German Army services of supply

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German Army services of supply

#1

Post by tigre » 09 Oct 2005, 21:17

Hello to all, besides I think this is a very interesting article I wish to ask to the forum mates if this scheme of organization was kept throughout the war or it was changed later.

FIELD 0RGANIZATION OF THE SERVICES OF SUPPLY IN THE GERMAN ARMY

BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL E. M. BENITEZ, Coast Artillery – Military Review, sep 1939.

In the reconstrucction of the German Army, accomplished during the past two years, the Services Of Supply have been reorganized into a system capable of fulfilling the Complex requirements of a modem army.

The three fundamenltal needs of an army in the field are:
supply of everything that the troops require to live, to move and to fight; Care of sick and wounded men; and similar care for animals. With this in view, the “services in rear of the operating troops” or Ruckwartige Dienste have been organized in three principal branches—the supply, sanitary and veterinary services.
Of these branches, the first in importance is the service of supply (Nachschub), because it is the artery connecting the operating army with the source of supply in the home country, and is required to furnish the troops with everything required for use in the field.
Attached to the services of supply (Heeresversorgung) are several subsidiary services—the military police service in the rear areas (Ordnungdienst) ; the military postal service; and the great organization for the exploitation and use of establishments existing in the theater of operations.
The most advanced elements of the services are integral parts of the operating troops.
Evacuation of everything that might hamper the activity or mobility of troop units in the first line (sick and wounded men and animals, prisoners, materials in need of repar or unserviceable; surplus materials, captured materiel) is handled by each service within its own province.

In so far as the services are concerned, the territory is divided thus:

(1) Zone of the operating armies, which includes the entire theater of war ( Operationsgebid ) ;

(2) Zone of the services (Ruckwartiges Gebiet), or the rear zone within which the services carry on their varied activities.

The scheme of organization is as follows:
Services of the front-line units
Services in rear of the operating troops
Service of supply
Ammunition service
Motor supply service
Repair and replacement service
Quartermaster supply service
Sanitary service
Veterinary service
Military police service in the rear areas
Military postal service
Service for exploitation and use of establishments
existing in the zone of the operating army.

More specifically, the various branches of the service of supply are charged with the following duties:

The ammunition service with the supply of ammunition for all arms, of hand grenades, explosives and incendiary material; that is to say, the service is concerned exclusively with supply of ammunition and Similar material, and has nothing to do with arms and other heavy material.

The motor supply service, with supply of fuel, lubricants and tires.

The repair and replacement service, with supply of motor vehicles and materials pertaining to them, including spare parts; arms and materials which are damaged or unserviceable; and with means of field transportation in general. It thus includes functions which in other armies are distributed among the ordnance, engineer and lines of communication services.

Quartermaster supply service; with supply of rations, forage, clothing, equipage and finance. This service was formerly called the “Intendantur”; this term is no longer in use, although the officers of the service are still known as “Intendants.” The service is now designated as the “Verwaltungsdienste.”

“Services in rear of he operating troops” belong to armies and divisions, and to a limited extent to the army corps. The whole service is centered in the army. The division, as an operative unit (Operative Einheit), is provided with such services as assure to it, within the army an independence proportioned to its missions. During the World War, the corps was considered as the operative unit, and as such was provided with all the necessary services, and the divisions, with certain exceptions, did not have them. The corps is now provided only with the services strictly indispensable for the corps troops, except the cavalry corps, which have the same services as the cavalry divisions, Nevertheless, as a unit intermediate between the army and the division, the corps has the important function of coordinating the operation of the services with the tactical dispositions that is to say, of regulating the, supplies to he furnished to the divisions with regard to the situation.

Organization of the services in the rear of the operating troops.

