Abbreviation next to tactical symbol

[Polynike]

These are excerpts from a map of the Stalingrad Battle October 28th. I know the symbols are for Divisions and Corps but what does the V.G. stand for? They cannot be Volksgrenadiers as its way too early for that.

any help would greatly help

[Polynike]

Mods

i think this thread is better in the Heer/Waffen SS section, can you please zap it there

thanks

[Leo Niehorster]

The only thing that occurs to me would be "Vorausgruppe", the advanced echelon of the division or corps in the process of arriving in that command. Both of these symbols are depicted without filling, which probably indicate units not fully there.

My 2 Eurocents worth

Leo

[Polynike]

Many thanks Leo

I was thiniking that maybe the symbols represented remnants of units, but as the Stalingrad Kessel hadnt been formed yet i passed it off.

Again many thanks for your input.

Jonathan

[Radar]

Hallo Polynike,

Go to
http://www.orbat.com/site/ww2/drleo/index.htm and select:
1.Index
2.Germany
3.Fact Files: Organizational Symbols.

Here I think you will find the information you are looking for.

Radar

Sorry, these are only the symbols, but you know them already, I didn't read your question correctly.

[fourdeuce]

In the second picture couldn't "V.G." stand for "Volksgrenadier"?

[Polynike]

fourdeuce, this is Stalingrad October 1942, before the creation of Volksgrenadier Divisons

[Russ Schulke]

V.G. = "Vorausgruppe", the advanced echelon of the division or corps in the process of arriving in that command. Both of these symbols are depicted without filling, which probably indicate units not fully there.

I agree with this conclusion and it fits other scenarios show on the map including movement by HQ of the 24th Panzer and 100th Jäger Division. Note the old grease pencil location of the LI Corp. (Top)



Many thank to Leo Niehorster and Polynike!

Now let us work on the handwriting translation.

Russ



http://www.fireonthevolga.com

[Tom Houlihan]

Does this "not filling in" apply to any symbol?

I have a document that shows the enemy (Russian) OOB. There are square black regimental flags, which are normal. However, within the same divisions, there are square regimental flags that are not colored in. Destroyed? Excessive casualties? It was a Kessel, so they wouldn't be a Vorausgruppe, as in the examples above.

Thanks!

[Russ Schulke]

Post the document so we can see? Russ

[Jeff Leach]

V.G. = "Vorausgruppe", the advanced echelon of the division or corps in the process of arriving in that command. Both of these symbols are depicted without filling, which probably indicate units not fully there.

I have never seen the term "Vorausgruppe" in wartime documents. The terms I have seen are 'Vorausabteilung' for the tactical spearhead of a division or 'Marschgruppe' when the division is moving up towards the front lines. Note that my experience is pretty much limited to 1941 Operation Barbarossa material.

[Russ Schulke]

My map is only showing this related to HQ (Division/Corps/Army) locations behind the front-lines. Here you can see a shift in the 24th Panzer Division HQ position south of Alexandrovka village / Razgulyaevka station Stalingrad.

Russ

[Tom Houlihan]

Here's a segment from it, Russ.

There are the normal, black regiment-indicators, then white ones. I just need to know the difference for a key!