Men At Arms 330 - The.German.Army.1939-45.(4).Eastern.Front.1943-45

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MILITARY

MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES

330

THE GERMAN ARMY 1939-45 (4) EASTERN FRONT 1943-45

NIGEL THOMAS

STEPHEN ANDREW

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Dedication ..

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fOR" CJr,r..... OOvE Of All Tm.ES ""'8.~,jtO 81 OSPllE, ~'LIlAA' ...uTOMQTlVE "'.0 "~IATlON PLEASE \\RlTE TO

nus l)Q(H( ".espet1tu11y dedlCillSO 10 my Ial, lalhet, Will SuOSlantl\\I lIeulenant Wdham Rowland Thomas. A~al Fl'$IlJets and 10 metal. Oberlelaam a.D Dt Mea F"eo"ch Hemnarln. tonnerly 01 198Infante
'tOm . . hom I have learnt a 101

The M.'hl,ny M.n'III., Ospre~ PUl>losn",g Uti, PO 80' 141), Wemng_lIh, Notlh.n,s NN8 tZA. Unnt
Ac knowledge ments 1rus 1XlOt< would nol na.e been POSSlOle N1l1lOUl lne yenefOU$lleIp

of matly people. espec>ally Slephen Andrew. M.... Alo.worthy. Dusan a-c. PI'III1,p Buss (MAl, Jose! Chama a..a" DaVI5 Dt FnecInel't HetYITW1I'I, Da.1CI LnleJOl'tn. KrunosIav M,j"uIan, Dar1.o P.tlc:Mt. Henty Rw:el. and Poetre C T \Iefhere The _nor would e 10 U'IInk HeilllT*. ~ and Domoo'lc-., lor t'-

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conlOf\Ullld $UpOOI'1 ana rc.ou
GERMAN ARMY 1939-45 (4) EASTERN FRONT 1943-45 THE CONTEXT OF THE EASTERN FRONT 1943-45

It . .ntry st41rts 9uard in lront 01

the Headquarters of ",""y Group North, February 1943. His M193S helmet - still bearing the Wehrmacht ea91e left,slde decal _ I' worn over the woollen toque Or tubular balaclava, He wear, the M1940 surcoai over his field uniform, and M1942 sentry's overboots of felt, leather and wood, (ECPIt)

The High Command of the Army and Wehrmacht dolf Ililk'l, (;t:'rrnan I lead of Slal(' since 30 Januan 1~I~tt had, as Supreme Commander of the ,\rlllcd F01"cc~ (Ooel'..t('r Ikfdl1,h;lbcnlcl' Wdmnacht), dominaled CF:\! \\'ilhdm Keitel. the Chief or the Arml'd Forel" High Command (Chef des ObcrL.ollllll'Il\{lo' del" \\"ehrmacht - OK\\"), cotHrolling the .\1"111\ (1ll'Cfl, :\a\'\ (Mic~.. marillc) and ,\ir Furce (!_Uflw-afTl'). all 19 DcC'CI1lIX'1 1941 Ilitier tooL. per"Onal .. 11~lll'gir COll1l1h1nd uf the \\'ehrmg"<1111 atnatl'ur 'lr;llegi~l, \, ho ('Ollslalllh al101\ed political con~ider· ;\IiOn, 10 O\errick 111ilitan illlp<:nlli"e~ - \\ilh incn:.'a..illgh di";L..trOll!l rl',ulb I)n the Ea,lt'rll FI HilI. Tilt, llllhi ')t'nior (;l'nnatl Arm\ onicer, llll' <...11 ief of Ihe Arnn Ct'lieral ~tan' ( .Jll'f dc' (.elll'ml~t,th('"dl'~ I leer,,") had ,illCC 2-1 .x'ptelnhcl' 19·12 I)('('n ('l,~IlC'ml del' Illfanterit:' (later Gell,Dh.. l.) KlIrt Zeiuler, :\hhough !Iu'l>ccle('rted Ihe OKlr.. ;lIllhnrit\ and 'Ul,(,(,.... fufu t',dlldecl OK,r influl'lln' from the Ea!lle"n hhollgh nOI fmlll Ih(' AI'niC' and BalL..ml FrUllt:>. On I Juh 1911. c,a'I>I.'I~Il("(1 :11 hi~ I,It I.. nf ft.',11 ,tuthoril\, Zeilllt... n."portt'd ,icL.: he \\l.."d f.n 21 Juh dllrin~ Ilitler'!1 pllI"K(' follO\\ing tht, lnNICCl'....fll[ 'Bomb Plot' of ~O .Juh, Tht' Bornh rIm lIlarl..cd the end of til(' .-\nm·, remaining inlluellCt' o\el Ilillel. Ilcnn'furlh tltt' :\a/i Pan\ rcig-ned suprelllc: Ar111~ pcr"ulIlwl \\l're forced 10 IISC the :\azi ":llllll' in"lcad of til(' ll~ldiliol1al ~allltt',llll" '\'alTcll'SS 1't'Ct'ill'd prdcrcnc(', and Reich,fi-lhrcr·SS Heinrich Ili1l11llk'1' lIas appuillled C01ll111:ll1dCI' of lht' Rcplacelllcl1l Aflm - lhe h);tUhn'l - (Hllllllllillg" ,Ill Wehnnacht tl'()Op~ ill Germain'. On 21 Jill\" 19-1 I (;l,'I1,Oh,\.I kinl Cuderian, tl1l' Icgt'nclan PanICI' Rl'ncI'l1. was appuilllt'd \(Iill~ [hid of 111(" Anm GelH'l,ll Staff: bll\ Iw \l,l.."cl him. I-li!l replacemcnt ii' .-\Cling Chil,f I\.h the 'laO ollicer Cenel CDI Alben

3

Kc~sclring.

dTecthch ~:..cludill~ lhl' OKII fmm Clllllml uwr ,-\1 III I Hnih, 011 ~O :\pdl 1!l·G, .\1 1,1.:\0 hOllr.... 1-litll'l lCll1lmillc..'d "lli(ide hI poi~oning and ~hOOlillg hillN.'lf. On I ~l:tl J0::>e! CVl"hhd, 'llccc."l"dl·d him as Prime .\Illli~ll'l (Rl'ldl,kallller); appoll1h'd DflllilllOlhl' rl'llll'c1 post of Gcnnan Pn',iclclH; :lnd illllllcdi:HCh r011111l1Ul"d ~tliddl' h im...df, ,b did Krcb~. Donill ill1111l'di,lId\ lllWtll"d Iwgoli.lliom \\'jlb till' ,.\lIil": and on ., ~Ia\, III Rlll:ill1' in l',hl('nl FI,lnCl", Keilel ~ig-nl'd the ullul1lditional ~IltTcll(kr of all GCJ'llian IOI'Cl"' 10 lhl' \\'c,tertl .\Jlil"~. rq>t::lling lhe ,urrender all 9 ~ la\ in Bl'l lin fOl Ihe bl'lldil of tilt: 50.,\ ic.:'t Rl"d A1'I1I\. Fighling \\":l' ,t1ppo'>('d III ('nel al ~:l.nl hOlU.... 011 X \bl, hUI (.CI man :lnd Croatian IrOOp' in ~IO\('ni.1 .1I1(I,\II'II·i;1 ill LIC! h.ughl Oil \llIlil 1.1 ~I:l\, Resources

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On 2 Febru:II'\ 191:\ IIIl' ~I,llil1~l.1l1 g;uTi-.ull 'UITl'lldcrl"d. Fnllll JUlll' 19.. 110 December 19.. 1.•md thell frolllJllnl' tn ~l)\I'II1I)(,'I' 1942 in 11ll' CaUGbU'. Ihe Cl'nn;tn .\l"Im (.ruup' hMI :lch.lrlCl·d inlO till' 'imil'l Cnioll, emplo\ing lhl' 1);lIl1cr dhi,ioll' ,llld l.nf.,\'10C bomlx::r, 10 I>CII('Irale \iet line... ;lTld .Hl.u:1.. l'nCIll\ cOlllm.mrl Ct'IlII<" \..ilh lJJlt;knrg tactic~. and 1\"17('r and intulln di\'i"iol1' 10 d('...tl"O\ Iht' n",u!l,ml POC\..l'I" orb\-p'b'Cd Sodl'l tmup' III Illl' 'Dcci,ile ~l;tnoetl\ll" I.lnit., Thi... n'lIIlracl.. ~Irateb'" rcqlllrl'd 11t'llo('quilll>l'd. \\l'll-.lrllll'd .Iud \,dl·,upplic.·d mobile force... cnjol;n~ l:lctic.llllldq>t..'nd"'lIcl' .1l1d room fur 1I1.1110('lI\rc: but b\ Februan 19"~-\ .111 111..,,(, ,lfh,IIIl,I,l{l-' h.ld h(.'clI 1..,1. Thc.·Il"cl'll reduced to 2,300,000, Ilillt'r imi,lt'd Ull Il'-I ,li,lllJ.( dl"Slro\ cd unib, ('d. bUI pOleIHi.. ! front·HlIl' lroop' II":l"l' di\crtcd inlO ~UppOl't \lnil~ 10 eOl1lplt'lt, di\'i,ional 1.lhk~ of organil.ation, le:l\ inK CXi'l ill,1{ e1i\ i,ic)Il' 'l"riOlhl~ ulld(,I"Strcnglh hill ~lill l'XIll'Ctl'd to :ltcol11pli~h their original l1li::>,i(lIl~. Rq.~iI11l'nIS, l10lllinalll :l,OOO :.lrong", oftcn foughl al k" lllall :lOW slrcnglh: and hll,l(' lo~~..:~ of junior oOkl'rs mcant 1hat lilt' cornpalll, .1 Ilallplll1,lllll·... n Hilma nd, II a~ rOlllil1el~' led by all illl':':pl'l"icllCl'C1 Ob('r!cllllW111 01" LClllllalll. and 'Olllt'li111t" h\ an Ohl'rfeldwl'!)c:I or Feldl\'chcl - II'ho oltcn la'll'd onh il fl.'\, tim, bero\'(: being \\'oulldec! or kilke!. Losse~ in 'atlk~ had beell hug-c. ,Iud lallk .tl1d ~c1f-propcllecl artilkn production \\".1' l'a~ih oUlslripped b\ Ihe Iltl\I-I"'1 Sc.l\il'l production capabilit\, Genn,lll ,11'1110111 II." 111)\\ nfll"rl dcplO\"cd in inralltn ,upport. mimicl..ing Ihe c:tdier disa~lrOtl' 1.ICtic, c.,f Poli...h, Fn'nch ,me! Brili~h forces, and allOl"ing tilt' Rl'd .\l"1m the

BELOW PolInzergntnadier$ m.nnin,. Sd,Kf:L251 • ...--red per$onnel c.mer, April 1943. They.nt .1111 wearing M1935 lield tunic. with d..... bluish 9 n collar$ .nd shouldet' st ps with 9111"-9nten piping_ Foll.ge .n.chment bands ant wom on 1M helmels, (Author's collectlonl

LEFT April 1943: an Unt.rotfizi.r sectJon l.ed.r in a trench on the

Oon.t. Front in .ast.m Ukl'illin. • njoys ••mok. a. he wiltctte. from the section MG po.ition lor enemy moYemen'. Hi. rank I. cone•• Jed by w.arlng the Mt940 .-..d·g....n cotton h.rrlngbon. twill tunic oyer his MHl431leid tunic. Note the second p.nem Ny....ible helmet COyer with di.tinctlye foliag. loop., .howlng the Z.ltbahn 31 camoullage .ch.m.; and standard 6x30 combat l.ilders' binocul•••. (ECPA)

lnf.ntrym.n cany out • t.Du,.·t(>-house search lor Pilrtisan, in • Ru"i.n ";lIage, April 1943. The soldi.r ilt l.tt w....... M1g42 fi.ld tunic, ilnd M1940 nl!ed-green fatigue trous.... loose oyer his muddy marching boots. Not. the lull lnlilntry .qulpment on hi. back the ma" tin and sh.lter-quarter ,tr.pp.d to his leather M1939 • upport Y·strap., the gas mnk canl.ter .u.pended lrom a .lIng, .nd the bayon.t. br.ad b.g .nd canteen fiXed to hi. b.lt. Their d.rk g....n eolian Hem to Identify the other two tunics n Mt935. (Brn.n Da";.)

initi:lli\ t to arlt>pt UbI:)m?! I;IClic... In,(' regional ickntil\ \.-hich g:t\c it ~rt":11 cohe..ion .mel hig-h momle. B\ 19-13 thi~ ~\>,tt'lI1 had hroken dO\\'!l Illlckr lht· Ulouliling 10....t·... :lIlcl "nldit'r~ \\(·It· dr:lfted illlo ulli!.:> in mO"t Ileed. r1t:.. tfll\ing crilicil tillit (;ulu.-..ion. Incn:a ..i'lgh strident :"a1i propag;mda 1)11 1111' p,Il,llllUUlll net·d 10 'dcf('nd German ch'i1isadon from til{' P.ol..h,·\ik horde..·. alld ,I ~To\\ing karol t·\L'lltll.11 ren~llgc bv the Red .\1"111\ for" idL'h l,)!l-raled (."1 Ill,t tt :11 n lLitin ;Ig"ai ml lhe RIlssi:lll ci\;lian pOpUI,lliotl. I\'elll ~OIl1C \\'al III ~liff("llitlg figlttillK ..piril. Hm,·c\·c·r. lhis dcspt'I,lliotl C(llIld lUll rep1.1ct' Iht' hi~h tll(lIOlk of the 1939-11 period. and incidcllt .. (If (k..cninn .111(\ ilHli ..t"iplinc in{'l ea>,(·d . .-\.. tht' l' .1"lent frullt line rt'ln';lled illt''Iwahh IO\\C:Cl rt·a~on.lbk Ir,',lltl1('llt ill COIIJli\·it\. ~l\"(:

The development of Army units nil: allll\

lilt' [:hlt'rl\ Ftont in 19·1:\-1:1 \\'a" org;lllil.cd into fOlll". latcr fi\"{' ann\ g-rollp", "ilb a ~ixth cOIt'ring' tht' Balkan~: lhc~e compri ...·c\ lIine intanln ami hllir P,ulter annic... atld an independent Jl)ulllltain ,lIlll\ on the .\retic From. Ei,ch .\1"111\ cOlllrolkc!II"O In Ii\(:, infallln. P;\l1/.... r. I1Hllllll:,il1. (";1\;111". re",'ne corp" or :Il'lll\ seClioll~ . e;lch \,ilh:1 1.lnitlgo nlllllh"·'·I)1 (,("I"man anc! ,Illi l'd di\·isiol1s. In aUlUlllll 19·\-1 Ihrcc .1I·I1lUllr.... c1 tnrp" 211h. C,roBdcll\.schlalld and Fddherrnl1.l1k - l\t'I""t· ol/{,Illil.cd " .. po" .... rful illtegr.lted :Iltac!.. form:nion .. 011 thl' \\.lnL·Il~~ modcl. each I\ilh IWO di\isiol\:> and ""pponinl:; .lf1Tl". fif(llIinl{ ill t·.I"lefll (o('nn,lll\ ill 19-1':'. TIlt' infantn di\'i~iotl remained Ihe h..'Ic!..bonc oftht, (~et"lllan arm\. accounting for "bolll 2Cf. of the di\i..iun... From 2 OC"toher 19-13 the :\11939 Inr.lllln Di\'i,ioll (11.t·Ii~17.73-1 strollgl \\';l~ rcor~:lni/ccl ,I" .1 12. Ti2-"u'otlf:" :\1194-l Di\'ision, "'ilh 11.31 i l.l.·nnan p(:r~otllld ,II1d 1.-155 Hilf~\\·illigl.' ;lllxili:lri('~ rrom lhe Sl"iL'l Cniall. represenling a :!~!"'; r('c1l1niLltl in 1II:t1If>l,l\\cr but it :.Iighl increa..c ill lil'eptl\\·cJ'. Tht' ~II~H-I di\'i~ion had lhree :\119-1-1 inranln regilllt'llb. each 1.987 ~Irong \\'ilh .11I :lIlti·t.lll!.. l·Olllll;lll\. ,Ill infantn glln cOOlpall\' ,lIId l\,,) inlamn bal1alion ... TIle ..i1\ di\·i ..iUII,11 ..uppOtl Hili" \\ ....le .tIl ,Irtillen regillll'm (2.013 menl. 01 biC\c1e rccotlai"~'Ince bmt:llion I\ilh four Fii,ilit'r companil." liUS men); a field replacement (FeldL'.....'IIL) b;ntaliol1. an ,lilli-Ian!.. h.maliOll H$-I men). an elll{ineer (620 men) :md .1 ,i~llal, (:"\79 llll'll) b,maliun. The 2.3So...tfong di\i..ional ,en icc, cCltl"i~ting of bOl'sedra\\'n ,llld lllolori/cd tran_pOI't columns. a medical

