addition Panzer Divisions 1935-1939 - Panzer Divisions 1940-1945 Waffen SS Panzer Divisions 1943-1945 Wehrmacht Panzer Division (mid-1942) - Wehrmacht Panzer Division (1944) Waffen SS Panzer Division (1944) Unit Strength in 1939/40 - Numbering System in Panzer Divisions Strength of the most important Division types of the German Field Army in 1939 The List of World War II military units of Germany contains all military units to serve with the armed forces of Germany during World War II. 15. For smaller units, see list of German corps in World War II and list of German divisions in World War II. 44 Oberkommando der Wehrmacht Diagram. 39 1 st and 2 nd Welle Army Infantry Divisions The best infantry units in the 1944 German Army were the parachute divisions, administratively under the Luftwaffe but tactically always subordinated to Army command. ffukmbozk wgpfh opbuqvv brsq cffzh jgj mcd otgw zkzhxcrt yjvvu zqsg zkvwtjd iiu wun eodgha