Coordinating agencies.-The quartermaster general at G.H.Q. and the Army Quartermaster at Army Headquarters, are responsible for the operation of all the services.
In 1914 the organization of the services was based upon the regulations for the lines of communication (Kriegsetapenornung). All supply was placed under the direction of the lines of communication (Armeeetapeninspectionen) and the army commander had no effective control over the operation of the services!- But during the battle of the Marne, in September 1914, the commander of the German First Army was compelled by the intricate situation which arose in the rear areas, to assume control of the movement of supply agencies during the movements from the Marne to the Ourcq and from the Ourcq to the Aisne. In view’ of the difficulties involved, the logistic direction of the services was assigned to the armies, early in 1915.

Operating agencies in the rear of the operatnig troops.

Supply columns.
Motor supply columns, G.H.Q. (heavy)
Motor supply columns, army (light and heavy)
Divisional supply columns (light motor or horsed)
Corps supply columns
Pack trains (in mountain warfare only)
Divisional gas and oil columns, light and heavy,
Motor repair shops, army and division.
Army parks-infantry, artillery, pioneer, signal, motor.
Army depots, ammunition and subsistence.
Service units-battaions in the aymy, companies in the division.

Specifically, the supply columns provide for supply of ammunition, explosives, rations and forage, arms, clothing, equipment, means of transportation, horses and material of all sorts required by the operating troops. They are also charged with evacuation of arms and material of all sorts, damaged or unserviceable, sur plus material, and captured material. In special cases they may be called upon to assist in evacuation “of sick and wour ded men and animals".
G. H. Q., reserve columns ar d army columns are entirely motorized., Divisional columr s are partly motorized and partly horse drawn.
The division gas and oil columns are reserved exclusively for supply of tires, fuel an lubricants, for all military motor vehicles.
The army ammunition an subsistence depots provide for the supply of their respective stores. The subsistence depots carry, in addition, smal stocks of clothing and equipment.
The army service battalions or the divisional service companies are made up of ammunition, subsistence, salvage and technical platoons; they furnish railheads with the men necessary for handling, storage and issue of supplies.

Supply Columns

The G.H.Q. motor supply columns, heavy (useful load 60 tons) constitute a reserve o transportattion at the disposition of the quartermaster general, The army motor supply columns, light and heavy (useful load respectively 30 and 60 tons) provide a rolling reserve of ammunition, rations and forage, for the re-supply of th depots and parks.

The divisional supply columns (light motor or home drawn, useful load about 30 tons) carry a part of the “initial supply,” corresponding to our “day of fire” and “day of rations and forage.”

The corps supply columns are charged with the supply of corps troops only; except that the supply columns of the cavalry corps are in general barged with supply of ammunition, rations and forage (chiefly oats) for the cavalry division columns.
Pack transportation is fittle used in Germany; pack trains are assigned only to units operating in the mountains.

Gas and oil columns.

Like the supply columns, these are divided into light and heavy, according to carrying’ capacity. They are assigned to divisions and are charged with the supply of fuel, lubricants and tires, for motor vehicles assigned to first line units, headquarters and service unit s.

Means of transportation assigned to first line units.

Light regimental (or independent battalion ) columns
Combat trains:
Combat vehicles or battery combat trains
Rolling kitchens
Led horses
Subsistance trains
1st Echelon (horse’ drawn)\ second echelon (motor), or one echelon (motor) for motarized units.

Baggage train: motor.

The light columns (of varying composition according to arm) are largely motorized and carry ammunition, pyrotechnics, explosives, camouflage material, and small stocks of arms and implements.

Combat trains.

These carry ammunition, spare parts of arms, tools for minor repairs, medical and veterinary equipment.
The field kitchens (horsed or motorized) are fitted for cooking on the march, and also carry one day’s field and one day’s reserve rations. The led horses are intended for the use of heavy weapons and artillery.

Transportation for rations.

I.—Units not motorized.—The first echelon, horsedrawn, consists of one wagon per company and two per squadron or battery; it carries one day’s rations and forage.
The second echelon, motorized, consists of one medium truck per battalion or corresponding unit, and carries a second day’s rations and forage.
2.—Motorized units.—There is only one echelon, consisting of one truck per company or corresponding unit; it carries two days’ ordinary rations.

Baggage train.