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(Ol11pal\\. Ii del hu'pit,,1. \t:'lcrinan (ornpa1l\. miliwn polit t· tlUOp ami field POSt oni('(', From 30 ~b\ 19H exi~ling indCJH.'nc!ellt reinforced infalltn rcgilllell~ \\(:1'(' redt',igll,Hed Grenadier Brigade:., 011 I;} .Iuh 191.J expanded inlO Grenadier Di\'i,ion __: anc! on 9 OCIOI)('I" renamed Peopl("~ (.fcnacli('r Di\'i~iol1', joining other ~uch unit' fir't orckred 0'1 26 Augu" 1911. fhe 10.072 strong Peoplc', Gn'nadier Did,ic)I1 (\'olk:.gn,'Tladk'rdi\'hion) \\';h creall'(1 in the afu.'nnath of Iht' 20.l11h Bomh 1'101. theoretiGllh 10 1"'0\ ide poliliG\lI~ rdi,.hle inf.lIltn IIndl'r l-linlln1cr's dirt'll t'olllm:lIld, L':'lI:llh organizcd frOIll cOlllh:\I-'\I('an unit"" il \,,1:. .1 ~119-'" di\;,ion Il"ilh a F'-I.~ilicr comp:lll\ in:'lt'ad of a b:tllalioll, bUI \1 ilh ISf( Ic:.~ m:ull)Ol' t'r ,lIld 16'1 Ic~ fil'el>o\,cr: lighting qualil\ \,uic..·d from good 10 \,holh inaclec]ll:lIt'. 011 10 Dt:'(embl'r 19-1-1 ,III inf:mln di\-isions were onkrcd fUrtlH,.. d as ~119-15 Di,i"ioll~. each "ilh 11.211 German lroops and 69S 1-lilf,,\\'illige, "ilh di"i:.iOl1al '\(.'I"\;ce" rcorgani7ed as a 'upph regimelll (\'er-.orgllng'lcgilllelll) \,ith a mOtor tl"alhl>Ort compall\. 1\'0 hor'('dr.l\\ll 1r:1l1'p.ln\. \'cll'nnan cump:ul\ .lIId fidd po"t onlct:. In ~I:trch 19-1,3, 1I1:\III>O\\CI "a, funhcr twlllcc·d tn 10.72. G('rman, and CH2 Hilr~willig-t,. Tht: ~11~.t~!) .\Iouiliain Di"i'ioll wilh 13.056 ml'lI \I~I' organi/l·d.b.1 ;\119:l9 Infant .... Oi\ i'ioll hIli" ilh IWO mOuntain inf:mll"\ rt'g-imt'lll'\ and lIloulIlain-eqlliplx'd ,uppon unitS .md '\(.'n'icc::., Til(' 13,noo "rung: ~119-l2 Rinc U:-Ig:er) Di\'i,ion had liglllh anned mobilc infallll"\, Tht· 1" Sl.i (Sl..ij:lgcr) Ilrigadt' \,.1:, raiwd ill St'ptcmbcI' 191:l from ~i, indept'ndt'llI nfle hallalion" (2..1. 5, 7.9 :lllolish occupil'd Icrriwl'\' I'clllaining, S(;Cllrit\ di\i"i(Hl'i \\1:1'1: rl:llrganilcd "" illfall't') did"ioll', The mowri7ed div;,ioll'i wcrc cl1'cnh'cl" the i:lilt' or the GI:I'rn;Hl ;nfantry. III 19-12-43 lite 1-I.319,slrong ,\119.J0 !\[OIol'i7Cc! Di\'isiol1~. with tl"O Il'OIorile([ illfallll) regilm·nl" alld 1ll00ori/cr! divisional SUppOI't units and sen'ices. each fl:ccin:r! ,I P.II1/CI' :md ;111 anli,aircraft or ,Issalllt gun ball.llion, 011 23 .lUlIl' 19-13 the\ \,'ere rl:dt:'igl1:l\l'd ~119.J.J Arl\lOllrt·d [n ra 1111"\' Di\ i",ion:. (..ingul.!r: l'al17crgn'nadierdh ('lion). 14,7:lS qrong "'ith 1\"0 lIIotori/cd armoured inrallln' rcginl<.'lla (c;tch :U07 men) and one PilllIer h:ll!;tlion (()02 men allli .52 tanks): Sl'\'en dh'isional ,uppon unib - (lIlC mOtori7cd arlille.... rt-gimenl (1..580 mcn). :md fidd rcpl:lCclllCtll (973 llIen). anuourcd rccollllili~:lllc(' (1.00':;

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LEFT May U.43, an NCO lrom a Panzer !"e9lmenl takes a break, May 1943. His cot1on one-pi-.:e co"....Us may be '.,dgr~". mouse-grey, ,....;I·g.een, or e....n ll... ht brawn. H. ha. fixed ta lhem lunoHlchllly)lhe M1934 bh.ck, pink·plped skull collar patches. shou'der Itraps with aluminium NCO braid, and M1935 aluminium breast eag'. on bl.1ck backln""rom hll M1 ...34 .pecial bl.1ck "ehlcl. uniform_ He wea. . .tandard "'099'.' on hil M1940 oth.r ranks' fi.ld-cap_ IECPA)

LEFT. BCLO\V Und.r their M1940 reed g.....n lall... ue trousers th••• troops are w•• rln... the whit. collartess .hh1, Introduc.d 1 April 1933 and reissued In lummer 1943 to E•• lern Fronl unll. Iw.lt.rl..... In Ukr.lne. Th. fO!"e9round .o'dler I. remo"ing the bolt from hi. Mauler K.rabiner 98k for cleaning_ (ECPA)

BELOW .June 1"'43, O........ obe.. 1 Wall.r Mode', 9th

Army comm.1nder, In a leath•• ... reaICa.11 with 'eld...""u cloth collar, talk. to Infantrymen n•• r Kursk, The soldier In centre lor6'jjlraund W• .1ra an A-Irame battle pack with. blanket, me.. kit, bread ba....nd ga. mnk cani.ter attached, Thtl section nSlht machine Slun tum flrsl gunner, ri'jjlht, carrie. a IM034 'l'jjJht machine gun and a MI ...34 carrier for two .pare b......l•. [BrI.1n Oa";ll

mcn). anli·l;lIlJ... (17.') 1Ill:"nL lIlotoli,Cd allli-"if(I,lrl (63:> IlWlll, llloturi/(·d l'll~ill("CI (!ol~-, llU'nl .1Ild IllUlOri1cd ,ij{u,ll, (427 II1l'lI) h,lI1;lliull': pIll' 1_i"~~l-'IlOIl~ di\-i,iun;11 o,('nicC',_ Th(' ''.111/('1 di\l'itlll' 'IC;ldih 10:>1 t'O'('cli\('nc" a' Ilwir ~lJenglh .lIld \\(';lI)(llI .... (!t'chllt'd ()n ~I ~'pleml'\('r 1~'-I~ all l·l_6(i()..~uong ~Il\lll P.III/t'l Dil i'ioll' II (" I' ICI JI g,lIIi/ed .h \119-H P,lIl/t'r DI\ i~ioll~ Ea( II h.ld .111 ("t,lh1l,IIIILI'11I "I 11.01'\ (.,'1111:111 Uoop' ,lIld 71 I 1liH~\"i11ig"(" in a 1\10hau;l1ion !'.In/er 1('~inH'l1l (~JI()fi IIlCIL. It;:') lank,), .1 2.2~7-'lIollg armoll1'ed il1l,ll1ln le~il11('111 1"11(' ball.lliol1 U1\ haU:'I.I("k,l. ;llld.1 ~_~19 1110lori/('d ;11 ,no Hit "d il1 LLllI,", Ic·gil1ll.:l1l: di\ i~i"ndl 'LLpp' 'I I ILnil' 1\ 1'1 C' .111 armoured OIllillcl \ tl'~il1Jc'lll f 1,1:}1 Illt'III, ,lIld .11111t1111l"c! l;c1(1 I~placemcnl (973 l1I('nl. allli-airn.llt (1i3'1 111('11). allllOllre(\ II'(nnnai''':IIl('(' I!H,7 IIIt'll). alllll)t1rt·r1 '1IIli-ld'l!.. (Ii.:; 1I1CI1), alln',lll('d ellg-i1l('('"r (~7, 111("11) allf\ al 1I10UI cd 'ignal' ( 16:l Illen) ballalion': I.Cl79 pcr"Ollllcl pi O\-id~(1 ;l{ldit itmal f1i\-i,iull,ll ~~I \'it("_ On 21 ~Iatcll 19-1.", all al!1l011le(l dhl,i(lI1~ I.-elt' ordell'd 1" h(' IC'OIgani7ed ,I;; 1I,42~-;;llnll\!; \119-1j 1'.111/1'1' ni\i~iol1s, with a mixed 1,:~(il-'lnJlIg-I';lIl/f'1 1('lo\ill1f'11 I l,-idl \IIH' I':mlcr (ili711lc'n alld :121.1l1!..~) ;11Id 1111C h"lf-lllTe'sing Imperial .\Iblrialllllililan 11";ldiIIOlb. On 20 JUlie 19"3 the 1)3 n 7c'r~ I C II ad i('rd i\ i'ioll Feldhcl nl h.lllt- "'ll~ funned frOIl1 ~lIllll\.lbleihlllg (SA) \01111I1c('r" 11 \\'a~ (k~II'l)\('(1 in.luh 1944. rclollncd nit I ';epll'11lhel, Ct)IlH'neri 10 a Pan/CI dl\ l~ion on 27

7

;':()n.~mbcr.

8

and formed the P:lIll.cr~orp!> Feldhcrrnhallc I,-ilh 13 Palll.cr Di"isioll, which in :'\Iarch 19·15 became lhe second Feldhcrmlmllc :J.rmOllred division. From I April 1943 RIlll.Georg FreihclT \Oll BOl'sdaglT lO.li:.cd Ihrn' mourlled cantin regimclllS from the mounted ~\ladrons of dh'i~ional rccollnais~atlce rcgilllcnt~, as .\nll\' Group tactical re~nl·~. forming ill ),Iarch ,mel ).1:1\ 1944 the 31'd ,mel -llh Cl\'aln Brib'adn. from ).Iarch 19-15 as I J.300-,u'ong cavaln di\'i!>ion~ of I em,lln Corp,. On I October 19..t l the 1Sih Artillen 01\"islon I\'as formed \,'1111 thl'ce . :!!>...' lult gUll, :lllli-aircrart and TllOlOri1Cc! hallaliUIl:> \,;th suppon IlIlil..) ,mel seniccs. bUI after nine mOlllhs' incondll:.i\(· lrial, il \\-;\' di..bandcd on 27 Juh 19-14. On 25 Januan 19-15 Hitler ordered all :n-ailablc IInits to be rcorlf-ll1ized as inf.lllu...· di\'i~ions in an :lUcmpt to stem lhe rclenlk''\.'> Red Arlm ad\dnCe, Rc-.enc, Training (Feldallsbildungs) :tlld Replacelllcni ([I',alz) Di\i'ioll) became:.' general numbered di\'i~iOll) of lhl..' Replacemcnt Al"lm. In Febn.an 1945 'named' inf;mtn ,mel P;lIllCr di\i'iolh \\cre rai-.c:d from loe,,1 :.chool, and garri-.olh. T\lche tOI\n If-trri-.olls, manned bl Arllll and \'oll..~lllrm (lhe :":ui Pan\ 'home guard' c"labli'hed 011 25 JlIh 19-1-1) \\CI"I..' rcorgauiled iI'> fonre)' unil, for la'>l-ditch fit-fence. Brc,lau hecamc a FOl'lre'''' Corp\: J),llllig. Fr.IIII..Jun an~:Icr'()dcr. Gotenhafen. ~u"uill. Sllinemilllde:.· and \\'ar:.ch:ttl beC;l11\f': Fonre.... Di\i.. ion~: Kolhcrg. f'il'>lrin. Po~n, Scheidemilhl and GOrlit7 'Fonre~)', After ),1:1\ 19-15 all these tOll'lh. cxcept Fr'll1l..funan-der-Qder, beCilUe pan of I~oland. From OClober 19·12. 200.000 Luftw:'lfTe personnd II'cre oqpni..:ed into 21 Ficld Di\·isioll... organized 3S I,OOO-s.trong ),119-12 Rine U,-lgcrl Di\'i~ions: mO~1 "('ned 011 lhe E:blern From. 011 I :"OI·I..'mOCr 19-13, I-l field di\'i~ions. transferred to the .-\nn~ and were reorgalli/ed a'> ),119-1-1 infant" di\'i~ions with 'Rille:.' (L)' Regiments, On 29 ),l:.Jrch 19-15 threc inrantn did..ioll .. named Schlageter, Friedrich Ltuhl'ig Jahll ,lIId Theodor Korner Ilere formed fl'om StatC t..,oour Sen'ice (R..\D) pers.onnd II'ilh :\1'111\ cadres. suppon lInib and scn"ic...s, ,md ..:.t\\ limited action. The Arnn P:lII'ol Scnice (HccrCSSlreifcndicnSI), cSI:thli~hcd 011 18 NOI'cmber 1939, patrolled Replacemenl Army garrisons :.md checked the papcr~ of soldier.. on lea'·e. On I Fcbruary 19-11 il was unified under :I 1':111'01 Serdcc COlllmander conlrolling railwa) Kliard ballalions. checking cloclllllenb in large t';Iilwa} '>lations. On I ).Iarch 19+4 it forllled pan of the \\'ehrrnacll1 P:llI'OJ St"n'ice ~upcni...illg .. l:!.lion guard ballalions, policing trains and ['aih,·ay CClllrcs. In J:tl1t1ary 19-12 a I.C:I\'C SllPCITision Commander was estab1i~llI..'d for Palrol Scn'ice Group.. cht'eking ~oldien. lr;wdling to and from lea\·c, HQ Gn.mls guarded imponalll buildings. On 27 ~O\elllbt:r 1943 di)lingllbhed \·elcr..IIlS and I~atrol SC'....ice pc....onncl \\'C"C formed itllo Field Police (Fel(U:lger) Commands I-III. rcponin' dircctl~ to <.;nl f'cilcl, and holding prccedcnct= OIer :III I~alrol Senice and ~li1itar~ Police. Each command cOtllrolled a Field Police

Paru..rg.ena<;li•• Qnying MtM1 ammunition be. for tPte se<:tlon light machin. gun t.am. Oc:tobe. 1""3. H. we... a Zeltbahn 31 camou1lage shelte. quarter as a poncho over his fI.ld unlfonn, and string n.tting and a band on his helmet. IECPAj

BelOW Fou. Junio. offlc.... perhaps company commande.., conf•• with the commander la Knight, Cross holder) 0' a 'Gr08d.utschland' armoured in'antry battallon, september Ig43. Note the M1938 officers' field cap (leftl, M1934 'old atyle' peak.d field cap (second right). and standard M1943 peaked field cap (right); M1940 other rankS' fl.ld tunica modified with office,..' dar1t 9.een collars; and the dlvlaional cuff 1It1., (Frled.ich Herrmannl

B:ltlalion (from 25 April 19+1. a Rl'gimellt) with IIlc 111(110I'i/.cd cornpanie' each wilh 30 oOiccn, and 90 ;':COs dh'ided illlo 30 patrols: b:t~d 12 mile, behind the frolllline, thc:.e units dealt Out roughju,ticc. including summan c)l.cCluion. 10 ,Lpparcllih erring Wehrmilchl !>cr....lllnd. The,e \,ere "lIpponed from December 19+1 bl I);ttrol Corp:. (Strl'ifkol"pll') ..ections each comprhing .1 :.cnior ;':CO .1Ild nint' uther mnk,. 011 2·j j;u1II:ln 19-1-1 :'oIlIC ..\nm Official:." t"re reorganized all' ..en·ice per..onncl. and Oil I )Ial 19-1-1 Ir.ln,ferred 10 Ihe t",o bmnchc' of thl' ne\,h formed Special Troop Scnicc (TrupJX"no,QllClcrdil'IN) - lh(" Wdll"luadll Legal Sen ice for -.enior Glrcer coun martial oOkiak :md the .\drninbmuioll Scnice for 'Clliol and a(h,Ull'cd C;lrClT di'lrici :ldmilli'II";llinll ollicials .md 'l'niol' C:II't~CI' Pi!\ mastcr ofTicials. European volunteers

On

:to October

HJ.l3 the 250th Inlallin Did"joll - the Spalli'h 'Ullie Di\i~ioll' - I,'a" repatriated 10 Spaill, leadng a 1.500·~rrollg 'Sp:lnbh l.egion· (I.p!.:7rJ/l /:)/)(0;/)/(/ til' \ "olol/ltII'ifJI) which I,'a:.- repatriated ill l\1,Lrch 19-14: rhi, left t",o Spani;;;h baltalion' in lhe Rcpl:Kemellt ,\1"1111, The rhree Cro:lli;ln I.l'~iutl infaLlll'\ dili,ion' (369, 37:\. 392) lou",11I in \.roalia Iltllil ~Ia\ 19-15, The :ri:lrd \\'allool1 Inf31ltn llallalion 11':111" ferred 10 tIl<.. Warren-55 on 1.lUll(' 191~, follm'ed 011 1 Seplember 19+1 hI tilt' 1i1SIh Reinforced French Gren,ldicr Rcgimellt. FI'om .scptember 19-13 Gcnnam', Europcan allie' bq,r.ln to del>Cn till' ·hi, I"au,e, but small numbers of 'oldiers from these coulHric" fOllg:ht on in Warrell-S~ natiollal unit... "hil .... 'Olllo.' Bulgarian, Hungariall. Rumanian and Slovak IrOlI!>' -.cried in _-\nm con'trU('liOll unib or all' indi\idual combat n:placcnwllb, The Osttruppen

troop" recein.-d preferenli,ll Ireatment in the Wehrllladn mer other Soviel l1alionalilic::>. On I J;lIIl1an 19-13 E.;;;tonian troop' \"l'rl' reorg;\Ili/t'd into E."'lonian Compam 657 and Estonian UaH:llioll;;; 658-660, tran'ferring- to the \,';tlTell-SS on 24 .-\pril 19H. From Fehru.1I"I :.ix Estunian Frontier Regiments (1-6) \\(:r(' formed to defr:nd Estonia. di;;;handing in Septcmber 19-1-1, Twenl\-t\\'o Baltic construction ballalioll'" I"ere abo formed - l.;lI\ ian I-I\' in 19-13, L:ltliall es'police 31-1~315, 3:!5·3:!8 in June and .lui\' 19-14: LithU:lIlian 1-"1 in 19-1;\. Lithuaniall cs·police in 19-1-1, and Estonian 1-5 in April and ~I;l\ 19+-1. From I JLLI~ 19H O;;;llruppell were redesignated '\'oluntcers' (Frei\.-illigc) in recognition of tht, I ital contribution thel I,ert:' lI1aking to lhe Cennall \\":11' effon, )10:.1 unit::> ,,'ere dcplo'cd on rear :lrt'a ",..curi", U,Ill'I>Oll .lIld COll::>tll.lCliun dude::>., ,ince the Gcnn:Ul:'> were \IIl\"illing to le't their 10\<1lt\ in b:.m1e again'l liet Iroop,: bltl 'Ilthough indh'idual, and e\cn sollle \,hole unit" (h.'<;('ned 10 So\iet line" tht"Z>e re-pre-.entt'd onll :l 'mall proponioll of the estimated SUO,UlIO former Soliel citiL.l'l1' ,cning in Ihe Wehnnachl. Waffen5S and Olher par.lInilital'\ organizOltion::>., .-\11 l~a1tic

