GERMAN MILITARY SYMBOLS January 1944

The symbols used by the German Army during the Second World War were used for three main purposes. Identify units on maps. Stencils on vehicles. Graphic representations of units, which made it possible to quickly determine the major components and weapons used without reading the table of organisation and equipment.

TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION
I— EXPLANATION OF GERMAN MILITARY SYMBOLS 1 SECTION II— MILITARY SYMBOLS I. Headquarters of Higher Echelons 9 II. Infantry: A. Headquarters 12 B. Units 13 C. Weapons 16 D. Groups: 1. Example of a Diagrammatic Table of Organization 18 2. Examples of Map Symbols 18 III. Artillery: A. Headquarters : 19 B. Units 20 C. Weapons: 1. Guns and Cannons 23 2. Howitzers 25 3. Weapons of Foreign Origin 27 D. Examples of Map Symbols 27 E. Miscellaneous 27 IV. Cavalry and Reconnaissance: A. Headquarters 28 B. Units 29 C. Vehicles 31 D. Examples of Map Symbols 31 V. Mountain: A. Headquarters 33 B. Units 33 C. Groups: 1. Example of a Diagrammatic Table of Organization 35 2. Examples of Map Symbols 35 IV CONTENTS VI. Panzer: Pase A. Headquarters 36 B. Units 37 C. Tanks 40 D. Groups: 1. Example of a Diagrammatic Table of Organization 41 2. Example of Map Symbols 41 E. Vehicles 42 VII. Engineer: A. Headquarters 43 B. Units 43 C. Groups: 1. Example of a Diagramatic Table of Organization 46 2. Examples of Map Symbols 47 VIII. Railway Engineer: A. Headquarters 48 B. Units 48 IX. Fortress Engineer: A. Headquarters 51 B. Units 51 X. Technical: A. Headquarters 53 B. Units 53 C. Example of a Diagramatic Table of Organization 54 XL Construction: A. Headquarters 55 B. Units 55 XII. Road Construction: A. Headquarters 56 B. Units 56 XIII. Signals: A. Headquarters 57 B. Units: 1. Signal 59 2. Telephone and Telegraph 60 3. Radio 61 4. Interception 61 5. Miscellaneous 62 6. Propaganda 62 C. Installations 62 CONTENTS V XIII. Signals — Continued. D. Sub-units: 1. Telephone, Telegraph, and Teletype: Page a. Detachments 63 b. Stations 65 c. Lines 65 2. Radio : a. Detachments 66 b. Stations 67 c. Methods of Operation 67 3. Interception: a. Detachments 67 b. Stations : 68 4. Other Methods of Communication 68 5. Miscellaneous 69 XIV. Chemical: A. Headquarters 70 B. Units 70 C. Groups: 1. Example of a Diagramatic Table of Organization 71 2. Examples of Map Symbols 72 XV. Transport: A. Headquarters : 73 B. Units 73 C. Groups: 1 . Example of a Diagramatic Table of Organization 74 2. Examples of Map Symbols 75 D. Trains of Combat Troops 75 XVI. Survey and Map Printing: A. Headquarters – 76 B. Units- 76 C. Installations 77 XVII. Services: A. Supply: 1. Headquarters : 78 2. Units 80 3. Installations 82 B. Administrative: 1. Units 85 2. Installations 86 CONTENTS XVII. Services — Continued. C. Medical: Page 1. Headquarters 87 2. Units 88 3. Miscellaneous 90 D. Veterinary 90 E. Postal: 1. Headquarters 92 2. Units 92 F. Provost: 1. Headquarters 93 2. Units 93 XVIII. Miscellaneous: A. Tactical Boundaries 94 B. Railroads and Transport 94 C. Obstacles: 1. Mines 97 2. Miscellaneous 98 D. River Crossing: 1. Crossing Points 101 2. Bridges. 102 E. Defensive Positions 102 F. Miscellaneous 105 XIX. Air: A. Higher Headquarters 106 B. Flying Corps: 1. Headquarters 107 2. Units 108 C. Signals: 1. Headquarters 110 2. Units 110 3. Permanent Signals Ground Organization 111 4. Miscellaneous 111 D. Antiaircraft Artillery: 1. Headquarters 112 2. Units 113 3. Weapons 115 E. Parachute Units 116 F. Air Bases 116 Appendix I — Ground Panel Signals Used By Troops For Air Communication 117 Appendix II — Nonofficial Auxiliary Signs 120 Section III— DOCUMENTS 125 Addenda