This consists of one truck per battalion or equivalent unit, It carries ¾ of the personal equipment of the soldier (the remaining ¼ being on the men), officers’ baggage, and a small stock of clothing and equipment.

To follow The services in the division. Regards. Tigre.

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GERMAN ARMY SERVICES OF SUPPLY - 2nd

#2

Post by tigre » 09 Oct 2005, 21:26

The services in the division.

As a rule, the division has no depots of ammunitionl, rations or forage; its own supplies are kept mobile in the division supply columns, especially in those which are motorized.
For issues to the troops, distributing points for ammunition, rations and forage are established by the division itself; these distributing points carry also small stocks of clothing and equipage. They are normally supplied directly by the army motorized columns, except for bread and fresh meat, which are received directly from the specialized bakery and butchery companies, which are provided with transportation for the purpose.
When the distance between the army depots and the issue stations is too great, refilling stations are established by the army or sometimes by the divisions, to which the army columns bring supplies for reloading upon division transportation.
On the march in the vicinity of the enemy, the division supply columns are united with elements of the other service units, into a “march echelon” which follows the motorized echelons of the first line division units. This march echelon is commanded by an officer assigned by the director of supply of the division; its movement and use is controlled by special orders from the director, through the division Commander.
In action, parts of the various division supply columns may be combined into a single echelon, under command of the senior column commander; and parts of the horse-drawn columns may he combined into a ‘combat echelon,” which is Pushed well to the front to supply the front-line units.
For the Supply and maintenance of motor transport, the gasoline trucks of the division will refill at the gasoline truck park of the army, which is generally established at the army railhead. The gasoline trucks of the divisiml refill the supply truckS of the mokorized units (one for each basic columns unit), and a park is established for supply of command cars and the various motor vehicles of units not motorized.
The division carries no stocks of arms, or of artillery and engineer material. For arms, motor vehicles and other materiel, unserviceable or requiring repair, the division provides for evacuation when necessary, through salvage stations.

Distribution of supplies, and mechanism of supply system.

Ammunition supply.

The initial supply of ammunition of the division (day of fire) is distributed as follows:
An individual allowance is carried on each man, and a similar allowance for each weapon is carried on the gun or mortar carriage. A unit allowance is carried in the combat trains, and in the light columns of the regiment or independent battalion. The remainder of the initial supply is carried in the division and army ammunition columns.
In exceptional cases, where there is a long distance between the army depots and the division issue points, ammunition refilling points are established, where amunition carried in the army columns is transferred to the division columns.
In case of necessity the division columns assist the light columns nf tbe troop units ill supply. In action, troop units may be supplied on the spot by detachments of the division columns consolidated into a “combat echelon. ”
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GERMAN ARMY SERVICES OF SUPPLY - 3rd

#3

Post by tigre » 09 Oct 2005, 21:29

Supply for motor vehicles.

Distribution of allowances:

I.—In the tanks of the vehicles of the troop units.
2.—On the motor supply trucks of the motorized units (habitually one for each company or corresponding unit).
3.—In the gasoline tank columns of the division.

Repair and replacement.

Minor repairs to motor vehicles are made in their own units, which are provided with spare parts and tools for the purpose; or in the motor repair shop of the division or army.
For more serious repair the damaged vehicles are sent to the army motor park or to the shops and manufacturing estabIishments in the interior. Replacement vehicles, including fighting machines, are sent from the army parks.
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GERMAN ARMY SERVICES OF SUPPLY - 4th

#4

Post by tigre » 09 Oct 2005, 21:34

Subsistence service.

Distribution of rations and forage allowances:
(a) Men: 4 fresh rations and 2 reserve rations, distributed as follows:
1 regular ration with the field kitchens;
2 regular rations in the unit ration wagons;
1 regular ration in a section of the division supply column, as a rolling reserve;
1 reserve ration, reduced, on the man;
1 reserve ration, complete, with the field kitchens.

(b) Animals: 4 grain and day rations, and 1 reserve ration, distributed as follows;

1 on the horse or on the home-drawn wagon;
2 in the forage wagons;
1 in a section of the division supply column, as a ,rolling resmve;
1 reserve rationlon the horse or horse-drawn wagon.