Generalleulnanl Halnl. Hallmlch llett foregroundl- lnSPKtor of Osttnlppen from 15 Oecember 1942 to 31 Oecember li43inspe<:ts a compan, ollhe Turkaslan letlon. June 1i43. He we:;ars the M1i20 eliht-buttoned field tunic with Mti34 'old st)'fe' peaked field c:;ap, The leiIionaries we:;ar the Ml$-40 tropical field tunic and canva. bett pennitted in Ukl'3ina and southam Russia in the S41m....r. Note Ihe Oennan cadre officer behind Hellmlch, also in tropical uniform; and Ihe officer at 11Ir lett In • Mli20 tunic ..,modelled with Mti35 bellows pockelS, (Author's collection)

9

May 1943: three senior Runlan Liberation Army (RDA) offlce~ at Pskov, north-western Russia, Polkovnll< (later Major.General and Deputy Chief 01 General Staff) V.l.Boyarskiy (lett) wears a Red Army M193S khaki gymnastiorka field smock and khaki sen/Ice peaked cap, PoIl
rlllxiliarit', - Hilf~willige 01' 'I-li"'i,' - \,'er(' flllh integTa\(~d into Gl'rnHUl dh'isioTls and incn:,Nllgh tl'l",ltl"d 011,1 par I,'ith GI·nn,tl1 trOOlh: ,111(1 frol11 2-1 Onobel" 19-1-1 recruitment of Poli~h Hi\"i, I'"il' o/lidalh ~anctiolled, In .I;\nll;\1"\ 19·1:\ the Ea..te!"ll Uallali(ll1~ were Ir,U\ ..fl'rT(.'d to Ihe Rus~i;t11 Liheration Arn1\ IR\l'ska\"i\ OSI'obodilc!'na\,a Armiya) or RO.\. (meier Ihe nominal COnlmalld of \'X,SOl'il'l general .\ndre\' \'I"ssO\, lie hoped 10 unile all RII ..,i;1I1 \'ollllllct'r UUib into ;111 ;\1"111\ III frlT tIll" Su\'iet Cnion from COllllllllllist control: but cot11ll1alld of the Ea..tcrn Battalions remained finnl) in Gt'rman hands, :\ lOla I of 71 hall:1lion" sel....ed on the E:1~le!"ll Front: h1l1 from October 19,13. ·12 baualioll' from (k.. troyed German dil'i .. i()ll~ II't'n' transferred to Belgium, Det\lll~rk, Fr:lIlce and [tal),. Oil 1-1 ~~J\l'lllh ... r 19H Ihe RO,,\ was offici:lll~' r(·de~igl1alt·d lhe Armed Forel',; 01 the COlllllliul'I' for thc Liberation of lhl' RII~~i:ltl People:. - \'$-J.:O:-':R - I,illt :lbO\1I :-,0,000 RlIs~ian troop~, bill the Icrl1l ROA \\"a:. comllloll!\' \Ist:d \lntil ~I;l\ IY-l5, The lSI Inf,lllll'\' (tiOOIl1 Gennan) ni\i~iotl II~~ lcu'mer! on I Deeembcf 19·1·1. ;llld fOlLght brit·lh on Ill<' OdeI' FrOllt in April 19-1,:; before changing sides :1nrl helping Czech ill~Ul'gent.. LO lib('I";llC Pragtlc rnltltthc Genmm .. in ;\I:LI' 19-1,"1. Th ... 2nd (650) and 3rd (.W9) ni\"i.. klll~ \\"t:re neler fully eqahli..ll<'d, An eCjui\";llent l"kr,;\inbn I.ibt'1":1tion :\nn)' (L'hain,ke \\7\'01111" \'i\':.\...o). anllOl11H:l"d in J'Ull Lar\' 19·1~ for L'krainiall [ash'rn Battalion personnel, I\,IS ne\'er actualh fornwd. On -I Angllst 19-1:~ the IS! Cossack Didsion lI'a:. formed Idth six Cll\'aln r('gimcllLS (I & :> DUlL. ~ Siberian, 3 & -I Kuban, 6 Tercl..), dil'i,inrul suppOI'[ units and "en'ice", IL "el"\'('d in Croatia from OClOber 1943. and in :'-iO"(,ll1ber IY-I·\ tr:HI,lcrrcd to \\'~lTell-SS COtllrol. dhided into I~t and 2nd Dil'i"ion~ and lonning X\' Cassar\... ClI"aln Corp~, :":illC i1l(k'pclldellt C()s~ack illfalltr~ and 19 Gl\"illry ballaliOIl~ toughl un till' [ilStel'll From \\'ith Gl'rmall clh'isiotls, [n .July 19·12 the ~laIT of the disbanded 1(i2tld Infant!") Dh'isillll in occupied Poland \\';\S IN:,d 10 tmin haualiolls of the six newly l'stllblished Annelli:1I1. AII:rb;lij:I11, (;(:,clrgiall, :\orth Cal1Ca,i3n, \'olga-TariM and Turkestan [aStCI'll l.('gioll~, In all 98 Easlern Legion battaliom I,'ere fonnt:d (8
CAMPAIGN SUMMARY 1943-45 The Northern Front

10

[II Fehruary IY,I3 Army Gr01lp Nonh (Heeresgruppl' Nord), under Cell.Obsl. (later enl) Ceorg \'011 KClchler. held the IlOrthern sector of the Eastern From \,'ith 11"0 slatic infant!')' ;jnnie~, The 18th Anm, Idlh 2/; divisions OW infatlu'\', four Ltlftl,'"lTe inf;H1tf}', one WaITen-55 infantr\', on(' mountain) besieged LetLingrnd, and held the \'olkhO\ Line from Lake L,doga 10 Llke Ihnen. The 16th Artny's 16 di\'isiom (15 infantn',

(1m: Lllrt\,'afT(: inf:lIu.... ) held Ihc northern W\,ll Riwr Ix,forl' '-e1il..i\c

Lul..i. This line held IhrougholU 19-1~, ahhough on 28 Ft.-hrua.... 161h Ann\ e\";lcu:ued the \'ulncfro\incc or KIII'feme). :'lIcce.."iH:h under G.::n.Oh.. t.Ikinrich \'ktingholf. (';cn,Ob~t.LOlhar R{'IHlulic ,md (;L'1I.0b~I.(~lrI Hilpert. It Iwld out again ..t RL'd ,\1'111\ allad.. in ..i...; 'Kurl.md I\;:mk..' IImilS :\Ia\ 19,1:>, The Arctic Front The six division" 01 20111 :>.lolllllaill ,\1'111\ (2 inralltn, :1 Inuul11aill, I \fan'cn-SS lIloulIt;lill), under Ccn.Oh"t.Eduard Dietl (from June 19H, G'::Il.0b~I.Rcndulic). occupied ,I defen ..i\c lillL' in Sodt'\ Kal'cJi.1 and guarded Ihe I'cbamo nicl..el mine... On i September 194-1 Finland concillekd illl anl11"lIce \,ilh lhc CSSR and declared w:n 011 Gennal1\: under So\'ietFinni..h prcss,llI'e the 20th Arlll\ rClrcatt:d inlo :'..:on,,,;\~, defcnding il:l~ the \fehnnacht C:olllrll:tll(\ .'\101'\":11' under C{'Il. ekl" Gebil'g.. tl'uppCIl Frail .. Boehme. The Central Front In r"bruan t9H GF\I GillHher \on Kluge'~ Arnl\ Group Centre (Hecrc.)gruppe :\Iil(c) dt'fcnded Ihc R7hc\-Or(>J· Khal'ko\ linc in \\'c.)tcrn Ru ....ia. In :\larch it cOll1pri~cd fivc annics

Inlantrymen at ease, September 1943, all Wear tha M1g42 'laid tunic and M1943 fIeld cap, Nota the silver Infantry Assault Badge worn by the two Unlerof11illar ..cUon leade... at Ie" and right; the .enior NCOI' collar and shoulder Itrap edgIng braid also .nowa well. (Brian Cavia'

11

12

(2nd Panzer, 3rd Pallzer, 2nd, 4th, 9th) totalling 81 didsiotls (12 Patllcr. one \faITen-$5 Pallzer. 53 inralllr~, fi\t: Illotorilcd. one Warren-$5 C<1\'aln, six Lurt\"arre. three Hungarian) , On 24 i\larch 19H the 9th Arm}" evacuated Rzh('\' aud the \'~"illl11a S'llient. On 4 .I lll\', 17 Panzer and 26 other dh'isiom in 91h Arm\' and -lib Panzer Am1\" (Arll1\' Group Somh) attacked the SO\'iet-held h.llr~k Salient in Operation Zitaelclle. the grealesl lank bailie in hislory: but on 17 July the attack \faS called 00' I,'jlh minimal lerritorial gains and huge lusscs or 111CII ,md (:qlliplllenl. :'\ow the Red ,-\rtlly 'Olllllcr·allackcd, lt.Gouhard Hcinrici: rrom April. Lurtwaffe Gcn.ObSI.h.uI"I Studenl), with 47 didsions (three Panzcr, 35 inranu)'. SC\'cn \\'a£1"en·$5. one 1I<1\'al inEllur}'. olle parachute) in 3rd Panzer. 2nd and 9th Armies. defending the Odcr Front and Pomeranian coast. On 24 February the Red Annr aLlackcd, Laking Kolberg on 18 ~Iarch :lnd Danzig on 30 \brch. On 16

•

Odober 1943: the crew 01 a IMG 34 mounted on a tripod for sustained fire. The second gunner has lollage stuck through a rubber band round his helmet; the M1931 shelter-quarter Is carried rolled up on the back 01 his belt, fBrian Davis)

April SO\kl roop:. op{·tlt'd lhe :lll:ld. on Berlin, r1el"t'nderllw91h 1\nm, On I ~Ia\ lhe Ikrlin garri'Otl ~tlrn'lIdcred: ,md on!\ ~1a1'11U' R('c1Al'Im linked tip \1'1111 I~riti~h and L'nited State, lroops 011 tbe EllX' Ri\{'r.

----,' ,

The Southern Front

GFM Emil Busch, commander of

Army Group Centre. November

1'43, wellrll'l$ the M1943 peaked field cap: a privately tailored sheepskin }&eke! with the gold·on·tmIck Ml942 ann badge of his rank; and the M 1935

breeches with gene,..' office..' bright red piping and stripe•. He cani•• a field-mal"Shal's

undr... blKk baton. with a altve, knob and. !ilsseI in th.

German ""iona_ coloul"$. (Brian Davl.)

LEFT A PanJ:e/'i.enadler in an Ic:e·cowered alit lren.ch, Decemb40r H143. He wee.. the M1942

re....rslbl.

p8dded winter

amoc:k with a coloured field sign

round the sleeve, and matchln, ttoun.., and. f.'dgr.>u

~dded

toque under hi. whit_ashe
righi, Or on both arms; black on lett, red on righl; red on lett, black on right. (Brian Oa"is'

In Febru.l..... 19·13 L'krainc "'as defcnded all lhe Doneb Rher bl Arlll' Group $QUlh. formed all 12 f('bruan from Anm Group I)on under CF,:\I Erich Ion ':\1:lIl,tcin, Idlh hi and 4th P;llI/l'I' .-\nni('... .-\1'lIl('l'abtt'ilung Kt'mpf (Ialcr 81h Anm). and Armee:II)(t'ilullg- Hollidt (Ialer 61h Arm~). 100alling 32 di\;sions (c;el'cn Panzer, 17 Inf:\llln. twO 111010ril.cd. four Warren-55 P:mzergrcnadil·r. "'0 lufI\IafTe). The Crilllt',1 :mel the Taman Pt'l1in,ula "crc held bl Arnl' Croup ''\' und(."r (;F,:\I I:.wald 'on ~ki,1. II ilh 20 di\'i,iun, (onc Pamt'l", ,e\en iufanln, IWO Iilk. t\\O moulIt'lin. I l.11ft\"lffc. 'IX RU11lanian. OIl(' 5Io\,lk) in 171h Anlll. joined ill OClobt'r 191;\ bl lilh Arlm. III Fd)rllan 19·1~ thl' R(.'d Anm :lcll,mcN\ from 5talingrad, capluring Kursk on 8 Fd,l'llary, Bdgorod 011 9 Fcbruar:-. RO~IO\-ol1-Dol1 on 1-1 Fl'!ll'u:lrl alld Kharkov all 16 Febnlllry. ,\ lallSteil1 Coulllt'r-Oltl:u.:kt·d (JII [9 Fehnl:l!"' with 1st P:Il11CI' Arlll), reoccupying Kharkm' 011 Itl ~I:lrch. On 17.1ull the Red Anm thrust once ag-ain. laking BcJgorod on :1 AligUSI :md Kharkm· on 23 (\ugu:.t: amI Oil 30 Sqllemhcr Anm Croup South relrcalt'c1 to the Dnepl' Ri\·cr. abandoning Ne\" on 6 l'\o,t'llllx'r, Anll~ Group 'x ('\,lcuatcd tht' Taman Peninsula on 9 October, and hI 31 OnobC'I' 17th ,-\rIll' \ " " ~u"lIldcd in lilt' Crimca. On 24 Dt'Cl'llllx·1' 191;\ tht' Rt'd ,\rnl\ rnlllllCel Ihe Orf<"lhi\l:' from its Ounet!- hI idgt."he'lch again'l .-\n1\\ Croup Solllh. lOulht'ln I}ol.md on 13 Apri1. Thc 6111 ,\nn\ relne-aled Ihrough ,ollthern l'kraine. ghillg up Ode......; ! on 10 April 19-14: IIlt";Utl\ hilt· I jlh Anm 10.,1 $<-\1\~I()pol on 9 ~Ia'. c''acu~lIillg b\ 'C."a from lhe Crilll<.·;:\ 10 Rumania. On 30 ~Iarch 19·1-1 Anm Group South in "Outhern I'oland " .. ~ rcdc~ ig-n:ltc.:d Anm Group :\onh l'kl
13

Anm Grollp South with four armic, (6th. 8th: ~nd 8: :'\I'd Hungarianl. In O,tnlwr 19-1-lth<: Srwic:t5 pll<;hed thr(lug-h ('tcllllwr 1944 th ... Southern and Rail-an Front!' merged, The Red Arnn emered YUg'oslad;l on 27 Septcmber 19+1. taki nA' Belgrade all 19 Octl/ber frolll ..\rnl\ Crollp 'F' (2nd PanicI' Arnn. Ar11lt'cahleihmg St'rbiell. Aml\ GroLlp 'E'), In :\o\l:rnbcr Arnn Group 'E' c\'acuated Greece and .....Ibania; ill Dt'cclllbcr 211£1 P:uller Army redc:plO\ed to "(l\ltherll Ilullg';ln, and Anm Group 'F' funned a dd<:l1"in' linc on the Bo"niall-Serb horder \\ilh Croatian troop', Illilialh the line held \\'ell agililht a general olTcnsi\'t' b\' SO\'lc:1. Hulgarian alld Yltg'o;,];\\, Panisall fore('s laullched 011 15 :\Iarch. ;lnd ,-\rlll\ Crollp 'E' retreated in gond order, e\~lcllating Sal~lj(.'\'O on i April. Rljeb on '-l :\Iav lind Zagreb 011 8 :\1:1\. The Anlll r:rollp fitl:llh 'llrrend<:red in soullwrn ..\u'tria all IS :\Ia\ 1945.

