Image: German Flag (2K)

Germany's Glossary

As with any translation of a language into another language, it can never be exact. But hopefully these are pretty close. You won't find all these phrases used in this web site, but you might run across them in reading.3

German Word / Phrase Abbreviation English Translation
Abteilung3,4,6 Abt3 Battalion in size with artillery.4
Company to regiment in size with other arms.4
Detachment, battalion.3,6
Armee6   Army6
Armeegruppe6   Army Group6
Aufklärungs3 Aufkl3 Reconnaissance3
Auftrag4   A mission.4
Ausbildung3,4   Training3,4
Ausführung1,5 Ausf1,3,5 A different model or mark of a vehicle.1,5 Variant.3,5
Bataillonführerswagen   Battalion commander's vehicle
Bataillon3, Bataillone6 Btl3, Batl3 Battalion3, Battalions6
Batterie3 Bt3, Bttr3 Battery3
Befelswagen5 Bef.Wg.5 Command vehicle5
Beobachtung3, Beobachtungswagen5 Beob. Wg.5 Observation.3,5
Bergepanzer5   Armored recovery vehicle.5
Betriebsstoff3   Fuel, Gasoline.3
Brigaden6   Brigade6
Brukenleger   Bridgelayer
Brücken Kolonne3 Brüko3 Bridging column.3
Deutsche5 (d)5 German.5
Dienst3   Service3
Divisionen6   Division6
Divisions Nachschub Führer3 DiNaFü3 Divisional commander of supply units.3
Divisions Verpflegungsamt3 DVA3 Divisional food supply office.3
Druckerei3   Printing3
Durchbruchswagen   Breakthrough vehicle
Einheitwaffentrager   Weapons Carrier
Eisenbahnlafette4   A railway mounting for heavy artillery piece.4
Ergänzung3 Ergz3 Support.3
Ersatz3,4   Replacement.3,4
Ersatzheer3   Replacement army.3
Ersatzteil3   Spare part.3
Fahrgestell1,5 Fgst5 Chassis.1,5
Feld3   Field.3
Feldersatz3   Field replacement.3
Feldgendarmerie3   Military police.3
Feldhaubitze3,5 FH3, F.H.5 Field howitzer.3,5
Feldheer6   Field Army6
Feldlazarett3   Field hospital.3
Feldpost3   Field post.3
Fernsprech3 Fsp3 Telephone.3
Flak4   Fliegerabwehrkanon anti-aircraft gun or anti-aircraft fire.4
Flakartillerie3   Anti-aircraft artillery.3
Flakpanzer   Anti-aircraft tank
Flammenwerfer3 Fl3, Flamm3 Flame thrower.3
Fleiger Abwerh3 Fla3 Army anti-aircraft unit.3
Flieger Abwehr Kanone3, Fliegerabwehrkanone5 FlaK, Flak2,3,5 Anti-aircraft artillery.3 Anti-aircraft gun.2,5
Französische5 (f)5 French5
Fu Ger2   Radio set2
Fu Spr Ger2   Radiotelephone2
Funk3,5 Fu5 Radio3,5
Funklenkpanzer   Radio controlled tank
Funktrupp3   Radio section.3
Funkwagen   Wireless tank or cars
Gepanzert3,5, Gepanzerter5 Gep3,5, Gp5 Armored.3,5
Geschütz3   Gun.3
Geschützstaffel3   Gun section, artillery.3
Geschützwagen5 Gw5 Self propelled gun.5
Gewehr3   Rifle.3
Gruppe3,6   Group.3,6 Corps level.3
Granatenwerfer3,5 GrW3 , Gr.W.5 Mortar.3,5
Halb Ketten5 H.K.5 Half track research vehicle.5
Halb Zug6   Half platoon6
Haubitze3   Howitzer.3
Heer3 H3 Army.3
Heeresgruppe3,6 HGr3 Army group.3,6
Heeres Flak Abteilung3 H-Flak Abt3 Army anti-aircraft unit.3
Hilfswillige3 Hiwi3 Auxiliary volunteers.3
Hohlgranate1, Hohlraumgranate1, Hohlraummunition1, HL1   HEAT1, High Explosive Anti-Tank round1
Horchkompanie4   A wireless intercept company.4
Infanterie Division3 ID3 Infantry division.3
Infanterie Geschütz3, Infanteriegeschütz5 IG3, I.G.5 Infantry gun.3,5
Infanterie Regiment3 IR3 Infantry regiment.3