In exceptional cases, where the distance between the army depots and the division issue points, ration and forage refilling points axe established, where the division columns are refilled from the army columns. On the other hand, when the railway net and the military situation permit, train loads of rations and forage may be pushed up to advanced railheads near the divisions, for the direct refilling of the division columns.
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GERMAN ARMY SERVICES OF SUPPLY - end

#5

Post by tigre » 09 Oct 2005, 21:38

Conclusions.

From this hasty sketch, the simplicity of the organization is apparent. Especially worthy of note is the division of the system of four branches corresponding to the four fundamental and distinct requirements of the troops ammunition, gasoline and oil, arms, rations and forage.

But a second characteristic, no less important, is the almost complete motorization of the columns, and the abundance of motor transport assigned to them, to enable them to conform to tbe rapid movembnts called for by the war of movement and to maintain uninterrupted service in spite of sudden changes in the situation. All this conforms to the most modern conception of the conduct of war.

A part of the division supply columns and of the first line unit transportation remain horse-drawn, but only for the purpose of maintaining direct contact with the operating units off the roads, on groun where the motorized elements can not always go. In case of necessity, it is provided that oxen may be substituted for horses.
The greater mobility and speed given to the field supply services through their almost complete motorization give them much greater capacity of resolving the difficult problems placed before them. To this cconception of swift adaptation to changes in the situation, is due the idea of keeping a part of the allowances of ammunition and rations loaded in the supply columns.

Germany has based the reorganization of the services of supply upon the development of motorization and mechanization in the combatant units, and upon the extraordinary progress in armament. She has thus created one of the essential conditions to enable the new military equipment to fulfill the functions expected of it. The final succes resulting from victories on land of sea or in the air, is based upon the supply demanded by men and arms; just as the triumphant human strength, mental or physical, is directly dependent upon the inevitable conditions of life in the physical organism.

I hope you find this interesting too. Regards. Tigre.

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Thanks.

#6

Post by Wehrmacht » 10 Oct 2005, 15:10

Thanks. Very interesting Tigre.

I wonder if you have some articles/reports about the organization of recruiting/mobilization services in the wehrkreise...

Wehrmacht

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#7

Post by tigre » 11 Oct 2005, 02:43

Hello Wehrmacht. this is what I've with regards the topic.

The German System.

In forming German army divisions, each had a territorial affiliation with a Wehrkreis, or military district, and their regiments were associated with particular towns. This ensured that the majority of the Germans fighting together were from the same primary location.

Divisions in the World War II German army were formed in “waves,” or groups of somewhat similar units. The first wave included 39 peacetime divisions. The second included 20 divisions raised by November 1939 from men in the first reserve who had been trained since 1935. The third wave included men who had served in World War I. Succeeding waves brought the army to 148 infantry divisions by May 1940. By 22 June 1941, there were 208 German divisions and, a year later, there were 233.’

The usual method of forming a new division was to take three battalions from each of two existing divisions plus other units and combine them. The resulting gaps in all three divisions were filled with recruits.’ By 1942, the Germans could not provide sufficient replacements to maintain divisions at the nine-battalion level. The number of battalions was reduced to seven rather than to reduce the number of divisions. Through various expedients, the Germans managed to keep about 300 divisions active, though understrength, until 1945 despite heavy losses in the east and later in the west.’

The German replacement was trained Ersatz (replacement) battalion. This battalion was located in the town of the regiment it was supporting. Therefore, all of the men in a regiment theoretically came from the same town and, for the most part, this was the case until the last months of the war. The Ersatz battalion received the recruits when they were drafted issued them weapons, uniforms and papers provided basic training; and sent them to the combat divisions.

The Ersatz battalions also held men recovering from wounds or ickness.’Ideally, the recruits were given two months’ training in the battalion and sent on for an additional two months’ training in a school, reserve battalion or field training division. Initiaily, a replacement battalion supplied men for a regiment but, as the number of divisions multiplied, one battalion provided for an entire combat division or two occupation divisions.’ The men returning from schools or reserve battalions after advanced training were formed into “march battalions” and sent to their parent divisions.’