ARMY UNIFORM Officers' service uniform

14

This uniform, al"o \,'01'11 b\' probation an second lieutt:na11ts (( )hcrEihnrich and cCjlli\'alent), cOIl,isted of Lll<: ~ 11935 ofliccr'" po:.:al-I:d cap. :\11935 oniCt'r\ field tunic with ribbons, ~11935 :\[[9-10 anker's fidd greatcoat. i\119:l·1 officer' ~ brlll\'ll lc:ather helt, oJftcc:r'~ breeches and nffiClT', black leather hig'h-bool.S, grc\' sucdt' glo\·es. pi~101 and llOlstel'. The 'uperior-(]ualit, pldt,..TJwj (gr
March 1944: GFM Erfch von Mansteln, commander of Army Oroup South, tatks to troops who had lought In the 'Cherkassy Pocket' In the central Ukratne. He wears a privatety-tailored fur cap and a fur collar on his M1935 greatcoat, Mansteln's adjutant. lell. wears bright aluminium wtre atgutltettes and a M1934 'otd styte' fietd cap, (Brian Davis)

green 01" pltl/.,fmll collar (wick-ned in ]~J.l2). I,'ith hright I'ed lapel lining, for gl·lll....al ullin'!",_ Thc plain :.IOIH'iP·(" orjrldJ..."'w, hrcl;c1w, h,ld briglll red -.cam piping' and 'lI·ipc.. lor g(,IH;I~11 onice..' 0" Cl'irn::.on for ..t:llT omcel"'. The hlad, IC;I\he.'r high·IKloh I,'ere lI'Ofll \lith 'pu ..... From ~7.Jlll,­ 19-13 the brollll helt \I"a~ to IX' .. mined hl.tel... ,Ill ord('l J"t""limkd Oil :\0 ()ctlll)l.'1 191:\. Other I"anks' service uniform

Jilnuary H144: this wounded infantryman, we..ring iln M1942 ",...ersible ~dded winter lunic o"'er hi, field uniform. ,its on $n impro...ised ,Iretcn.,r SI hi. comrsdel swait S INCk from 1M divisional medlcsl company. The soldie'ilt lett, prob.. bly sn NCO or officer, i. w.sring tke MltJ42 two_piece 100. . conon .now ..... Jt with a red 'i.ld .ign round hi. right s1e....e; hi ....i.ibl. kit i..... lud•• s M1938 folding .ho....I, M193t m." kit, br.ad-bag, canleen snd Mt935 dl.pstch case. Tke $Oldie. at o;:enlre, a medical corps orderly In a M1g35 greatcoat, csrrie. lield drelSing. in two medical pouches on hi. belt. (Friedrich Herrmilnn]

i

Th(, ,en ice uniform for tcchnical :\,CO... ~enior :-':CO, and lIlall\ junior :-':CO:. cOIl:.i,ted of 111(: olher t'll1l..,' ~119:\:'t ..en·icc pc,lked cap or ~1I935 ~119-12 field cap, \11935 field lunie ,1IlCl ~lHt~:i fielel gH"UCO,lI. \II!) It) irou..er, \I('n' \\'Onl \,ith hlack Il',lIhc:r 1lI.1IThing hoo,... or \119-13 hdll,d troU"l'r, \lilh :'1119-11 jr"'l!'ml cam.ts ockcl nap" Thc \119-13 Ix'hed trOll't'r' had ;\ reinfOl'ced ,cat ,md l:lpcn:d It.1=-~ for ankk". The ~119-10 olher rank,J"dgHI/I fidd ~'TeatCoal was

15

a... ror officer~ bUl Ililh other r;IIl\...'; C]ualil\ doth and in"ignia" The :\11942 mood had a I,"ider collar ror Ix-tier protection .1l:.r.lill~1 lhe cold" Walking-out uniform When \I-al\...ing-om or 011 Ie:lle officer' \Iore the -.enice t111ironn, <;()Illctime.. ,,"jlh the :\11937 OmCN" pipt.·d fidel tllllie, with ... tr:ti~ht Jddf(Tfll/ trOll~I'" and no lxII, hol"lcl' or pi"lol. Technirnl and 'CniO!" :'\COs \Iore the pc...a\...ed cap, fidd tunic or grealcoat. trou"cr" anel blad. Jc-,uher all\...lc boot.., belt ami mar\...:'ITl:mship I,\lward, junior :'\COs and lllt'n adding" lhe scabbarded b:l\OlU.. 1 with \...not.

,.

Officers' field uniform In the field all oHiClTs (l:xcept plalooll lea(kr:.) Iwre the mher rank...· :\119-10 :-'119,12 :-'[1943 or _\119-11 fidel IUllic. thl' :-'[19~5 :-'119-12 ...lel'l hdmCI 01' :-'11938 :\119-12 or :\119-13 fidd cap. officer...· bl'eedu:.... Ililh high-bool'> 01' other !dllks' II'OU~CI''' ,,·;th :\119·11 an\...Ic.'I' and blad. laceup ankle bOOIS, On 31 October 19:19 all officer"l:x·lOII gCller-11 ran\... "'Cn"ing in combal units I,'cre ordl'red 10 Ilcar thl' Hlher milk.' fidd lltnic. black belt, trOllI>C1"S and marching boots, in order not to be 100 con~picllolI'" to lilt" cnCJnI'; bUI lllO:.1 officer:. ...horlellcd the lunie :.\...irl. ;Hlding officers' rollback Cliffs, !lox pleats to lhe 1>OCJ,.clS. officer«' coli'll' p;uchl'''. and bllli ..h dark green collar.. 01 higllC.~r and more pointed ~hap(" \\'l';l!" or the..- other' ranks' blac\... hell hy orTicers II~I'> rOl'hidden after 2.1 Juh 19-11. and a blackened orlin'l's' :-'1 [9.14 broll"n hell II'a.. prl'~(I'ibcd, Oil 2j September' [9-1-1 lhe Feldllilironn +1 "';l~ inlroduced as:t llCII' \tam!ard fidd uniform ror all rank!.. rcplacing exi ..ling unironns I,'hell the~ wore ou!. The \1
lilSi, north'ellstern Rumania, April 1944: tha unmlslilk"ble li9ure 01 Generalleutn,"t HaSSO von Manteultel, commanding the Panzergrenadler Dlvl.lon GroSdeutschlilnd (centre), wearing his M1934 'old .tyIe' field cap and II leather grealcoat, with to.SO Zei8 binoculars with btack bakelite pl'Oteetlve lid, He conle,.. with an officer In a sheepskin Co;lll; lind (right) iI Hiluplmilnn of the ParaerRegiment Gro8deutschlilnd, wearing the Mlg42 Pilnzer denim uniform In reed-gr.en her_ ringbone twill with a large left thigh pocket; nole applied collar patches, and .houlder boards with gilt 'GO' monogram. In the lelt bilckground are a Rumilniiln general officer and captain; lIve months later Rumani, changed .ides and deelared war on Germany, (Brian Ollvl.)

TABLE 1: ARM RANK INSIGNIA OF THE GERMAN ARMY

~

~

~..."....,..-....o~_,_~~on""M'',l3$

"'larllrOOPS "'"' S'lOW srwt MT;lJ),., ~ 1IWl, Ml~ - . IIQlICIIII/lIr1 MI940.-..9'"" ~ "'-~ "'1g.l1 o.PI~ M T;)Il ..-l-!1fRI1I/lIr1 _ <;MWOOIII. M19-11 _ MIW2 "'_ _

"'*""

~ RIo<

~ _1,11\101' """'" 1rOPOII"'" ... ..-.. hl "" .....,11';

o..mw. ....

MCO"dt .. tlnIl;t
...'" Ml942"'~llI'Ocernouftag8_1...-c.MI942~

Sl.-l QrIIcer:I

_:~ Ml943noooeo~smockM'942_~~!"IItlIInc,

taioes lot M 1arY 0'"-00Is I1942 F.., Poll I"" •• ~ • .,,'OClUClId 15.ur 1943

_

MI943

"'Ol'lI.Wl_''''''''''' 111

_

~

I

~

_

-

.

.

l

_

~

d

'" I"e 1.11 D

¥

1acm DIl<>N 1l'II "'" II"CUlW _

-=oel

_

_

8 MAY 1945 ~

22 AUGUST 1942

mtN!;K:I....., ~ l:I!n...-.gl tor

~I.

"'lr(XU:8
trorlJy"

~

~ ~ ..............

-

.,"

.---

... ~.•"_"" .....r.

...~,"-!:. ~~~ ~"'~ "

.-

..... ...,. ~

,.

.•-

-11 • . . - . . .

-~

"-""

, h,' '''i'r'·

,~

.• . _. . _. -, , ~

~

_.

__
.....

a-tOo'r>""ClIlI_ ~ ""':

1·~ \'.t-!e _ II..-l_,

tlIl""".-c PPS

l:I"''''''''''~on

'-lrlI CoQn_

OQICl-yelItM llrKl il"CI

on. llIaC>< aom r~

&,1 Gl-.lIfa(l_tr

..,....

~

t " , " or....,..,

~

on.~

,m,oc·

',

-

'«1_'1-

_ " I l .... ,

an
17

General. enjoyed ll,nte, latitude In their Interpretation of uniform ..-gulation,a. Atte, di.tingui.hed ..rvlce In North Af,lca. Gene,almaJor Fritz Bayerleln Wil. appointed to commllnd the newly 'onne
18

The ~11935 ... ll't:! helmel. I>''lintcd m:ut grl.'clli,h-grc\ \, ilh roug:hclled ..urface,. had a ..iher \,hIl1' 011 bl,.d. "-ehrmaclll eagle ekc•• 1 011 1111' left ..ide_ :lOOli,lI('d 2 "\llgll'l 19.,l3. The ~11912 behnet. introduced 20 .\pril 19·12. nhalldoncd the cdg'c-cl'impi 11K 10 ,implif\' produnion: thi, \\,1' lIOt comlllon in the Ikld uruil IH-I3" The peal..le"" ~119~8 oniccn' jrldgl"lJ// lricot field cap had aluminiulJl thread pipillb'S. :1l1c1 :m aluminium \\'ire l'mbroicll'!"ed cocl..ade bdo\, ,m aluminiullI tlll"l'ad eagle on a blui~h darl.. green had.ing. in I{0ld Ihl e,.d or cdleml for ~cner:.1 ollice'·'. The ~1193-1 'old st~le' pcakt::d fidd cap" officialh Hhnli,hed I .\pl·il 19·12. I'"a~ \lorn b,' ,orne officers and :--'CO, Uillil ~Ia, 19-1:). Somc ()mC(;l'~ I,'on' Ihe vIller mlll.....· ~119-12 l'idd cap llllofficiall\'. I,'ith alulIlinilllll pipilll{ (gold for general onicer"l. OAicel'; abo I,'{we the ~119.,l~ peal..ed l'icld ('"al' \\'ilh aluminium (gold or celleon for general officers) curd HOI\ n pipin~. ,md occ..~iollalh the other milk,' eagle and cocl..adc. Subahcllb acting as itlfa11ln platoon leader.. \l"ore the other r;'llll..~· black helt 'upponing- the 8-1/98 ha\"onel and -.cabl:mrd in 11ll' ~119~9 I>''l\onct-frog. ll~llalh <;ccurcd 10 the caM' of thc ,horl ...hO\"('1 01· ~11!l38 folding ~hO\"('I: the :'-119-1 I cam-;b hread bag: the ~11931 (";lntl.'('l1 and Ctlp: and the le,nher ~1I93?l di"I>...tch C'OL'>C. TI1e blad leal her ~1l920 'Onicl'rs;' Mlpport 'Imps' ..ectlred twO "Cl..'> of three first 1l.l1Iern greellbh·brown /('Itf~ml C;Ul\"';IS l\13R 40 :ltllll1Unilion pOllche.. 101 the ~[P;18 or ~IP-IO ...ub-ll1i\chi11l.' gUll. The anti-ga.'l cape in a grL'enish-brown or fl"ldf.!'wl rubhcI;/e:I~. ZciB 6x30 billocula~ were c.u1"il.'
Olher ranl..s \,'ore the M'n'ice Illlifonn. increasingl\' with anl..lt'b ,md bee-up ankle: bOOb. adding the ,teel helmet :uul olllilling the .'>Cn"ice peaked Glp. exccpl for llorne :'\CO~ I,ho \\'ore llll' ~Il H:l-I 'old ,t~ Ic' peakecllkld cap. Technic'll and .,el1ior :-..'eos carried a pi'lOl in a hlack hoi"11'1'; ami :\"COll acting :I' infalHr~ plal01111 leader... or ection lc.tclers \\ore Ihe ....IIllC equipnU'1\l :t~ '\ll>:,hern pia loon leade hili with the mher mn!..s' ~119:l9 inf:IlH......upport ':~ll-;IP.'l. The Oilier r.m!..s- l\IIHH fidd uniform \'~dS iclelHiGll to thl.' oOicers· . "ilh plain Jeldgmll 44 rOlilul-ended ..Imulder slr'ap" I,'ilh br:•• lch 01110 lhL' collar. and lhe other nlllks' ~119-t-1 mousc-grey l'agk 011 a fiMgmll \\"O\"ell triangle: :'\CO.. did not wcar collar edging br:lid. ~10"1 :\"COs :md men wore lhe standard rifleman's equipment. The \,ai"t belt Glrried the 8-1 98 ba~ollel. ~11938 folding ...ho\e\. ~11931/~119·1'1 hread bag, ~11931 C;UlIecrl and cup. The ~11939 infallll} ,upport Y-llIl,lpS :md ~upplel11elllary D-ring straps "uppol"led 1\,'0 sets of Ihree rilk :1111111unilioll pouche"':l1 the frollt. :tnd:1I the had. the ~11939 Jrlrlgmll camas A-frame, car~;lIg the ~11931 grcl'ni,h-bro\l'n painted ;lluminium me" I..it (pOi ,md f.,..ing-p:m lid): rhe ~11931 camoul1:tge shdlcr-qu
Summer field uniform

A major commanding an "',..ult Artillery Britade - a Knight" Crou holder - conlen with a battery commander, April 1944. The lormer wean a M11143 Ileid cap w1thou1 retulatlon offlcen' a/ummium wi.. plpi"9; and a Mt940 ,pecial fiald lI.a, jKkat with M11135 offlcen' colla. patches (tha. . wa.. orda.ed changed to 'eldg~u piltcha. piped red on 1 Ma, 1844). The blOtter}' commanda. wean the 'old .tyle' field cap and the M193'1 n.obberiud fiald g.aatcoat for moton::,.:lisb; a field flashlight I. hung by It. tab from a button. (Brian Davl.)

III ~lIl1lm('J" 1911 lll:llH lroop' adoplcd :i~:l 'Ullllll('r fielel llniform til(" :\ 119-10 fatigul' uniform, lir'l ordo:rl'd I ~ Fd}nlar~ 19 Ill. nlll'i<;/in~ of Ih,,-, rco:d-grtTlI colton herringl)(llle ll\ill lllilic \Iilh tiH.· !JulIOIl' and t\\'o palch hip pOCkO:b. imd Irou:.o:r,. Onlco:rs ,11\(1 :'\(:0, ,ldlkd :.houl
Winter IIl1irorm ileJll~. fil·'l i'l-$IIl:d Ix·fore :\Iafch 19-12, eonsi~tl'd of Ihe /I'ldgrrlll tube-dlaped \\C)()lkn halacl:wa: .·"Ira-thit-\... wonlll'l\ undcn\'ear: lhe :\11936 :Ind :\119-12 "I calcr,: Jtldl"mw \H)(}lICII mitten:.: Ihe Jl'ldgnm 'cmf'·s double-hreasled guard coal and reh O\ershoc.s: lhe \chicle (TCI\·S 111193-1 or :\11910 Slll'l::O;H: rur-lincd millen:.: and thc dri\·cl....· ami l11ol()rc\cli,[~· o\t'rgIOlc:'. :\lal1\ troop' ilnprc)\i~ed. \I'itll ci\ili.lll flcco· coaLS and captured Red :\nn~ flccce caps and padllt'd lickl Ull if(lI'llh. 01 hl·r i~,tl(· winler dOl hing (ol1~i~tcd ()r sheepskin O\·....IToat:.: fllr caps: plain brown quilted jacl..el amI lrou:.o:r' I\om mer lh .... lkld unironn and under tho: gre:l1coat: Icallwr·rcinforced rdl calf-hoolS: and l1lo11lltaill lroups· pre-w;lr isslIe ca1f~lcnglh whiLo: ('OlIOII ·"11011' silk!.:.'. The 1\1193~ cream fir oIT·whilt· COllon hl·rringbonc twill ratigue lunit :Ind lroll~crs. worn over tltt' field unirorm, pr(witlc(1 Illal..e,hin 'IIO\\' eamollflagc. The nee1- of tht· :\119·12 polo-ncck ,"cal"-'I'. illlnxlucl·d t:arl~ 191:l cOllld hI.' pulled lip 0\,('1' thc moulh for warmlh. The :\119-12 p.td(kd rc\crl>ihlc: 1\llilc frMgmrl lIilller \tlllic (WillleranLug) 1\.1:. i"ued frum :tllltllllll 19-1~ ill lighl \I'eight (Olll· thin \\hil(' dmb 1,ller and 11\0 Ihie\... /dd},.''fIIU): nwdiulII (one lhin Ilhile
19

April 1~: ~ Gel,.it., 01 inlantry w.al"i"i! ~ M1942 ,,""coat with wide collar, Ml940 shoulder straps piped with Infantry whIte, M1935 ann rank badg. 01 bright lllumlnium braid On II da"'" g,een lacing cloth lrillngle, and the Kublln campaIgn .hield, (Brian Oayl.)