Instandsetzung3 Inst3 Maintenance.3
Jagdpanzer5 Jgd.Pz.5 Tank destroyer5
Kampfgruppe3,6 KG3, KGr3 Battle group3,6
Kampfwagenkanone1,4,5, Kampfwagen Kanone3 Kw.K.1, KwK3,5 Tank gun.1,3,4,5
Kanone3,5 K5 Gun.3,5
Kartenstelle3   Mapping detachment.3
Klein5, Kleiner5 kl.5 Small.5
Kolonne3 Kol3 Column3
Kommandeur3, Kommandant3 Kdr3, Kdt3 Commander.3
Kommandeur Divisions3 KoDiNa3 Commander of division supply troops.3
Kommando3   Divisional headquarters.3
Kompanie3,6 Kp3, Komp3 Company.3,6
Korps6   Corps6
Krad2   Motorcycle2
Kradmelder3 Kradm3 Messenger.3
Kradschützen3 K3 Motorcycle infantry.3
Kraftfahr3, Kraftfahzeug3,5 Kfz3,5 Vehicle.3,5
Kraftfahrpark3   Vehicle park.3
Kraftwagen3,5 Kw3,5, Kraftwg.5 Motor vehicle.3,5
Krankenkraftwagen3   Ambulance.3
Kriegsstärke Nachweisung3 KStN3 War establishment chart.3
Kurz3 K3 Tank gun.3
Landwirtschaftliche Schlepper1 LaS1 Farm tractor1
Landungsboot3   Assault boat.3
Lang3, Länge5 L3,5 Long tank gun.3 Calibre.5
Lehr3   Demonstration.3
Lehrbatallion4   Demonstration batallion.4
Leicht3,5, Leichter5 L3, Le3,5 Light.3,5
Leichte Divisionen6   Light division6
Leichtemaschinengewehr4   Light machine gun.4
le FH2   Light field howitzer2
le FK2   Light field cannon2
l. F. H.2   Light field howitzer2
le. I. G.2   Light infantry gun2
le. W. S.2   Light army tractor2
l. I. G.2   Light infantry gun2
Lkw2   Truck2
Luftwaffefelddivision4   Luftwaffe personnel that were converted into an infantry division to fight.4
Mannschafts Transport Wagen3, Mannschaftstransportwagen5 MTW3,5 Armored personnel carrier.3,5
Maschinengewehr3,5 MG3,5 Machine gun.3,5
Minenräumpanzer   Mine clearing tank
Mittler3, Mittlerer5 m5 Medium.3,5
Mörser5 Mrs.5 Mortar.5
Motorisiert3 Mot3 Motorized.3
Motorisierte Selbsfahrlafette3 Mot S3 Self propelled.3
Motorisierter Zugkraftwagen3 Mot Z3 Motorized, towed by a vehicle.3
Nachrichten3 Nachr3 Communication.3
Nachschub3   Supply.3
Nebelwerfer3,4,5 Nb3, Nb.W.5 Rocket launcher.3,4 Smoke grenade launcher.5
Oberkommando der Luftwaffe4 OKL4 Air Force high command.4
Oberkommando der Marine4 OKM4 Navy high command.4
Oberkommando der Wehrmacht4 OKW4 Armed Forces high command.4
Oberkommando des Heeres3 OKH3 Army high command.3
Panzer Abwehr Kanone3, Panzerabwerhkanone4,5 Pak5, PaK2, PAK3,4 Anti-tank gun.2,3,5
Panzer1,3 Pz3 Tank or armor.1,3
Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung3 PzAufklAbt3 Armored reconnaissance unit.3
Panzer-Abteilung1,6   Armored battalion1,6
Panzer Division3, Panzer Divisionen6 PzDiv3 Armored division3,6
Panzer Regiment3 PzRgt3 Armored regiment.3
Panzerbefehlswagen2,3 PzBefh3, Pz. Bef. Wg.2 Armored command vehicles.2 Command tank.3
Panzerbeobachtungswagen   Armored OP tank
Panzerbergzug4   Tank recovery platoon.4
Panzer Brigaden6   Panzer brigade6
Panzerbüchse3,4,5 PzB3, Pz.B.5 Anti tank rifle.3,4
Panzergranate1 PzGr1 Armor piercing (AP) round1
Panzergrenadier3,4 PzG3, PzGren3 Armored infantry.3 Starting on July 5, 1942 all Schützen were called this.3 The infantry in a Panzer or Panzergrenadier Division.4
Panzergruppe3   Panzer group, similar in size to an army.3
Panzerhaubitze3   Armored howitzer.3
Panzerjäger2,3 PzJäg3, Pz. Jg.2 Tank destroyer.2 Anti tank.3
Panzerjägerkanone5 Pjk.5 The anti-tank gun mounted in a Panzerjäger.5
