Vehicle Denominazione

German Wehrmacht until 1945

Kfz.1/20 (l.schwf.Pkw.) VW K2s Typ 166, Schwimmwagen e Kradschützen-Ersatzwagen, a light amphibious car used primarily by recon units. This particular vehicle is currently owned ed operated by a unit britannico who captured it. Standard vehicle denominazioni are required to keep track of the enormous number e variety of veicoli used by the armed forces of any nation. When many different manufacturers produce veicoli for the military, it is important that they follow military specifications exactly o that any commercially available veicoli can be classified accordingly.

Contrary to popular belief, the Wehrmacht was not a highly meccanizzata army. Of the 162 German e Rumanian divisions which participated in the 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union, only 17 were divisioni carri. In the course of the Second World War, the German Wehrmacht increasingly had to rely on confiscated civilian veicoli ed equipaggiamento captured from the enemy. Not surprisingly, the resulting mix of veicoli reached chaotic proportions e the practise of classifying new types was discontinued in 1943. Elite units continued to receive highly sophisticated military equipaggiamento as quickly as the hard-pressed German economy was able to produce it, but many of the second-line formations had to rely on whatever was handed down, captured o could be procured locally.

The Vehicles

• Kfz. 1-10 l.Pkw.
• Kfz. 11-20 m.Pkw.
• Kfz. 21-30 s.Pkw.
• Kfz. 31-40 l.Lkw. o s.Pkw.
• Kfz. 41-50 m.Lkw.
• Kfz. 51-60 s.Lkw.
• Kfz. 61-70 l.gl.Lkw o s.Pkw.
• Kfz. 71-80 m.gl.Lkw o l.gl.Lkw.
• Kfz. 81-90 l.gl.Lkw o s.Pkw.
• Sd.Kfz. 1-100 Special Vehicles
• Sd.Kfz. 101+ Special Vehicles, armoured

Vehicle Types

• Ah. - Anhänger – Trailer
• Aufkl. - Aufklärer – Reconnaissance Vehicle
• ARW - Achtradwagen – veicolo a 8 ruote
• Krad - Kraftrad – motocicletta
• K.Krad - Kettenkraftrad – motocicletta cingolata
• Kfz - Kraftfahrzeug – Motor Vehicle
• Kw - Kraftwagen – Automobile
• Pkw.(o) - Personenkraftwagen – Car
• gl.Pkw. - Personenkraftwagen, geländegängig – Car, off-road
• E.Pkw. - Einheits Personenkraftwagen – Standard (military) Car
• KrKw. - Krankenkraftwagen – Ambulance
• Sankra - Sanitätskraftwagen – Ambulance
• Lkw.(o) - Lastkraftwagen – Truck
• gl.Lkw. - Lastkraftwagen, geländegängig – Truck, off-road
• E.Lkw. - Einheits Lastkraftwagen – Standard (military) Truck
• Gef.Wg. - Gefechtswagen – Combat Supply Carrier
• MTW - Mannschafts-Transportwagen – Personnel Carrier
• Kommandeurwagen – Command Vehicle
• K.Flak - Kraftwagen-Flugabwehrkanone – cannone contraerei motorizzata
• Kom. - Kraftomnibus – Bus
• KP - Kraftprotze – trattore d’artiglieria
• DR - Drehleiter – Rotating Ladder
• LF - Löschfahrzeug – Fire Truck
• KS - Kraftspritze – Fire Engine
• TLF - Tanklöschfahrzeug – Fire Truck con internal Water Tank
• Zgkw. - Zugkraftwagen – Prime Mover
• Schlp. - Schlepper – Tractor
• Rd.Schlp.(o) - Radschlepper (handelsüblich) – commercial trattore ruotato
• RS - Raupenschlepper – Caterpillar Tractor
• RSG - Gebirgsraupenschlepper – Caterpillar Tractor for Mountain Troops
• RSO - Raupenschlepper Ost/Radschlepper Ost – Trattore, cingolato o ruotato
• Kett.Schlp.(o) - Kettenschlepper (handelsüblich) – commercial Caterpillar Tractor
• LWS - leichter Wehrmachtsschlepper – Light (military) Tractor
• SWS - Schwerer Wehrmachtsschlepper – Heavy (military) Tractor
• Sfl. o Sf. - Selbstfahrlafette – Self-propelled Gun Mounting
• Gw. - Geschützwagen – Self-propelled Gun Mounting
• Pz.A. - Panzerartillerie – Armoured Self-propelled artiglieria
• Pz.F. - Panzerfähre – Armoured Amphibious Ferry
• Pz.FlaK. - Panzerflak – cannone contraerei Armoured Self-propelled
• Jgd.Pz. - Jagdpanzer – Tank Destroyer
• Pz.Jg. o Pz.Jäg. - Panzerjäger – Tank Hunter
• Pz.Kpfw. - Panzerkampfwagen – veicolo corazzato da combattimento
• Pz.Spähwg. o Pz.Sp.Wg. - Panzer-Spähwagen – Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle
• Pz.Beob.Wg. - Panzer-Beobachtungswagen – Armoured Observation Vehicle
• Pz.Bef.Wg. o Pz.Bflswg. - Panzer-Befehlswagen – Armoured Command Vehicle
• Mun.Pz - Munitions-Panzerwagen – Armoured Ammunition Carrier
• Schtz.Pz.Wg. o SPW - Schützenpanzerwagen – trasporto truppe corazzato
• Sd.Kfz. - Sonderkraftfahrzeug – Special Motor Vehicle
• Stu.Gesch. o StuG. - Sturmgeschütz – Assault Gun
• StuH. - Sturmhaubitze – Assault Howitzer
• StuK. - Sturmkanone – Assault Gun
• StIG - Sturm-Infanteriegeschütz – Assault cannone da fanteria
• StuPz. - Sturmpanzer – Assault Tank
• Vs.Kfz. - Versuchskraftfahrzeug – Experimental Vehicle