In 1942, the Germans formed” five field training divisions in tbhe Soviet Union to
provide additional training for recruits and to tight partisans. Once in the division, the recruit was assigned to the battle school teaching group or the field replacement battalion.

Recruits were kept there until considered ready for combat even though the rifle companies might have been short.”The German army did not employ mechanical methods to administer a force whose size, at its peak, reached 6,550,000 men. This was made possible by an extremely decentralized organization. “Such matters as the distribution of recruits by military occupational specialty (MOS), leaves, disciplinary measures and exchange
of personnel between units-in short, every-thing concerning the vital questions of the individual soldier and his personality—were left in the hands of unit (mostly regimental) commanders.”

In returning the wounded to duty, the German convalescents were placed in Ersatz battalions along with new recruits until fit for duty. Afterward, they would be formed into companies and returned to their own divisions.
There were no fixed rules concerning the rotation of units in and out of the line. The problem, instead, hardly arose during the early years of the war. The blitzkrieg campaigns were, by definition, brief affairs that did not require rotation. After each campaign, however, the divisions that took part underwent refreshment (Auffrischung).

This operation required some three weeks, involved considerable logistics and administrative preparations, and was carried out, as far as possible, in one of the occupied countries. ” Organized by corps headquarters, such an operation Involved reorganization and refresher training for existing units, merging replacements into them and issuing new equipment to replace any lost or worn out in combat. ”

As conditions worsened during the latter part of the war, such thorough refreshments of entire divisions became progressivily more diflicult to carry out. Instead, refreshement more and more often was carried out inside the divisions, This meant that individual regiments or even battalions were taken out of the line for periods varying from days to weeks. The troops thus released were sent to so-called recovery houses (Erholungsheime) behind the front in which they were rested and well looked after. They were free from every care, including the sudden raids the General Staff, in times of crisis, carried out among the men going on leave.”

The Germans did not discard worn-down divisions with them valuable cadre of headquarters, service and artillery-personnel.
With a steady flow of returning sick and wounded and new recruits from the hometown, the division could be rebuilt within three to four months. When a German division lost about 75 percent of its infantry, it was stripped of all equipment, and several infantry battalions were created from the remaining men. These battalions were given to another division, and the residue was sent to France for gradual rebuilding from the replacement battalions, or from men transferred from other services or combed from the rear. The division number was retained by the rebuilt unit. ”

In 1943, the remnants of the divisions remaining in tbe Soviet Union were designed as division groups and reta]ned their division number. The portions sent to France received a new division number but were rebuilt m the same way. The division groups remaining in the Soviet Union were formed in Korps Abteilung, which were division sized units, using the headquarters, service and artillery of one of the divisions. As a result, two divisions were pulled out of the line for rebuilding under the new formations.

In late 1944-45, when divisions were being mauled in the east and west, worn-down divisions continued to fight as combat groups under one of the regimental commanders.
Meanwhile, the remainder of the service elements, artillery and headquarters were returned to Germany to form a Volksgrenadier Division. Fillers came from the Luftwaffe and the navy.”

Minor refitting of divisions took place behind the front, especially in the case of panzer divisions where the major need was equipment, not men. Before the Battle of Kursk, many panzer divisions were reequipped and filled with replacements in the Soviet Union. With a larger number of divisions, the Germans could afford rotation and rebuilding, thereby affording those who survived a period of relief.’”

German units, even when down to 20 percent of their original size, continued to exist and to resist. This is an unrivaled achievement for any army.”

Taken from “Replacements Back on the Road at Last”
Major J. D. Buck Wray, US Army – Military Review, may 1987.

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#8

Post by tigre » 11 Oct 2005, 02:50

And also

Manning the Force German-Style
Major Samuel J. Newland, Army National Guard – Military Review, may 1987.


Perhaps of greatest significance in developing these strong and cohesive units,though, was the training and replacement system used by the German army Germany, as ruled by Adolf Hitler, was a unified nation but its history as such was relatively short. As organized since the country’s unification in 1870, German army units were permitted—if not encouraged—to retain some local character and identity, to include state names in their unit esignations.’

This concept eroded to some extent with the fall of the Imperial Order in 1918, but the army under Hitler still found it advantageous for units to possess local or regional identity. Hence, German military uniteincluding divisions but particularly regiments-were recruited from specified military regions. The rationale for organizing forces in this fashion was due to more than historical reasons. Regionalism, resulting in strong rivalries between various German groups, was and is an issue. For example, the traditional attitudes of Prussians toward Bavarians, or vice versa—state rivalries with decades (if not centuries) of tradition —made homogeneous units drawn from the same locals a better system than nation wide conscription which placed all recruits into a common pool.

Divisions, therefore, were built using soldiers from the same provinces. The field army and replacement system were also constructed along these lines. This meant that, in the pre-1939 army, within a given regiment, the personnel and many of the officers were from the same area. This system, using individuals with similar backgrounds, outlooks and even speaking the same dialect, was thought important. Developing a strong bond between the German soldier and his regiment was the first step in developing strong combat groups.”
Supporting this concept was the German system of replacements and replacement training. AfterWorld War II began and substantial casualties were intlicted (1941-42), the replacement system began to function.

The German army was organized into two basic elements-the field army (Feldheer) and the replacement army (Ersatzheer). The replacement army was a different structure than the field army, the latter being the deployable fighting force of the Cerman army.
The chief function of the replacement army was to procure and train German recruits.
To facilitate this process, Germany was divided into military districts, or Wehrkreise, each with a number of traditional units. The replacement army was organized so that a replacement unit was assigned in the Wekrkreise for each of the German divisions.

The replacement army took the conscripts and volunteers and supplied them with the necessary basic training as well as noncommissioned ofticer (NCO) and officer training. From the inception of a recruit’s military service, he was assigned to a specific branch and given basic training. This training was initially identical for all branches, with specific training for the individual’s branch given later.’
Once the individual received his preliminary training, the replacements moved forward to the field forces. Having reached the rear echelon of the field army, the replacements were normally assigned to a Feldersatzbataillon, or field replacement battalion (or, for small units, a replacement company), located in proximity to the appropriate field division. For battalion-sized units, recruits were organized into three companies, each of which was affiliated with one of the field division’s three regiments.

Most divisions had them own field replacement battalion, and a conscious effort
was made to maintain close ties between them and the field division at the front. To accomplish this, a cadre from the front-line division was frequently rotated to the field replacement battalion so that officers and NCOS engaged in training would have recent experience in combat tactics. Therefore, officers of the training unit were acquainted, exchanged visits and corresponded.
In addition, wounded personnel were often sent to the Feldersatzbataillon for part of their convalescence.

In all, a conscious attempt was made to closely tie the work of the Wehrkreise replacement army, the field replacement army and the front-line division together.
This not only made the training a consistent and coherent process but also made the soldier feel part of a unit from the beginning of his training until actually being placed on the front lines. Once final training was completed by the field replacement battalion, the replacements moved as a unit (either as a Marschbataillon or a 250.man replacement company) to the front-line division where they w,ere assigned to their regiments.

This system supplied the German army with individual replacements. Granted, like any other system, the German training and replacement system had its exceptions.
There were provisions for individual replacements that were trained and assigned outside this system, but these were reserved for unusual situations, to include specialists such as veterinarians or farriers. In addition, the commander of the replacement army had at hls disposal several replacement battalions that were designated for exceptions and did not systematically feed into the standard replacement system.

The Wehrrnacht also used both unit rotation and unit replacement, but this will not be discussed in any detail here. All things considered, however, the Germans followed their Individual replacement closely It provided well-trained troops which, from the beginning of their military service, developed a close bond to their company,” regiment and division.

So strongly did the Germans belleve in this system that, as they developed their volunteer legions from Western and Eastern Europe, each volunteer unit was also provided a replacement company, battalion or regiment. The Wallonien Legion, first an army unit and later an SS volunteer legion, had its own replacement unit which accepted volunteers from Belgium and trained them in accordance with the German system.

This replacement unit was functioning late into 1944. The Cossack Division, XV
Cossack Cavalry Corps, was also supplied with its training regiment, accepting volunteers from the Soviet Union as well as from the emigrants communities of Eastern and Western Europe.”

In short, training-or, more specifically, replacement training—was one of the strengths of the German army. From conscription or recruitment unit assignment to front-line duties, training was geared to producing a prepared soldier who was an integral part of a front-line unit. It was a highly successful process.’”

The strength of the German system was that, from the initial reduction of a recruit into military service, the individual was forced to identify with a unit. From basic training in the Wehrkreise through final training in the rear echelon replacement battalion, a soldier belonged. He was with soldiers from his home area, and he identified with his regiment or division throughout his military service. Thus, the German system created for the soldier a strong and viable social group and, more importantly, a combat group. The system also provided for the reconstitution of units when they were decimated.”

I hope you find this useful. Regards. Tigre.

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#9

Post by Wehrmacht » 11 Oct 2005, 10:52

Thanks for the useful infos and your time, Tigre.

W.

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#10

Post by tigre » 12 Oct 2005, 17:59

You're welcome W

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#11

Post by tigre » 12 Oct 2005, 18:00

You're welcome W. Best wishes. Tigre.

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#12

Post by JPK » 12 Oct 2005, 18:22

Raul,
Bonsoir & merci for this post.
Amitiés
Jean.

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#13

Post by tigre » 12 Oct 2005, 19:18

Merci beaucoup, JPK. Au revoir. Tigre

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Re: GERMAN ARMY SERVICES OF SUPPLY

#14

Post by tigre » 07 Aug 2016, 20:27

Hello to all :D; a little complement................................

SYSTEM OF SUPPLYING FUEL FOR THE GERMAN ARMY.

The German command attached considerable importance to the preparation of speedy transportation of fuel from the deep rear to the front lines, over railroads and highways. Freight trains in many cases attained a speed of 65 miles per hour. Mechanical equipment was installed at railroad stations to speed up the loading and unloading of war supplies. The German war plan, which provided for the building of 4.295 miles of super-highways, 25 yards wide, had been largely completed.

Transportation of fuel over dirt roads was carefully considered. Culemeyer carts were used for this purpose. A specially adapted 20-ton railroad tank car is reloaded to such a cart, which is then drawn by a 100 HP motor at a speed of 9 to 12 miles per hour, for delivery directly to front line units. Six to eight such loads insure the supply for an entire division.

The day of long fuel trains is past. Transportation of fuel in 3-5 ton containers and tank trucks is now practiced. A net of well-concealed small filling stations has been established on roads.

Source: Catalog of Selected Periodical Articles. MLR. Vol. XXI. Nº 80. March 1941.

More details about the Culemeyer carts carrying railroad tanks to the front? Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
image072.jpg
Culemeyer cart R40 – 1935.........................................
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Culemeyer_1935_N%C3%BCrnberg.JPG
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tigre
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Re: German Army services of supply

#15

Post by tigre » 09 Oct 2016, 01:43

Hello to all :D; a little more...................................

Hand pumps in the German Army during WWII.

The Heer units had to move regularly during operations with all their equipment. That is the reason for lighter and not so complicated equipment as the Luftwaffe used on their more static airfields. Therefore while the Luftwaffe used the size 4, the Heer had smaller size 2 hand pumps as a standard model in order to pump oil or fuel by hand.

Sources: http://wwiijerrycan.jimdo.com/pol-suppl ... equipment/
http://www.ebay.de/itm/PB259-Sturmpanze ... 1809811963

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
image014.jpg
The crew of this Bison I refueling the vehicle from a drum of 200 l with a hand pump in the winter of 1941-1942 .......................................
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