Ilal~ ;lIld billion.., and an imq,",11 hood wllh .1 dr'iI\'Jcord, A "111.111 bunon on c;lch lIppcr ",ilh diagonal £lap~ :llld hUl(on,>, a crutch ~Itap, and df;lwcord.. ~II the :mL.Ic" ~119-12 rCH:rsihle millcn" anrl ~1I9..j2 ,tilT \\'alCrprool imprcgnatcd !e;ulll'r· reinforced ,,'hite felt "now \)Oiblc '~:par.llt' hood and facc ma"L.. FOlll' (tlhcr l\1>e,> of ~pt:. cialh de,igned "no" c:tmollfla/{t' llniforms I,'ere m:lI1ufllclllfl'd frum late 19-12 and ill -.cnicc from e:lrh 191:'t The loo-.e fOlIl'-blllloned ~1l9-12 "no\\ co\"cnlll wilh .)ide ,I,I..h n:lll... wa~ wom O\'el' thc lield IIllllonn and grc;lIco;lI. TIle: ~119·12 l\\~piccc "nO\\ "ui! con..i"tcd ofa thrcc·I)\ltloned loo"e cOtton tllllic wilh cll.ll'a.long "Ice\c~, lnte~.-al hood and trOIl5<.'r". which could bc washed ea..~ih when din\. The ~119·12 mountain Iroop..' "llOW uniform, con"i"ling of a J"l'\cr"ihk white frltfgmu itllpre/{ll11tl'd \\'o\"Cn ;1I10r::lL. and U\'('Nr()ll~cr~. wa.. 1.."ucd 10 all t\ pe~ of (ombat u'ool)-.. Thc lhigh-Ienglh ~119·12 :moraL. had all integl,tl hood Wilh a dr'il\\cord, ",Ii::>t and ...lcc\"e dr.n\"cord.... a shun necL. \'Clll \\'ith ~ix '-CIS of lacc hole.. '(."Curcd b\ . l'Jilh 1\\0 .. i1llilar pleated sidc POCkCb, and arlll-blltlull~ for field "ign" The O\cr-lrou:,>er" had d.-all·lord... al lhe anklc",

Camouflage uniforms

20

TIl{' Italian Anm had begun issuing C:1I11ollflag-c Ill'hcr-hahc, in Ihe 1920s. bUI 011 26 Jllnc 1930 the German Anm lir t is::>ucd Ihe ~119:\1 triangular ..hcher-quancr (Zdllls n,·\cl"...iblc Zehb.. hn :\1 c:ulloullage, while .'>mocL.. in cotlon drill in a hcrringbonc twill \,ca\c. \11 h\ a cord pa~illg lhroug:h fj\e :>CIS of hole~: two brc;lSI ..Iits \Iith \'eniC:II 01' diagonal buuonecl or hlll1onle~s opcnillg~ ga\"{' :lCCC"" to lht' tield utllic brcast pockct...: il had a \\';li1\L dr follo\\t:d b\ ::1 \Ccond paltclll \\ilh fh'c 10 <;('\'Cll dOlh foliage loops Oil Ihe camouflage ...ide, noth pallcllls I,'cre l>Ccured 10 the helmci 1)\' a draw~lrillg: !Illdcr the rilll, ~\ fen' ;\119·1:l padded re\'er"ible I,'hill'!Plt/bmlll wimer Hlllie,. IfUll...en and rniuCIlS wcre produced in rc\'crsible Zdtb;lhn :11 carnoul1agc/whill' frOlll April 19·12 and \\'om from willtCr 19,12-13. as Il"l'rc a nOll-rc\'er~iblc winter lunic ill Zclll;>'"l.lln 31 ,Inc! 'marsh p;ltlcnl' \('I"!'Iions. Tht' ~119,1-1 camouflagc apron was a slc<",e1c~, pocL.etlel>::> smocL.. dosed .11 the che..t b).';1 butluned n:lp. in l..chb:'lhn 31 or man.h p::tUem hcrringbune twill, l..alCl' pl'oduClioll ..mocks :lnd willlcr llInics wcrc produced in 'marsh

pallcrn' COIllltlllllage - hro\\ 11 ;uHI gfl'Cll on kh;lJ..i or grc\'i~h-grcell h;ICkgrutllld: ill ,ccuml pallCrl1 ~II ~H;l angular '~plilHcl", i"ucd mid-I !1·13: ami ill a third paltcm ~119-1,1 rourlC!cd 'hlut(h' \'cr'~itraiglll buttoned naps: shoulder nm\.. in:.ignia and brca:.t-eagle, \,'cre applied, The Glllloul1:tg:e uniform:> pro\cd \c.... popular and 'ome troop.), e<;pccialh officer". ,,'are prinHeh tailored ~119-13 field milks and :\119-10 tromcl..... ;\119-1-1 field tunic' and trOll~J', and ~119-10 special armoured crCI,:.' wnks :lnd ll"OUl;CI.... made lip in Zellh,"1ll11 31 or m:tr~h pattern herringbone twill. An Obergefr.iter of a Hlf·propelled anll-Iank unit, September 1i44, H. wean the M1940 "peclal 'Ield grey uniform with plnk.plped f.'dgrau "kull collar palches; a Mti40 mouH-S1rey braid br...t,.agl.; no I.ss than four Tank De"trucllon Badg." for single-handed "ucc..... with hand-held WeIlPOnl; the Iron Cro.. ht Cia.. medal and 2nd Class ribbon, and an unldentlfled metat badg., On hi' M1935 field cap he atlll w.ara the pink branch-colour chevron, ordered removed 10 July HI42, (Bna... Davl.)

Rank insignia

Tlu.' offin·I...· shoulder board" :"COs' ~houlder <;trap:. and ml'ns arm ch(,\"rons art" cO\'l'rcd in detail in "01111111.' I (~Ien·at·.-\"Ills 311), On 22 Augu:'1 19-t2 nel, ann ranJ.. irhig'nia, in'pil'l'(! h\ Ihe :\1193.> Luf(waffe Ihing suit ilhignia, I,ere orderl'd irllJ'cxIuced for \\'eoardi :l1Id shoulder Stl';\PS (0 thc gre\. kh:lki ;md n,'ed-gr('cn :.hirt~. fmig-m' jac\..et-!> and drill tunic" Branch Insignia

A -"elective list ol"br,lnch insignia i<; shown in Table 3, B\' 19-H tltc Gennarl High Command recogniled Lhat lhe open wealing' of ullit ;Il~ignia, ol1ici:llh pcnnillcd since 1939 for elite units 'lith as Crolkleutschland, had lhe a(h,;uuag('o; of illlprm'('d 1Il01';lle and quid;, identilicatil'll of IX'I':.orlllel b\' milita.... police: the:.<: now outweighed the' di<;adl"3l1tagc of ('oll1pr'o11lbed field ....:-curitl, ,IS (he gClIeral lllilita.... <;illlalion "~d:. (kterior;ning I'clllorselcssh. Therefore. on 16 Februan 19-H, all u"OOps of till' Ficld and Replacement .-\nnie~ were ordered to \\~ar full briU1chldl!'lIl/ (or 1':111""1' black) sliJ}"Qn ,hollld('1" loop~. ,\10'( onken. and -.clliar :"CO~ ~imph fixed the gold or ..iher metal letlcl~ and 1lI11nlx-r·" ah'cad\ pcnnittl..-'d . \\hcn nOI in the field: and in fact there art" mam in"l:"Ulcc<; of troop:. wearing" unit insignia in the field before the official authorizalion dale,

21

Special black uniform and Insignia for tank crews

22

\10'1 p""I-,..:mncl ill Panzer regiment.. and man\ em di,-i,ional ,t"IT.. I,orl' tile blad Ilnifunn inlroduced 12 :\'O\('mocr IY~-L cOIN,ling of lhe ht'lllllot or fidel cap, fidd j.tdet and trou-.er.., d.lrl. gre\ ..hin, blacl. tit." and hlad. 1,IC('-Up bOOl' 01' marching-boob (th(' 1.lIlcr ordl'rt."d n:taincd ollh 1)\ A.nllOIll'ed En~illl.'l·r Com pall ie' ant'r IRJ.lllllan 19-11). The black :t.119·iO OlliCt:'I< field cap. Idlh ,Ihllllinllllll Ihle:td cord CI'O\\I1 .lIld froIH flap piping, and lht:' :t.IIY 10 otlll'r roml.s' field cap bOlh had the br.lllCh01 \cl,ion of the ~tJ9-1~ otll('l" r.IIlL,' field cap "1\\ limited i!l..ue_ The ordt:'r of II June 19-13 authoriling- the "t:lndanl pUgmll ~1191:\ l>eilLecl field cap prc"cribed .1 blad c1mll nor-ion for Panzer U·OOlh. Oflin'rs and :\'CO, :11'0 f:nollrcd the fddgmll oniccr,' ~119;\:l pl';lked ,en ice C.lp. ~1193-1 peaked field C, no colhll' piping. fom IMgC bUllon~ ilnd thrcc 'mall bUllom. AIII,IIl\"" \\ore lilc hlack rectangular coll,l1· palch pipt:d in pinl. hr~tnch-<:oIOllr' with applied aluminium ~l.1I1i. The 241h Palll('I' Di\'i,ion <;laO, ill> Pall1t:'r Rq~iJllClll anc! AnnOlrred Rc<:orlnai"ance I\:lll,llion, and olh('r Al"lllOllred Reconrl:li~"arlce IbllaliOll 'lafT~ and AnuUllrcd Car Compall\· rn'\I'I. wore in'l('ad Ill(' goldl'n-\cllu\\ ca\,lln hr:Ulcil colollr: Pan/cr Dh'i,ion ,\llli-Tanl. Itlllalion~ worc pinL \\"alfcnfarbe; the F(lllI'{'1' E!>con Ballaliun TallL Compall\ and AnnOllrcd Cal' 1)1:lIoon \\or...' \\'hite; .-\nnollred Engineer Comp:lIlic'. \\'hile and hlacL I"iq: and Armoul'cd Signal.. <I,llion~. lemon-\t'llm,. Sum...o troop" had their llnifonnil pri\,ut'h modified b\ unil 01 local cil ilian tailur" adding CMra ilH...'rrl.l1 jacket 01" lrou,cr pockcb and rcplacing 1m lions \\ ilh lipl>. ,\nnOlll'cd \'chicle crew" and l11eclrarric,. ;l11d Al'moured Anillen ;ll1d Rockel·Launchc!' crt'\\·... wcre i~stlcd 1'011011 one-piecc 0\'('1';.111\ in 1l1011..cg-rc\, Jrldgmll, oO:"'hil(,, lighl bl"O\\'II :111£1 reed-grecn. ;lIld lhc,e w...' r..., .-.omelime!l (!It,d blacl. b\ 1':lIlIcr crc\,'. Troop' ll'oImll~ .lClcled 'houldel' ~l1";lp~ and Che\Tons of eml. and a hl'ea!ll-eagll' in preference 10 the ~119-12 ann rollll. ilbignia. The O\"l'I1Il:t1l bUllons and one illlcmal brea!lt pocket. Black uniform collar patches and "holiider ~I"'p" were oftell applied (alllwugh in Ihem·\· slIper..cded b~ the :'\ 11942 arm r"';\I1L in"ignia), a" was:t hre:l<;I-e;lgle 011 a uniforl11colollr bacLing: lhere \I';.IS no collar piping:. TIll' IrOll'Crl> I,erc Cut Iil.e lhe :t.11934 black trousel"l>. This uniform pro\'cd "0 populal" lhal the ~119-12 Pan/er denim Ilnifolln ill recd-grccn

An irKtifferent photognlph, but an

intense'y dramatic .ubject. This officer, having lost hi. 'aft arm in combat a. a lank commander, was recalled to the colours In September 1944 a. the operations officer (talon the staff ot a roewly lormed Vo'ksgrenadler-Oi'll.ion, with the rank 01 Maj.or 1m Gener.'stab. He wears tlte 'old sty'e' field cap; MHl42 revenib'a padded winter tunic with Zeltbahn 31 camoullaga cloth outermost: and reinforced cavalry breeches with General Stat! crimson piping and strip4ls. (Author's collection)

1l(~l'ringbollt' ,,,'ill "'a~

rllanufacturt,d for all armourC'd \"{~hicle: ('Te\I'~ alld comprised a 100ht'-fillingjack('1 \,'illl a large Il'll hrl'i\'t pod,t'l wilh bllttoned M::allopcd nllp, and 1,,'0 parallel 1'0\'.) of fil l' bUltuns un the right ,ide: the trOlhcr, had" I.lrge kft thigh pocket. Thi~ ,lIil \,.1.) for 'H";W u\t.'r the special black or fidd-grc\ uniform in cold \,ealhel", ,lIId ",to. oflen \,'Ul"n instt'ad of thelll in ~UIl1111er. lI\echanic~. Tlli.)

Special field-grey uniform and insignia

Th... two infantrymen In a

Volk5Slr.n.dl.....Olvfslon personify the image of the German soldier of the lat. war period. The soldier .t lett - .pp.rently, the former conductor of the 8erlin Phllh.rmonic ChOir _ wears the M1943 field cap, M1942 greatcoat, leather M1939 Y-straps, Mt931 mess kit, and carries sn MP39 sUb-machlna gun with le.ther magazine pou"hes. His "omrade - ill chart.r.d .ng;neer _ carries a M1935 dispatch case under his Ml942 greatcoat, {Author's "oUectlonl

LEFT A platoon "ommander, left,

of the 49th Jiger Regiment, 29th Jiger OI...lslon In East Prussiill, September 1944, briefs his NCOs, The usual M1942 oth.r ranks' tunl" with gre.n offi".rs' collar facing displays lieutenants' shoulder bosrds, "ollar patches and bresst eagle, and the M1942 Jllg.r arm badge, The sergeant, right, he. b••n e"c.pted lIS an offlc.r c.ndldat. {F.hnenjunk..... F.ldwa~IJ, id.ntified by the double NCO br.ld loop round his shoulde, stntpS; on the collar of his MH'42 tunl" .,.. M1938 'guards braid.' with d'rk green c.ntr._strlpes on , d,r1I green p,iIItch, Th. Oberjig.r, centre, etso we.rs tha M1942 field tunl", All fhreo wear the MH'''' "eld ".p, the sergeant's showing the M1942 alumin;um badge for Jiger uni'-. (Bri,n D.visl

,.'dgrau

The \pecial jfMgT(l1l :'1119·10 \er'lOion of the black l'an/('I' field uniform issued to .-\ss.-\Illt .-\nillen Battalion:. comisted of the :'I t 19·10 Jrftfgmll lIelci jad.,cl cut like the :'111936 blackjackel bllt witholll brnnch-colour collar pipillg, and with field tunic brcast-eaglcs. Officers \lore Stanc. and :.elf-propelled, \nnollred ..-\nillen Iiniis wilh bright rce!. .sormal to\\'ed Anti-Tan\... unib and self-propelled Anti·Tan\... unit" in Inf,II1II'.... Rifle or ;\Iollntain c\i\i,iun:. or Anlt\ or \.,(lIV' unib I,ore it \\ ith lhe ,!..ull... on fl'ltIgmll collar p.'uchc.) piped pin\.... Self-propelled.\llli-T.tIl \... unib in Panzel' or Panzergrenadiel' di,'isions or in Anm 01' Corps unib equipped with the Elcfam (Ferdinand) I>oClf-propelll.-"t1 gun \IUle it \,ith 't:tnd;lrd pink-piped black l'anZl'r '!..ull patches. From:; :'Ilareh 19-13 cn,""·s of Anti-T:m\... and Infantn Gun COlli pan ie, TIlo11llled on halr-lI changed frolll lhe bl.1C\... to the fidd·g'fc' ..pccial uniform 'I'ith pin\... Waffenf;u'bc: Anm .-\nti-,-\ircr.lrl unib adoplcd the uniform \\'ith bright red piping. and .-.\nnourcd RuckC:I·I"lllllchcr b;lltcric, \I'ith bordeaux red. Signals (not Armoured Sigllal~) personnel in armolll'cd \chic!lo, worc thc un if01 III \\ith a ,kuJl 011 ftldgmll p:ltche~ piped !lomon-H.-1l0\I': and from I .lllllt' 19,1:J .)UIIll' p<.'r"()I111el ill thc moutHed CI\'aln Regiments Il'orc it 1\'i1h a ~kllll 011 frldj.,f'''(/II patchc" piper! ~olden-"cJ1o\,'. FrOIl! Septembcr I~ll:~ the I,t Ski Bl'iJ.,rade Il'orc Ihe special ficld-gn:"1 uniform 11;111 :'11193:; officer'" collar p
FI'om 2;' '·\Ilril 19-1-1 onh gener,,1 officer.> of comlxlt troop' \,ere .tl1o\,cd to \\'\,ar bright red coll"r patche". ,houlder bOMd ullderla\ and gl'eateoat lapel lininf{'. General officers of Ihe 'special careers' I,erc required 10 'lIb.)litule tht"ir br':lllch colours (bllt retained their bright red trou~er piping.) and ,u'ipt's} before

23

October,944: an Obe t commanding a Pan...e Reglment, dKOfillted with the Knl9hl's Cron with Oak.l••v., and Sword,. He we the Ml9412 special blillCk Pan er tunic:. and M11140 otfic:....' blac:k field c:ap stUl with the pink bfillnc:h-c:olour c:h.vron otfic..lty discontinued in July 111-42. His coll.agues both wear the M'9412 •• v....lbC. p;odded wint.r lunlc:. the otric:er .t left in M11144 'blotc:h ma ...h pan.m' c:amOYflag., th. offlc:er at rlght In M1943 '.pUnter marsh pattern', (Brl.n Davl,)