Origin

• (a) - amerikanisch – equipaggiamento americano captured 1942-45
• (e) - englisch – equipaggiamento britannico captured 1940-45
• (f) - französisch – equipaggiamento francese captured, confiscated, e procured 1940-44
• (h) - holländisch – equipaggiamento olandese captured in 1940
• (i) - italienisch – equipaggiamento italiano confiscated, captured, e procured Sept. 1943-45
• (o) - handelsüblich – equipaggiamento commercial, i.e. militarized civilian veicoli
• (p) - polnisch – equipaggiamento polacco captured in 1939
• (r) - russisch – equipaggiamento russo captured 1941-45, probably including Latvian e Estonian 4.7 cm Böhler fanteria guns captured in 1941.
• (t) - tschechisch – equipaggiamento Czech confiscated, e procured 1939-45

Specifications

• kl. - klein – small
• l. o le. - leicht – light
• m. o mittl. - mittel – medium
• s. o schw. - schwer – heavy
• gr. - groß – large

• A - Allrad – all-wheel drive
• Ausf. - Ausführung – Type/Model
• E. o Einh. - Einheits – Standard
• FA - Feldartillerie – artiglieria da campagna
• Fgst. - Fahrgestell – Chassis
• Fe - Fernsprech – Telephone
• FF-Kabel - Feldfernkabel – Field Telegraph Line
• Fu - Funk – Radio
• FuGer - Funkgerät – equipaggiamento radio
• FuSprGer - Funksprechgerät – Walky Talky
• F.T. - Funk/Telegraph – Radio/Telegraph
• R.V. - Richtverbindung – Directional Beam Wireless
• T.F. - Trägerfrequenz – Carrier Frequency
• ve. - vollentstört – interference-free
• gp. o gep. - gepanzert – armoured
• gl. - geländegängig – off-road
• gf. - geländefähig – suitable for off-road
• (H) - Heckmotor – Rear Engine
• Hk - Halbkette – Semicingolato
• K - Kofferaufbau – House Body
• Kleinfunk Kw. – small Radio Vehicle
• mot. - motorisiert – motorizzata
• Nachr.Kw. - Nachrichten Kraftwagen – Signal Vehicle
• n/A - neue Art, neue Ausführung – New Variant
• Messtrupp Kw. (Artillerie) – Registration Vehicle (artiglieria)
• off. - offen – flatbed, con canvas tilt
• Pf. - