| Abteilung
| Abt. | Battalion.
A formation containing a number of companies. |
| Ausfuhrung |
Ausf. | Variant
of model of a vehicle. For example, the Tiger 1 tank is officially known as the
Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E and the King Tiger that follows it is known as
the Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B. |
| Balkenkreuz |
- | The
cross painted on German vehicles during World War II. Usually black with white
outline. |
| Bergepanzer |
| Tank
recovery vehicle. |
| Blitzkrieg |
- | Lightning
war. The method of mobile warfare used by the German armed forces at the beginning
of the second World War. |
| Brigade |
- | Brigade.
A formation containing two or more regiments. |
| Division
| - | Division.
A formation containing two or more regiments. |
| Flieger
Abwehr Kanone | FLAK | Anti-aircraft
gun. |
| Flakpanzer |
- | Anti-aircraft
tank. |
| Grenadier |
- | German
term for infantry or rifleman. |
| Gross
Deutschland | GD | Greater
Germany. The name of an elite German army panzergrenadier division. |
| Heer |
- | The
German Army in World War II. |
| Hitlerjugend |
- | Hitler
Youth. The SS Panzer Division of this name consisted mainly of Hitler Youth. |
| Jagd- |
- | German
meaning hunting. A jgdpanzer was a tank hunter or tank destroyer. |
| Kampfgruppe |
- | Battle
group. A task force formed specifically to carry out a mission named after their
commander. For example Kampfgruppen Peiper for the Ardennes offensive.. |
| Kompanie |
- | Company.
A formation containing a number of platoons. |
| Korps |
- | A
formation containing a number of divisions. |
| L/xx |
- | The
Germans during World War II expressed the length of a gun as a multiple of its
Calibre. Calibre is the internal diamension of the gun. For example, 50mm L/60
means the length of the gun was 60 x 50mm=3 metres. |
| Panzer
Abwehr Kanone | PAK | Anti-tank
gun. |
| Panzer
Abteilung | Pz.Abt. | Tank
battalion. |
| Panzerbefehlswagen |
Pz.Bef.Wg. | Command
tank. |
| Panzerfaust |
- | Tank
Fist. A German single shot, anti-tank grenade projector weapon. |
| Panzergrenadiers |
- | Mechanised
or motorised infantry. |
| Panzerjager |
- | Tank
hunter or tank destroyer. |
| Panzerkampfwagen |
PzKpfw | Battle
tank. |
| Panzerkeil |
- | The
wedge formation in which tank attached. |
| Panzerkorps |
- | A
formation containing at least two panzer divisions. |
| Panzer
Lehr | - | A
tank training or demonstration division. |
| Panzerschreck |
- | Tank
Terror. The German version of the American Bazooka anti-tank weapon. It is larger,
more powerful and fired an 88mm hollow charge projectile. |
| Panzerspahwagen |
- | Armoured
reconnaissance vehicles. |
| Panzertruppen |
- | Armoured
troops. |
| Regiment |
- | A
formation containing a number of battalions. |
| Schurzen |
- | Side
skirts added to tanks to protect their tracks. |
| Schwere
Panzer Abteilung | s.Pz.Abt. | Heavy
tank battalion containing Tiger tanks. |
| Schutzstaffel |
SS | Defence
squadron. The Nazi Party's para-military elite led by Himmler. |
| Sonderkraftfahrzeug |
SdKfz | Special
motor vehicle. Every German Army vihicle has its own designated number. For example,
the Panther was SdKfz 171. |
| Sturmeschutz |
StuG | Assault
gun. Self-propelled artillery originally designed for direct fire support for
infantry but also used in an anti-tank role. |
| Totenkopf |
- | Death's
Head. A division of the Waffen-SS. Waffen mean weapons or armed. Waffen SS is
the military arm of the SS. |
| Wehrmacht |
- | The
German armed forces in World War II including Heer (Army), Luftwaffe (Air Force)
and Kriegsmarine (Navy). |