24

30 . 'plcmber 19-4 t: hut un 24 Onoher 19+-4 thi~ \,,!, clTcClh'ch IX"lpuncd UTllil 19-1:), Thi, order applil'd to ~l'nel {dM\.. bllic' Imulch colourl, \'eterinan Corp\ (cril1\~>n). Ordn,mct" ('.orp' (ol'lIlg:d. ~IOIor Pad, Troop" (pinl.. I. Lt'g;11 5c:n;ct> (borc!cam: rcd). and "\clmini,tfati\(' Sen'ice (Iiglu blue). From 21 ,·\ugu,t 19-1-1 thc' lSI Ski Brigade (Ialer Di\ision) I\or(" Ihc Jig('r,,' ~11942 o;\I..-lc:,f fidd cap badgc' \,ith ,I ski "Ilperirnposeci (but 11('\'Cr 1,'OI"C the .FIg(,.'r,' ann badge lIlcd red or white ..ki, \Ihich I,'a" prescribed. ilhtead ret:lining the ~t 1912 Flger :ll"In l:h... dge). From !911 jl('r..onnd of Gcrmall unit,. lI'ualh I';llller ,mel lIIOlOril.ed dh h,ion<;, \Iert' .">ecn \"caring unofficial formalion badges un field 11lliforlll", t1"llall~ alllminium reproductions of thc divisiol1al \'chicle ,ign, T\picalh thc'c wcrc applied to tht, lell "ide of fidel cap", indurlin);" thc ~II ~34 'old .'>l\ lc' peaked field cap. jll~t abo\'e the len car. Dhi,iolh ,('ning 011 thc Eastl'l"n and Hall..an Front.!> in 19-1J\-45 which are I..lIo\\n 10 hale wort! .">ucll b:ldgc' inclucle: (Arnic Fmlll) 2nd ~IOlllllaill - deer'.'> head: (:-':oT1.hern Front) ~JOth Inlaliln sword: ,:) ~loul1lain - ch:llnoi~: (C,l.'ml'l! FrOIlO ~Oth 1':Ill/ergrenadieranchor: 3·lth Infantn - "hite and blue ..hield: (Southern Front) bt P;\llIel" - oak-leaf: IYth P:lllLer - "oJrs hoc)" nlllc on p;Il'llldogr.un: 2211(1 P:lntcr - arro\,': 23rd 1';1Il/.cr - arrOl' \,'itll crO§sbar: .Jlh ~IOUlltaill bluc gentian 110wer. The ~ix elite divisions cominued 10 dt"\c1up distincti\'c in"igllia, and gCllc'ml tlniccrs of these fOl"ln:ltiOIl$ oftell llllonicialh wore aluminium ShOllldc.:r board lllOnt 19·1-4 \\'as :nuhorizcd a machine-cmbroiderc..-d altllliinil111l or Iiglu-gre\ Gothic 'HmmlP1lblirg' title alld c.."(lging on a blui.!>h d;ll"k grt:cn light cuff band. the I.'>t :md 2nd Rille Regimcllts wearing Rifle and ~IOlillt.lin insignia rc~pc.:cti\"cl~, Onicel".'> of the Fi"lhrer-lkglcit-Bat:til1on Regimcnt Dil"i~ioll ,l\Iached 10 Hilkr'."> personal ,tan'worc thc CD monogmlll and on the lcft cuffthc 'Fiihrl'l~/Ill11plqll(/,.tif'l"·tillc, other personnel of this unit substituting lhe 'CmjJdrlllsrh!lllld' cull" lillc. From 16 Seplcmher 1~1·13 the Fi"lhrer-

NORTHERN AND CENTRAL FRONT, SPRING 1943 1: Leutnant, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2; Rzhev Salient, March 1943 2: Hauptmann, Artillerie-Regiment 240; Leningrad, February 1943 3: Grenadier, Grenadier-Regiment 474; Demyansk, February 1943

A

SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL FRONT, SUMMER 1943 1: Obergefreiter, Panzer-Regiment 15; Kursk, July 1943

2: Oberlusilier, Fusilier-Regiment 202; Kiev, September 1943 3: Unteroffizier, Grenadier-Regiment 37; Kursk, July 1943

B

WINTER 1943-1944 1: Obergefreiter, Grenadier·Aegiment 163; Orsha, October 1943 2: Leutnant, Jager-Regiment 204; Nikopol, January 1944 3: Panzergrenadier, Panzergrenadier.Regiment 146; Kamenets-Podol'skiy, March 1944

--

~.

c

NORTHERN AND CENTRAL FRONTS, 1944 1: UnterfeldwebeJ, Estnische Bataillon 659; Narva, April 1944

2: Oberst, Kavallerie-Regiment Mitte; Pinsk, April 1944 3: Fusilier, Fusilier-Regiment FeldherrnhalJe; Minsk, July 1944

D

CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN FRONTS, 1944 1: Gefreiter, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 103; Rumania, August 1944

2: Generalmaior, 454.Sicherungs-Oivision; Brody. July 1944 3: Panzergrenadier, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 73; Warsaw, September 1944

E

WINTER 1944-1945 1: Oberleutnant, Grenadier-Regiment 236; East Prussia, December 1944 2: Fahrer, Fahrschwadron 1/227; Latvia, December 1944 3: Oberjager, Skijager-Regiment 1; Slovakia, February 1945

F

SOUTHERN FRONT. 1945 1: Oberfeldwebel, Panzer-Pionier Bataillan 124; Vienna, April 1945 2: Oberleutnant, Panzer-Regiment 1; Hungary, March 1945 3: Stabsarzt, SaniUitskompanie 178; Czechoslovakia, May 1945

G

CENTRAL FRONT. 1945 1: Leutnant, Grenadier·Regiment 1099; Stettin, April 1945 2: Grenadier, Grenadier-Regiment 1075; Berlin, April 1945

3: Feldwebel, Panzergrenadier-Regiment Muncheberg 1; Saelow Heights, April 1945

H

CrcllOldicr-Bawillon/Brigade/Divisioll \,.ore the Gro13delltsehL1nd cliff· tide and ol FG shoulder monogram, replaced by the CD monogram 011 19 August 19·14 and relllo\'ed on ~6Janll:tl)' 19-15. The planned Filhrer· Grelwdier-Di\"ision culT title was nc\·er manllfilctllred. Thc Fddherrnhalk Dh·ision \,·orc the FeldllCITllballe Regimclll's bro\\'11 cufT bOlI1(1 ;md wO\en title on the left CliO·, and on 20.June 1943 added a shoulder rnonogl~l111 - Ihe SA monogram on lhree \'icwry runes (Siegrllllcn), all 011 a w.:nical \ ktor~ rune, \,·orn IhJl11 ':1.7 Now.:mber 1944 h~· all P:llll.erkorp~ Feldlu.:rrnhalll' personnel. FrOlll 31 ])eC('lllbt:r 1943 Hoeh- lind DelHScllll\ei~ler pl.'rsonncl \\'orc a grey alulllin iUIll 'Stalingnld Cross' on their ~hOlllder hoards/straps, and from 26 February 19-15 a bluish dark green cloth cufT title Wilh a sil\"er-gre\ III Ole hill e-c III broi de rcd edging Ol\H1 'Hodl' IIIU! lJelllSc/llIlfisler' title in GOlhie script: all a!Lern:lIi\'e was il black tide ,,'ilh Roman s.cript. On 12 December 19-13 the 1991h Grenadier Regimellt (from 31 August 19-1-1. 19th Grelladier Rcgiment) \\'as ,l\\'an\ccl ;1 bluish dark gr~ell CllfT·lille with a mall gre\' or silw:rgrc~· lnachine-embroidcred edging and till!: '!.\'FAX7FR I E-REG!,\/EST LIST' in CUrSi\T hand·

I,TitLell Capil:ll~. worn Oil the right cufT 10 perpeUlate the traditions of Hitler's old Creat Will' regiment. The 'r"'I/I',.,JloIN'Pi( nil'l!' cuO' title - awarded 12: Allgust 1944 10 139th :-'Iollnl::lin Brigade to commcmnr;ue that distinJ.;"lIishcd mountain general. kilkd in all accidcnt all 23.Junc 19·14 - was probOlbl~· ne\"er i~lled to til(- lmil. A localh'-lllannfOlctllred silw;r/\,'hitc cufT hand. ,dlh hhlCk edging and KlRJ.-\.\'J) between the TelllOnic Orcler shield and ;1 sih·cr-whitc elk's ht:ild on a hlack shield (the hadg-e of Liep:\ja to\\'n). was awarded 12 .\!:lrch 194:-, to all Ann}' GrOllI' K.llrland pcr"Onnel. C'l\"lry Regimenl :'\ord (formed I .Julle 1943) had ullofliciallr worn Ihe aluminiUlll 'Prllssian skull' cap badge of ilS predecessor :lth C.:t\'llr~ Regilllt:nt below lhe ser\"icC" c"p eagle :tnd the Held cap one-piece e"gle and cockOlde, ~l pl'lClicc oniciOlll\' sanctiolled ~7 August 194'1. all :'\ J llne 19-H it \,·as renamed 5th COl\"lr\" Regiment. and on 4 December 194-1 awarded a black left CliO' band wilh a sih-er-gI'C\ lllachine-t:lllbroidercd edging and title 'FEUJ,\lARSCJ-lrII.L \'OS '\!'lCKt.·,\SES·. to COmmemorale lhe dislingllisht>d Great War C:l\'alr\' general. From 29 December 1944 Ihe ;,;kull \\",\S ",orn as:l shoulder bOOlrd/strap badge, but "'as remo\'ed in 1943 to avoid captured c;I\
,

.

A lank crew photographed in January 1945; most are wearing the M1942 padded reversible wlnler suil wllh M1940 or Ml943 Panzer field caps, or M1935 feldgrau field caps, The officer has applied maJon M1942 sleeve rankin9 10 his privately acquired collarless sheepskin Jackel. (Brian DaVis)

33

Troops of the RDA 1at Division parade before General·Leylenanf

A.A.Vlasov at Munalngen training

camp. louth-west Germany, on 10 fIlbruary 1945. They wear M1942 colla.leu reversible white/Zeltbahn 31 camouflage

smocks and trousers over field uniform. The three officers in the

foreground, glvln9 the 'German salule' practlsed by the RDA from July 1944 to Februill')I 1945.

wear oHlcers' set\llce caps with the eagle and swastika above the RDA cockade (worn by personnel granted German rank insignia). and carry ob$olete 9mm MP34/1 Bergmann sub-machine guns.

The Iroops carry 98k rifles and Panzerfllusl 60s. (Friedrich Herrmann}

:1l111ll i n iL nn . BrUll swi ck :.kll1l' cap badge of the former 3rd Cal"alr\' Regimen;: :lnd Cavalry RcgimcrlI ~Iitlc (formed I .r\pril 19-1-1), tlw 'dragoon cagle' of the former 6th Ca\'alry Regimcnt. On 2i AU!:.'1.1St 1944 all pt:rsollilel of the 3rd C)Yaln' Brig-ad<:' (formcd in ~Iarch 19... ·1 frnrn ~Iitt<:') adopted the dragoon cagle badge: and ·lth Ca\'alry Bde. (.'Jlh &: 41st C;l\'. RegiS.). t:xcq)t for 5th em·, RCj:!;t., the Brllmwick skull. ·Ith C;m:lln Di\'i"ion (:lth & ·11"1 Ca\·.Regts.). formed Fehrllal; 19·1j fmm ·1111 Cw.Bdc.. wore on Ihe left lIpper ..ln·\L' tl\'1) black horse,,· heild" 011 ;1 go1ckn-\cllu\1 shield edged black. AI~o in 19-15, I C;walry Corp, stalf and HQ troops ullomcially wore on the left upper "kcn.' a gokkn-\dlow rectangle cdg~:d hlack with l"our hlac~ hor~cshoc .. hetl\'c<'11 t\\O black K... twlo\\' a hlad. penll,ml. Arm)' Patrol Service personnel worc thcir original uniforms with ob:-\Jk'1(' mall aluminium thread ~[1920 a
34

Europl.';U\ \·olllll\ecr... WOI"l' German llniforms
KUo.tTf/:'.\' (Ofll'l1 (kleted b\ Gertll,ll1 cadre Iwr:.olllll'l) abuIl' a fed Ilhill' dwqlH'l'ed ,hkld Oll tlw righl upper :.lce\e (hill h\ 1ll111ll ofliccr',oll lhl' Idt), ,1I1d a helllll'l decal. Frellch lI'OOP' \11)1"(: a Ilhile Ff{\.V(.J: arid :t hhl(" Ilhite fNt \enicalll ~lfipL'd ,hidd 011 till' rig-ht IlPIX'r ,let'le, and a helm{'1 decal, Walloon Iroolh \\orL' ,I 11'1101\ 1I:-H,/,OSf/: abO\e:t hlac" \l'1I()\1 red \cnicalh 'triped ,hidd on lht' 11'11 l\p~r ,Iecle, .Illd a helmet dl'GII: thc\ were i~'Il(:r1 Ihe llIoullI;lin Il('ld cap, rdrlll't'i~l Glp and riA"ht upper ,lec\c badgc:.. and I\ore li~hl ~Tccn brallch colour, Simil.ll'h ,hapt.'c1 lllachilll'-cmbroidered arm p:lIche' \\('1"(' mallu(;IClurt'd luI' RIIIIl,IIIiatl 1100p' ~· ..... ing- ill lllL' G<.'nuall \nm HOJUS/,\ .• boIL' a ,hield \('nicalh diddt'd lellO\\ hlllL' I'l'd: fm' Ilung:lriall' - l'SG.\R.X .lbO\\' a H:rticalh c1i\'ided ;;hield \\'ilh (kfl) Ilhite rcd ~lriptO'" .llld (l'iKhtl .1 d\luhlc·br:lllched cro"" on gJ"lTn hill, Oil n'd: and fnr 510\'a", - \/.011, \ J\E/ allO\c.1 doubll'-hrallcllt~d cm.'>!> .lllOHO three blllL' hill!> on .1 I'e..'d ,hide!. Bulj.,rarian, herc prc!>Cribc..,<1 .1 pl.lill ~lI<1i!.;:hl-,idc:c1 ,hidrl dilalHlanl G£'"rman

uniform', cap had){c" hle;I,(-{'aKlc~, collar .lIld r:1Il" ill~i~lIia. ~mt' F~lonian Iroop' Illlofficialh 1\I)re on the rig:hl uppt>r arlll Ihe ~'Ionian Pol icc .lrm,hidd - di.I1-\0Il.11 blue bl.leI.. \\ hile :'lripe:. ,,;th ,dto\l ('cl~in~ ;md Ihree Iclhm !iou" From .lbOUI mid-19"'~ n.lhic Iroop' \H~rc..' :ulIhorized on 11ll' ri\;ht tipper ,It'Cle.1 dOlh armshicld \"ith (lined ,ide' and a ~(alln]X'd lOp, and diagollal Mripc:" in national colollr' blu\-' hlac" \Ihil(' (E."tuniaJ, dar" red ,"titt, dad.. r('d «( ..mia), and \dlu\\ g-I"l'ell rl'd (iilhll.lnial. Coc".lde, illlhe,c colour, \I('re \\flrn (III the field cap, FroUl 29 April 191:1 'II ill i,' lIore' \'('rlll,ltl ..\1'111\ unilorm:.: and Imlll t .lull 19-1--1 the\ could 1)(' prolllo(ed a, f.tr a' L'nle..'mfTi,it.'r. :"alional ,hield" field cap cockadc, and RO,\ rank and collar ill~ig-Ilia 111'1 I' ollki,llh pre.."e..ribl'd for Ro,sian" !lell)l'lI"i.llh and L'''r;lini.ln,. bUI :'landanl German ill~igllia \Ien' t1'll:tlh \Ionl. Pole.. \1'01'(' the 'Iml)if"\' dl'l d,.II"rh('1/ \\i'h,lJlflrh,'arllli);llld. From .J;1Il11an I!I·I~ RoO,\ pt.·r,otllld ill Ihe [asian l~allalion, :lmllilc latcr infalltn di\'i~ioll:' worc ~landard German uniforlll' wilh 'pccial in~ignia, alld could he promoled 10 ~('n(,I,,1 officer ran". C,ap in,ignia fur ollicn, cOInpr'i"c:d;t T~al;~HII Ie blue o\'al C(lC".t
A m;:oyor of the Runian L1beralion Army. right. photographed while questioning a Soviet prisoner, He wears an ROA cockade on hls cap 'apparently a 8e'llmiitzel; aM a M1940 other ranks' field tunic with offic....• dart( green collar, ROA collar patc..... and dart( green ROA annshield, Nota thai

he has been deemed worthy 10 w ....r German sho\Ilder boards of rank. AI lett is • speciaUst officer (Sonderluh"'r1. ill" interpreter second lIeulenillnl - OolmetSCher (Z) - lrom a mountain inlanll"lf unll, He wears apeeialist officers' shoulder boards and collar palches, iIIM iIIn edelweiss billdge on his liald cap. (Brian Davis!

35

TABLE 2: INSIGNIA OF THE RUSSIAN LIBERATION ARMY (AOA) AND COSSACK UNITS JANUARY 1943 - 17 MARCH 1944 Ranktitl.... :'~· ..... -'l;)tl:'nQ ....

I"'" ROA_<$:'

~.an "'ar",.

I;<

'.'

eo..av'

V".Y..:IllIIliI"Q Ill'.... ~...... siM!'1;Io....I)'a."II'I.¥'lle·_ T_ 000C>- rift', -'J-I' ..,:lOA ,,,," ?:,,,,,,,,.

h"

~~c..-.~ ~

~~

blL$f\(1I.·'!1"~~"dj;

~ p(W)IJ ~ S'.ID

DIII'1_S~

P'C«I ., German tl<¥'CI',.'_ '2-1~

.

~".",,,, ~

~C3'I
'a'dark~ ""'O...."fl

.'a;.,

2

eer'~,~darI
~Dc<"O

. .3ol"'tlI!A .

tl<8
n-

0(lS.

a.""""""'f.oilI't:

..ea...,:-e

"".... " " " '....