Panzerkampfwagen1,3,4,5 PzKpfw1,3,5, PzKw4 Battle tanks. Tank, armored fighting vehicles.1,3,4 Tank.5
Panzerkastenoberteil1   Superstructure.1
Panzerkorp3, Panzer Korps3   Armored corps.3
Panzerkraftwagen5 Pz.Kw.5 Armored car from World War I.5
Panzerspäh3, Panzer Späh3, Panzerspähwagen5 PzSpah3, Pz Spw.5 Armored car.3,5
Panzer Regimenter6   Armored regiments6
Panzer Verbande6   Armored Formation6
Panzerwaffe3   Tank arm of the military.3
Patrone4   Artillery projectile.4
Pionier3 Pi3, Pion3 Engineer, sapper.3
Russische5 (r)5 Russian.5
Räumschaufepanzer   Dozer tanks
Regiment3, Regimenter6 Rgt3 Regiment3, Regiments6
Reichsarbeitsdienst4 RAD4 National labor service.4
Rueckstossfrei4   Recoiless4
Rückwartige Dienst3   Rear area units.3
Sanitäts3   Medical.3
Schlachterei3   Butcher.3
Schützen3 Schtz3 Light motorized infantry.3
Schützen Regiment3 SR3 Motorized infantry regiment.3
Schützenpanzerwagen2,4,5 SPW2,4,5 Armored personnel carrier2,5
Schwer3,5 S3,5, schw3 Heavy.3,5
Schwere Infanterie3 SIG3 Heavy infantry gun.3
Schweremaschinengewehr4 SMG4 Heavy machine gun.4
Selbstfahrlafette3,5 sfl3, Sf.5 Self propelled mount.3,5
Sonderkraftfahrzeug1,5 , Sonder Kraftfahrzeug3 SdKfz1,3,5 Special motor vehicle.1,3,5
Sprenggranate1 SprGr1 High explosive (HE) round1
Stab3 St3 Headquarters staff.3
Staffel3   Squadron.3
Sturm3 St3 Assault.3
Sturmkanone4   Assault gun with long barrel.4
Sturmgeschütz2,4,5 StuG2, Stu.G.5 Assault gun2,5
Assault gun with short barrel.4
Sturmhaubitze2, Sturmpanzerhaubitze5 StuH2, Stu.H.5 Assault howitzer2,5
Sturmpanzerkanone5 StuK2, Stu.K.5 Assault gun2,5
Tauch Panzer3   Submersible tank.3
Tornister3   Pack.3
Tross3   Train.3
Trupp3,6 Tr3 Section3, Troop6
tschechisch3, tschechoslowakische5 (t)3,5 Czech3,5
Turm1   Turret.1
Übung4   Military exercise.4
Vermessung3 Verm3 Survey.3
Verplegung3 Verpfl3 Administrative.3
Versorgungsdienst3   Supply service.3
Versorgungstruppe3   Supply units.3
Verstärkte4   Infantry regiment reinforced to be strength of brigade.4
Verwaltung3 Verw3 Administration.3
Vierling5   Quadruple5
Voll Ketten5, Versuchkonstruktion5 V.K.5 Fully tracked motor vehicle.5
Volksstrurm4   Civilians raised to fight towards end of World War II.4
Vorausabteilung3   Advanced detachment.3
Waffenamt1   Ordnance department1
Waffenträger5   Weapon carrier5
Wagen5 Wg.5 Vehicle5
Wehrkreis3,4   Military district.3,4
Werkstatt3 Werkst3 Workshop.3
Wurfrahmen3   Rocket launcher frame.3
Zitadelle3   The plan for the attack at Kursk in July 1943.3
Zug3,4,6   Platoon.3,4,6
Train.4
Tractor.4
Zugführerwagen ZW Platoon leader's vehicle
zur besonderen Verwendung3 zbV3 For special purposes.3
Zwilling5   Dual.5

Sources:

  1. Panzers At War, Michael and Gladys Green, 2005
  2. Special Panzer Variants, Development, Production, Operations, Walter J. Spielberger, Hillary L. Doyle, 2007
  3. Panzer Divisions: The Eastern Front 1941-43, Peir Paolo Battistelli, 2008
  4. German Army Handbook 1939 - 1945, James Lucas, 1998
  5. German Tanks and Armoured Vehicles 1914 - 1945, B. T. White, 1966
  6. World War II Data Book The Wehrmacht 1935-1945 The Essential Facts and Figures for Hitler's Germany, Michael E. Haskew, 2011