21-:t:z red

P'

~"N'~

Wtt

qoA ow
IS"

'dooI,..x:.c'«l*,"'f<:rlllXl'

..s

"'~~<

"'''CO$~'''''_

'"'"

Lor,'-

2. GIno ,Gener",·U!,' Go;
,..:tuII-

'*'

yeo!C" 1:'llIl po()<..... !tInl1" red • .., Ir;1 12·'"· S:'"Nl DQn Oouf T_ O'ao,,- llI" oer; 51·81 ClIt:')'l$ red 00"9 7' l).Uil ~ef' aa:-~ Qiu& yeoov. SoenI/1 0lIC"- .-.0 ,0(<.1091' 011<:. 01.- ";'~ red o~'cn h....J ;;arces eusn D;Ir'C gr-. ""9'''9. N _ M!01, ..m:a IarICll& ...."........, llI'a<:l ~ 18 Mart:h 1944·8 May 1lJ45: Ge-mil
110'g'

llfaod."""" =.gooo~.~.IXIS·D~ ~., .'~ "'aI>. '~Ol"!or' ...., '0· .........- _.-e lll&lO 11

:ag

3. Geo-a.·Ma>'Ot

Gtono

0'

.'.\w,'()<1

-

....,

""""

Go

5.~"""

'Voo,s:
o

II Qbto-·Fe'_ •.Vi!I<",,",,'.

10. """JIl' F Cl'l<

'"

:'-~"

"""",,.

~"'<0071.

-,.

ICossaco< _ . 13.

0)

lIn!"'.or,,_

'lQA,Cos5ac-- ,,,,,,,,,, 15. YeITe>-"

14. 0!>.-·\'{,f,,,,1

,-"'"'"

LUrya
.._

l/rlw,~

la.

,~,

Ge" ''''

Cossack """"PlI!cr-

A()A o ~ cal'

23. Q'!::ers 24. NCOs & ".,

IS. Cc5sa-.:J, 0 _ 5 """ W AI NCO! & metW caos

_·_l:':I . .

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36

.....

-~

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•• ••

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...

1'1-<

,_ ~',~

c-, . . . ...- ........,.

letlers) above a \dlile inlier sbield l'dged red \\'ilh a bluc T~al'i~'-~I\ k Sl..-\ndn:w·) cI'O~s. From 18 ~larch 19'1-1 cel1ain apprml'd pcr~unnd. usuall" ollh onicers, won: German nmk in,ig-llia and collar p:ltchc,. ;md some added'llI cagle ,md S\'';.ISlika 10 lIH'ir peal..ed ~cnice cap:- alxl\e IIw cockade, ROA per,onnclll~lIalh \\ore Ihc Gerlllan hrea't eag-Ie. hut all order 01 ~ :\larch 194:; 'pecifiClllh forbade Ihi~ praclice ami ordcf('d German (":ldl'(" l() I'CIllO\'t' lhcir RQA arm~hiclds, 10 IX'I'])Cm:ltc Ih(' licliol1 that Ihc RO,\ KO~R \\ere independent Gt'I1U:III-.lllicd arnwd forces. The L"krninian L"\Y \\.b pn:-.cribed Ill(' ~"lmc in:-ig-nia wilh hlue and \cIlO\\ nxl..adc'i, and an :ll1l1shicld :>howing '\l~W (l'\Y ill CHillie) abm'C a white L'kl
Infantrymen - in<;luding teen;tg41 boys and middt.aged menwait appr.hena"'.'J' in a priton....of.war cage lor further instructions. Most are wearing the f.lduniform 44 with Mt943 field up, and halle remolled moat of Ihelr equipment, Note the M1935 rank chellrOn still wom bJ' the Obergefretler, right, (ECPAI

Medals and awards

Sinc.. . .Jlll~ 19·11 aCCOllnb of lH;roic act.,. had becn recordcd in Ihe 'Roll of I-Ionour of Ihe German ,\1"111\ '. CqUi\':llclll 10 Ihe I~rilish Anm's '111t:nlioned in di~palchcs': and on 30 Jarman 19·14 ~Ildl "Oldier~ \\l're a\\,lrded a gil{il'd nWlal cla,p in till' fOl'1ll ofa \\'rc,Hhnl s"Olstik,l, worn on the Iron ero.... 2nd Cla'lo'lo Inlllon hail' ribbon, On 2S ~j)\'elllb<.'r 1942 the C1o'e Comb;lI Cla~p - a llletalt.'ag!c ,md "\\'bub ;'IbO\c :l cro':){'c\ grenade and ha\onel Oil an oal.-Ieaf b."lr, \,'OI1l abo\(' the !cit brca't pocl.et - \\.b itblilllled for I.) (hroll/d. 30 ("iller) or :';0 (gilt) d:H.\>·

37

hand-tv-hand combat 011 foOl ull<;llpponl'd bl armour. CQI1Ill('d from I Deccmbcr [9·12. Hiller con ..idcred Ihe gilt h;ulgl' Lll(' highc:..t infailln dCl"oratioll. and pl,.'r..unalh all~lf(kd 111('111lr0Il1 17 :\ILgll..,t 19H. The:- .-\l1li-Pani:.an \\'ar I\adgt· - a lllctal <;word in a 11'I"(';11h ..t,lbbing d01l11 illlO writhing" ~ll .. ke:.. ,,"orn all thc lel'i breast pockcl - \I';\.:. inSt.iILIlCcl on ~O.J;I1111an 19-1-1 I)\" Reich..,h~lhn:r-SS llimmler for anI' per"Onnd ('ompkling 20 (bronze). 50 (<;ih ('r) or 150 (gold) da~~' allli-pani<;all ,tonicc. On 20.-\UgILSI 194-1 the Sniper's Badgl,.· - a gr('\ d01h o\'al lI'i1l1 a black cagk'~ head "ho\'e IWO gre.:en o;I!..-1ea\l·... \1"01'11 all Ihe righl cufl - lI'as l\1I'arded ill three gl~ldes: bl Class. with a gold cord inner edging. for 60 kilk 2nd Clas..,. sih'e!" t·ord. lor -10 kills: altd 3rc! Clas~. without corel. for 20 kill<;. rec!"olwd from I ScpL('1llbcr 19+1. Thr("(' l1ell' campaign ~hidd~. lI'OI'll on the LIpper left arm. ,,"ere.: ollic:ialh illstittlled during thi.. period. On 25 April 19·I:l 1111: whi\L' Illctal Delll\'allSk Shielcl - depicting a \\dmnachl cagle cltllching 1m Iron Cro~ ahO\c uo....ed :>I>"on1.. lid ,Ill aeroplane. 1\"()I"1l withoul cloth b<'tcking - wa, awarded to 100.000 111('n in ,ix infantn di\·i ..iolh (I~. 30. :12. 123. 2~:). ~90) 01 [I Corp' \I'ilo had defended the pOCh'l in Cl:llIml RlI~~ia from 1:\ Feorl1;Iry lO ~O .June 19·12. ThL' brOil!.\:" ,,"llball Shidd - an cagle and swastika ahO"<,' a Sl~ lil.cd mOlp. I\'(Jrn on a /dd;"F)'{/lI c10lh backing - was in..tittlted on 20 S.'plcllllwr 19-1~ for lhl' 11th .-\l"1m·s rkfcncc of Ihe ,,"uhan oridg-ehcad lrum I Februan to 9 October 19-1:\. On 10 December 191·1 the bronte \\'ar"Lrip WiLh upper :-Inc! low(;r black edging. worn nil Ihe right llpper ..ll'l'\'c - I\·a.. awarded from 9 :'\I;II"h 1~J.l2. On 18 Deccmber 19-13 a gold tank on agold strip \I"a~ institliled for {he tank5 de~trnyed. On 12 j:lI1uary 19-1;' the ",me dt'~ign bllt I\'ith an aircrafl silhouelte replacing the lank \I'as instillllcd a~ the 'long~r,l1lgt aircraft dc:.lrllctioll badgC" for ..llOOIing dO\\'ll all ("IH.'Ill\' :I<'roplane "'ith small anns or a light machine-gllll, {

,I

This highly decorated Feldwebel Is a platoon commander In the reconnaissance company 01 a Volksgrenadier.Di"ision, September 1944. On the M1943 field tunic can be made out his Iron Cross 1st Class medal and 2nd Class ribbon, Close Combat Clasp and - although he is apparently an Inlantryman ~ the General Assault Badge. He carries 6~30 binoculars, and the Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle issued as a priority to VGO penonnel. {Author's collection}

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OPPOSITE April 1944: private In a GroBdeutschland motorized regiment On look-oul duty. He wean a M1943 field tunic with the two NCO braid bars of an officer

5" 69. ~80. 16' 443, 580.522·5631,638

candidate on his shoulder straps, and a second pattern helmet COver In M1942 Zeltbahn 31 camouflage; and Is speaking Into a M1933 field telephone. (ECPA)

THE PLATES A: NORTHERN AND CENTRAL FRONT, SPRING 1943 A 1: L.eutnant, Panuf"grenadier·Regiment 2; R:rhev salient, central Russia, March 1943. Ovet" his olhet ranks' Ml940 field tUOlC wllh officers' Ml935 collar patches thls platoon commander wears me M 1942 whllelfeIdgfau reversible Winter lUOlC. WIthout the unpopular Ml942 arm rank IOSlQOIa - not WIdely worn unlll 1944. He also wears a fekJgrau cloth cap kned With rabbit-fur (the most common fur cap). WIth unoffICIally added M 1935 flE!ld cap II'lSlgf'lla; M1942 reversible lrousers: other ranks' belt and M1939 'shon shaft' marching boots and woollen 'trigger-finger' mittens; ammunrtion pouches lor hIS MP40 sub-machine gun. and a leather flare pouch. He is loading hIS M1928 27mrn Walther shor1-barrel flare pistol with a red brilliant smoke cal1ridge. A2: Hauptmann, Artillerie-Regiment 240; Leningrad, NW Russia, February 1943. This artillery battalion commander wears the sentries' and horsedrawn vehicle drivers' sheepskin overcoat With feldgrau cloth collar. also popular With officers - geoernls favoured a th'9h-lef\gth l/erslOfl with a sheepskin coUar. The M1g34 'old style' field cap WIthout crown stiffening, officIally abolished 1 ApnI 1942 but wom until May 1945. has alulTumum thread ln$rgnl3 and bright red artlnery plpII'lg. He also wears a balaclava. M1942 snow boots and woollen gloves. In the absence of the M 1942 arm rank ln5lgma only the 101l5O Zed3 bInoculNs. Ml934 offICers' belt and hardshell holster lor !he P08 Luger suggest his comf1lISSIOned rank.

A3: Grenadier, Grenadier-Regiment 474; Demyansk, central Russia, February 1943. ThIs sentry wears the Ml942 snow coverall over hiS M1942 other ranks' greatcoat: note also the mittens. the balaclava rolle
B: SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL FRONT, SUMMER 1943 81: Dbergefreiter, Panzer·Regiment 15: Kursk, central Russia, July 1943. This tank crewman par1IClpallng In the 'Death Ride of the Panzers' at Kursk wears the M1942 Panzer jacket Without pink collar piping but With M1934 pmk·plped skull collar patches and shoulder straps. and M194D mouse-9rey breast-eagle and (see lelt sleel/e) rank chevrons. He has the Eastern Wmter Campaign 1941/42 buttonhole f1bbon. and a black Wound Badge (one and two wounds). HIS headgear is the short·lll/ed M1942 black flE!ld cap: he wears M1942 reedgreen hemngbone tWIll Panzer wOl'k trousers WIth a large thrgh pocket, ankle boots. and general purpose goggles. and carnes the M1931 canteen and cup. 82: Dberfi)silier, Fusilier-Regiment 202; Kiev, central Ukraine, september 1943. Belong~ to an II'lfantry reglffierlt deslgnated 'FUSlIJer' on 11 June 1943 to eornmerntlf81e a Great War reglmel11. thIS \teteran sectlOfl member v.ears the Ml942 field IlJllIC WIth Ml940 1flSI9013. M1942 field cap WIth buttoned ftap. Ml940 trousers, M1941 anklets and ankle boots. and stdl has the obsolete eagle decal on hIS M1935 steel helmet. He has Ml909 leather nfIe ammunitIon pouches. and the surplus M194D ttoplC8l webbing lOfantry support V-straps WIdely Issued alter May 1943: a gas mask canister hangs from Its diagonal Slinging strap. and a bayonet and entrenching shovel are worn behind hiS left hlp. He cames a M1939 TNT 'egg' percussion grenade filled below hiS right hand pouches: the unpopular Walther 7.92mm Gewehr 41(W} semi-automatic rifle: and the M1943 Panzerfaust Klein 3D recoilless anti-tank projectile launcher. tnalled on the Easlern Front in July 1943 and placed lO immediate production. 83: Unteroffizier, Grenadier-Re9iment 37; Kursk, central Russia, July 1943. ThIs SfllP8l" wears the M 1942 frst panem collarless rever5lble whllelZeItbahn 31 'spi"lter' camouflage smcxk wllh mate:tw1g M1935 helmet cover, MI~ feJdgrau trousers and Mt939'short shah' mard'W1g boots; he OfllIts the M1942 arm rank II1SIlJf'Ia lhus c:onceaIing hls NCO status. On his black other ra!i
43

c:

WINTER 1943-1944

Cl: Obergelreiter, Grenadier-Regiment 163; Orsha, eastem Belarus, October 1943. ThIs mactune-gunner wean; a M1942 greatcoat - together wIth !tie SU"COaI. the main WInter protectIon for InlantrymenWIth M 1940 left sleeve chevrons 01 rank. HIS M 1935 steel helmet has a rubber lyre .-.ner tubing band lor fUlIng foliage camouflage. and he has scraped off the left SIde decal Ifl obe
C2: Leutnant, Jager-Regiment 204; Nikopol, southern Ukraine, January 1944. ThIs platoon commar'lder wears a M1942 thin two-pIece snow camouflage SUIt WIth a red field sign pnnted on each sleeve. over hIS feldgrau 'ield uniform and M 1942 polo-neck sweater, with M1939 'short shaft· marching boots. The helmet cover IS the M1942 fIrst pallern reversIble whltelZeltbahn 31 camouflage type. He carries two sets of magazIne pouches for hIS MP40 sub-machine gun. 6x3O bmoculars. and a 3kg anti-tank assault charge. C3: Panzergrenadier, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 146; Kamenets-Podol'skiy, westem Ukraine, March 1944. ThIs third gunner 10 hs sectlOfl'S light machine gun team carnes a JOO-round amrTllXllbon box for the MG42. He wears the Ml942 padded reversible Wln1er tunIC and trousers 10 first panern wnnefZeltbahn 31 camouflage. usuaDy ISSUed to armoured ""antry tMlJlS: the Ml943 peaked field cap. M1941 anklets and ankle boots. He 8VJdentJy prefers fekJgrau woollen ---

44

I

-1-

'trigger-finger' mlnens to the wIllie/camouflage reversible mittens v"thout a tngger-finger, a defiCI&rlCy corrected m later 'marsh panern' mIttens. He has Ml909 leather ammunrtoo pouches for hiS Karablner 98k mid-war prodUCllon nfle. and cames Ml924 sllCk-grenades. hiS M1935 helmet stln bears traces 01 whltewash snow camouflage.

D: NORTHERN AND CENTRAL FRONTS, 1944 01: Unterfeldwebel, Estnische BalaiHon 659; Narva, Estonia, April 1944. thIS IIOIunteer wears the Ml942 reed-green summer field undorm W1\h M 1940 feIdgrau shoulder straps and M 1940 NCO strap and collar braid, breasl eagle and collar patches; note the M1943 Estoruan armstueld. Infantry Assault Badge. Silver WOund Badge and Iron Cross 2nd Ciass buttonhole nbbon. The Ml943 peaked field cap WIth mouse-grey InSlgnl8, M1941 anklets and ankle boots complete the outfit. The M1939 V-straps support M1909 K8rabtner 98k (oght) and canvas Gewehr 43 ~eft} ammunition pouches. folding shovel and M1931 canteen on his belt; a field t1ashlight is lixed al his left shoulder. He is armed with a M1924 stick grenade and a Walther 7.92mm Gewehr 43 semi-automatic nile,

02: Oberst, Kavallerie-Re9iment Mitte; Pinsk, western Belarus, April 1944. FollOWing common practice thiS cavalry regiment commander has modified his other ranks' M1940 field tuniC WIth a shortened skirt. bluish dark green collar. officer's coDar patches and breast eagle. but not the tum-back cuffs september 1943: an Infantry company cobbler worttlng in the field behind an amilr of long-anaft and M1939 short·shaft marching boots and ankle boot$. His colleague, the company tailor, repairs a field t"nle; "nit tailors were res.ponslble lor many 01 the non-standard "nltorm items $elln In 1!i43-45. (Brian Davis)

sometunes seen. He has a Ml935 helmet. Ml940 leather· retnforced breeehes.l'Iding boots and spurs. the mAt bakelJte 6xJO binocular case. and a Walther P38 ItI a soft leather holster. The officers' M1938 field cap In hiS belt has a1un1ll'llum thread plptng, eagle and cockade, bot not the alUlT\lnlum Brunswick Eagle unofflClaBy worn by thIS regJmeot since AprIl t943. He has the Iron Cross 1st Class medal and 2nd Class nbbon. and the General Assault Badge.

ABOVE, LEFT November 1~3: Unterofffizier of tM Panzergrenadler-Oivlslon Gl'Q8d.eutso;:hh".d wearing a M11i35 field funic; note White branch-colour 'GO' Chainsfifch monogram on his sltoulder stnlp. The fleece-trimmed fett field c:.ap - see also colour pLate FI - bea" an aluminium mKhina-woyan Ml1135 breast-aagla. Nole Iaathe<" Mtll39 suppof1 Y-straps, and 10..se Volgtlinder combat leader's binoculars.. He wellrs the Iron Cross 1s1 CllIn, the b~e Infanl,., Anault 8adge for motorized inlllnlry, IIII'd Ihe bronze ORA Stille Sports Badge. (ECPA,I

ABOVE Janua,., 1944: Ihis Oberieutnanl wea,..

03: Fusilier, FUsilier-Regiment Feldherrnhalle; Minsk, central Belarus, July 1944. This former SA storm trooper (nole bronze SA Wehrabzelchen military fitness badge) wears the M1943 field lunlc With M1940 collar patches and breast-eagle. embroidered 'Feldherrnhalle' culf Iltle and runic shoulder strap motifs. He has M1943 trousers. Ml941 anklets and ankle boots; he has painted his M1942 helmet summer tan, and green and brown blotches were sometimes added. HIS belt. With Ml909 pouches, bayonet and 'olding shovel. is worn Without V-straps; the slings of hIS 9& nfle and gas mask call1stef cross on hIS chest. HIS armament includes both M1924 stICk and M1939 egg grenades. and a Panzertaust 60. ThIs unrt was destroyed at MIflSk..

ill Ml1142 reYe"lble padded winter tunic, with the soiled white side outwllrds lind showinlilhe M194211rm rllnk Inslgnlll, Over his field tunic showlnll office,..' M1935 coUar patches lind Knlghl" Cron. His Ml1138 officers' field CliP Shows the aluminium wire crown and ftap_front piping. (ECPAI

trousers. M1941 anklets and ankle boots. M1942 helmet and camouflage net. As first gunner cames a P38 Walther pistol in a soft shell holster on hiS lett hip: at right front would be a spares pouch - in black leather. or black or tan presse
ne

E: CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN FRONTS. 1944

E1: Gefreiter, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 103;

E2: Generalmajor. 454.Sicherungs-Oiyision; BJ-ody. western Ukraine. July 1944.

lasi, Rumania, August 1944. ThIs mactllne gunner wears the M 1943 field IUl'llC and

ThIs commander of a rear-area dlYlslOO destroyed at Brody wears lhe general offICers' field ul'\lform wtually unchanQed

45

reversible whlt8lM19A3 'marsh' pattern camouflage winter SUit. the tumc and trousers turned to different SideS. Just VISible on the left sle-eve IS hiS green-on-black M19-l2 rank trl$lgnla. He has leather-relnlorced felt winter boots: the unolflClal but common 'felt field cap', SImIlar to the Ml9-l3 field cap. has a white fleece band and ear flap hrung, and an alUfTllflIUm setV1Ce cap badge; the tlYee-flOQef reversible mittens show the camouflage sl(\e. He carnes a slightly whitewashed Ml935 helmet, and short 10xSO binoculars. His blackened M1934 officer's belt supports a Walther P38 10 a soft·sheD holster and a dISpatch case.

LEn September 1043: Leutnant of tn. .lIault .rtmery Banallon of Panzergrenadier-Olyl.lon GroBdeutschiand in the eupola of his sell-propelled gun. The M1940 special Iield grey uniform bean M1935 standard officers' collar patche. with red artlltery 'lights', and M19aO light grey braid shoulder board. with red badge cloth underlay and a gilded aluminium 'GO' monogram, His M1943 field cap Is unplped; nota alao officers' feldgrau suede glowe., snd the bronze In'antry Allault Badge indicating prllyloUI se....lce In the motorized In'antry, (£CPA)

BELOW March 1944: Wachtmeister 0' 667th Ausult Artillery Brigade, Note the brigade numeral. on hi••houlder atnps, permitted In the field aince 16 February 1S1a4, He hal remowed the Panzer akulla from hla red-piped feldgrau collar patche., but has not added the mou.e-grey 'guard. braids' authorized from 30 January 1943.IBrian Dayial

lrom 1939 It comprises a M1935 offlCefS' field tlJmc With general officers- shoUkler-boaIds. gold buttons. breast eagle and coUar patches; M 1935 seMCe cap With gold plpItlgS and chin cords. and Ml942 9'1ded InSlgnI3 He wears Ml935 stone-gtey breeches with general offlCefS' piping and stnpes. and ndlng b001s. Partly obscured here on his left hlp IS a Walther PPK In a soft leather holster, N$ 10xSO binoculars are held down by a button tab. HIS decoratJOOS ant an Iron Cross 1st Class medal and 2nd Class nbbon and the star of the German Cross In gold. E3: Pam:ergrenadier, Panzer9renadier-Re9iment 73; Warsaw, September 1944. This section member wears the M1943 non-reversible smock with integral hood in second pallern 'marsh' camouflage over his M1943 field tunic and M1943 belted trousers. HIS M 1942 helmet has chicken-wire netlll'IQ for attaching foliage camoullage. Armoured infantry. originally with light-order equipment lor mechanized combat. acquired M 1939 infantry V-straps to support heaVier equipment when in the dismounted role. The coovef1honal belt equipment includes nfIe ammunitIOn pouches. stICk and egg grenades. bayonet and fold'ng shovel.

F: WINTER 1944-1945

46

F1: Oberleutnant, Grenadier-Regiment 236; Insterburg IChernyakhovsk), East Prussia, December 1944.Th,s Infantry company commander wears the Ml942 padded

F2: Fahrer, Fahrschwadron 1/227; Tukums, central Latvia, December 1944. Ths young dnver ,n a hotse-drawn company of a dIVISIOnal supply regiment. recently transferred from Germany, gIVes lhe Nazi 'German salute' compulsory after July 1944. He wears lhe obsolele M1934 Olher ranks' field cap WIth mouse..grey IOSlQrna, recssued 10 1944 from old stocks; the M 1943 field h.I1lC WIth M 1940 1OSIQ1'1I3: feldgrau woollen baIaclava rolled I'Ol.IOd hls neck. woollen gloves. fll'lal pattern feJdgrau cIolh·remforced cavalry breeches and - rare by 1944 - cavalry ndang boots. He has a Iate-produetlOl'l 98k nlle, the smgle set of M1909 pouches issued to rear-area troops, and the 84198 bayonet WIth Ml942 cavalry frog. Note on his left pocket the Hitler Youth Badge of Honour. F3: Oberjager, Skijager-Regiment1: Trstina, northern Slovakia, February 1945. ThIs sectJOfl leader wears the mountain troops' field unllorm: M1938 mountain troops' feldgraulwhite reversible Wlndprool anorak With three chest pockets and arm rank InsignIa. and reversible windproof trousers over the Ml940 special lield grey Uniform. He also wears anklets, cllmbmg bools. and the M1943 peaked field cap with mouse-grey insignia and lhe aluminium ski and oak·leaves badge. leather M1939 V-straps support first pattern M1943 beige canvas Single-flap magazine pouches lor his MP43/MP44 sub-machIne gun (renamed 10 December 1944 the Sturmgewehr 44 assaull nile).

G: SOUTHERN FRONT, 1945 G1: Oberfeldwebel, Panzer-Pionier Salaillon 124; Vienna, April 1945. ThIs NCO platoon commander Il'l the FUhrer-Grenadier0Msl0n wears the "'11940 special field grey jaCket with mouse-grey breast eagle. M 1940 mouse-gn!')' 'guards braids' on black-plP@d collar patches. and 'Gro8deulschland' ngh1 cuff title (but no GO shoukler strap monograms - lhese were ordered removed from 26 January 1945). HIS trousers are tucked ,nlo grey socks and ankle boots: he wears a second

An Oberl.utnant 01 the 290th Infantry Division w.arlng an Mt~ other ranks' field tunic: remodelled whh dartl green c:ollar and onlc:ers' c:ollar patc:hes, breilst eagle and should.r boards. His M1934 peaked field c:ap, with aluminium threllcl eagle, c:oc:kade and w....th, also displays lhe unoffic:ial divisional badge of a broadsword: e"en more unus.... Uy, this Is repealed on his left poc:ket Ilap. This offic:.r" dec:oretlons are the Iron Cross 1st Class mada. and 2nd Class ribbon, Eastem Winter Campaign 194t142 ribbon, Infantry Asuult eadge, and - as .. member 01 a 'Demyilnsk' di"lslon - the Oemyansk .Iee...., shield. IECPAI

pattern Zeltbahn 31 'splinter' camouflage cover on hiS M1942 helmet. Decorations are the Iron Cross 2nd Class ribbon. bronze Close Combat Clasp. General Assault Badge and black Wound Badge: he displays the Oemyansk armshield. indicating former service With II Corps He has coe sel 01 betge canvas MP40 maQ3ZJne pooches. a Wall her P38 in a solt·shell holster. and a slung P81Izer'laust 60 G2: Oberleutnant, Panzer-Regiment 1: Szekesfehel"l/ar, central Hungary, March 1945. This tank company commander wears lhe special black M.. rc:h 1944: a Tec:hni$c:her VerwaJtungusslstent _ a tec:hnlcal military Official with the equi"alent rank 01 Oberfektwebel - In.p
47

Panzer uTllform (the buttoned-across lapel of his Jacket obscunng the Ml934 a1umnum bfeast-eaglel. w.th Ml9Jll penk-plped skull collar patches. and M1940 light grey brad shoulder boards wrth 91lt rank starS and regtmental numerals. The M1934 trousers are worn wIth ankle boots: his M 1943 Panzer peaked field cap has officers' aluminium crown plpmg. aluminium eagle and cockade, and the unofflcral 1.Panzer-[)MslOl1 oak-leaf badge Note hard·sheU holster for his Walther P38: grey wool gloves; motorcycle goggles: Iron Cross 1st Class medal and 2nd Class nbbon and SINer Tank Battle Badge. G3: Stabsarzt, Sanitatskompanie 178; Plzen, western Czechoslovakia, May 1945. This divrsional medical company commander has managed to surrender to a US 3rd Atmy unll. He weatS officers' M 1935 collar patches and breast-eagle and M 1940 light grey braid shoUlder boaI"ds on hIS othef- ranks' Ml943 field tunIC; note nbbon of the War Ment Cross WIth Swords in the buttonhole. M194Q feldgrau breeches. ndlng boots. and an Ml943 field cap with aluminium thread insignia and crown piping complete hiS dress. He carries a Ml942 padded reversible wt\ItelZeltbahn 31 WInter tume. Medical personnel wore the red cross armband: nevertheless. note a P08 luger III a hard-shell holster on his brown Ml934 .offlCet'S' beh, whICh he has been permitted to retain for pefSOfIal protectlOfI.

H: CENTRAL FRONT, 1945 H1: Leutnant, Greoadier-Regimeflt 1099; Slettin, East Gennany, April 1945, ThIs company commander In 549.VoIksgrenadlet"-0Ms1Ol'l wears the Ml944 fle!dtunlC and trousers with M1942 poloneck sweater. and IS fortunate enough to have retained M 1939 short-shaft marching boots; hiS M1942 helmet has a rough wire cover, He displays M1935 offlCefs' coUar patches:

M19-1O light grey braid shoUlder boards With ItIfantry-white undetIay: an other ranks' Ml944 machlne-woven breasteagle on a feJdgrau 44 tnangular patch: one Tank DesI1uClIOtl Badge and the Infantry Assault Badge. Equlpmen1 mcIodes a M1934 brown offIcers' belt stamed black: 6x30 binoculars: two selS of standard M1944 beige canvas magazIne pouches for hiS Sturmgewehr 44 - ISSUed as a pnonty to VoIksgrenad,et uruts: and a PanzerwurflTlll1e 1(L) anti-tank hand grenade. H2: Grenadier, Grenadler-Re9iment 1075; Benin, April 1945. This 50-year old Infantryman from a ballle-9roup 01 541.Volksgrenadier-QlvlslOn desperately defending Berlin. wears a Ml940 surcoat WIth II\tegral hood over hIS freld unrfonn, WIth M 1941 anklets and ankle boots, and the M 1943 fiekj cap With rnouse-grey woven WlSIgOIa. He has conventlOn8l belt and V-strap equrpment, and carnes a final model Karabtnef 98k nfle (WIthout bayonet lug Of cleaning rod). He also cames M1943 stick and M1939 egg grenades. arn:l a Panzerfaust 100. H3: Feldwebel, Panzer9renadier-Regiment Munchebet"g 1: SeeIow Heights, East Germany, April 1945. thIS sectIOn commander defencllng the DOer une wears the M1943 non-reversible winter lunic in third paltern M1944 'blOICh marsh' camouflage scheme With Ml942 arm rank In5IQma, over an Ml942 sweater and Ml943 field lunlC; M1942 padded reverSIble whltelfeldgrau trousers over Ml943 belted trousers: Ml941 anklets and ankle boots; and a M1935 helmel smeared WIth mud lor camouflage. He wears M1940 tropICal canvas V-straps, and betge canvas SoViet magazme pouches f()( his captured 7.62mm PPS.43 sub-machine gun; an M1938 folding shoVel. useful for handlo-hand lighting. is thrust inlo hls belt.

COMPANION SERIES FROM OSPREY CAMPAIGN CoIM'ilU~'" d'~I~l\C 1111111:11";' enc:uunlt"r> E:u'h WI-p:lfi:., b"n~ l'Onl:lin" If'.'r 9IJ ,lJu.lrJliOll) indudinll" nul". order" of Nil I". colour plJl<~, :lnu IhnMlITJlUdic:-. In dO!oC' dewl. Jild .....>lIon:l1 a"\\orl uf lhe loOldier'" CllUlp"",nl NEW VANGUARD C"mp~hm.I\C: h",looe--

or 11](' d"""gIl, ck>dopmt'"Tl1 ...nd op.:r.lI1oml UiC' oft"" "or\d'" Jrmourro 'eh..... b :md :I"ilIc~ E:leh .fll-P:lgc boo~ ""'t1lrt~ ~l[l:hl p;ll!'-s or rulh:olour In''or~ Includmll":I l!<'UI!l'll CUl:l\\:I~.

ORDER OF BATTLE Th~ ITlO'I d~lJlkd II1rofflt:UlOn C\lT puhlr)n..-.I on Ihe um'" "hicb rought h~Of'\', pl."J1 b..IlIk- l~:h %-p:agc' h..ol. \'Uf!uilb cumP~,,",~IH' O<¥JnllOll1Ofl '''Jpr'''m. ~up",,"n1 b~ uhr...-dcl:likd colour mJP'> E:ach 1IIk: aho Include.- J IJ,!" f"I
48

ELITE l"kullctl mrormJtion /In rh~ nrpnilJrlon. JpJX'"Jran~'" Jnd iil!hnnj! re.:ord or rhe "orld'~ m''''l rJlllou' nlllnu) bodies Th., scrM:"o or M-(';I!:f~ hooh.•-xh ron1J1l11l1!! "on-.c 50 pho(ognpb~ :m
""""II;'

AIRCRAFT OFTHEACE5 FOl."\lS('> c:\du~n~h on Itt<- dll~ pilO!. or tn:l1Ql" Jlr C'Jmp;ll~lb_ ...m1lnduJo u""I1l< Inln"l~"''' "uh Mlniun!! alb MlIIn:W 'JlC'OfK:in~ ror ~h ,oIume Ea...-h %-p;l~ , ..Iume ('Ol111'ns up IU -10 "ptCl... ll~ .vmmhslOncd J"\Oorh. unn li~llrtp. ~" seal<' plJn" Jnd l~ bal Jrchl\11 phuu.~'T1Iph~ ~\""bbl('

COMBAT AIRCRAFT T«hnM:;d mfilfmJllOO rrum Ill<' "orld'~ lodmg :a\lJlion "nll'f< on I"" e>:nIU~'~ IIlO!>I ",pllflCJnI "\lhu~ alflTJft Each %-lU~ ,·oIumc: cu,u:lm~ up IU -10 ~pcci:aJl~ l'OfTlmIS.lOnro :an\\orh, un" 1I)lln~ llC" )(::I1c: plJn> Jnd lh~ oc"l Jrchw:11 llhulOj!nph~ :a':lI1:1bk

m:mIIiJ MILITARY

MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES

CO:'QtJM

MILITARY

THE GERMAN ARMY 1939-45 (4) EASTERN FRONT 1943-45 In early 1943 the annihilation of the 6th Army at Stalingrad marked the irreversible turning-point of the war in the East. Despite occasional local successes gained in the faee of great oddstestimony to the Wehrmacht's extraordinary resilience - from now on Germany was on the defensive. Despite Hitler's damaging interferenee the quality of German field leadership, and of new weapons, remained high; but each new Soviet offensive pushed the front line closer to - and finally, across - the borders of the Reich. In this fourth title of their sequence author and artist describe and illustrate the developments in unit organization, uniforms and equipment during 1943-45, including information on European and Eastern volunteer units; text and illustrations are supported by detailed tables.

MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES • An unrivalled source of information on the organization, uniforms and equipment of the world's fighting men of the past and present. • The series covers subjects as diverse as the Imperial Roman army and its enemies; the paratroopers and tank crews of our. own day; and hundreds of other subjects between, over the whole world and more than 5,000 years of history • The popular 48-page format includes concise texts packed with specific information, some 40 photographs, maps and diagrams, and eight full-colour plates of uniformed figures.

tmmm MILITARY

ISBN 1-85532-796-1

1IIII111 III "

9 781855 327962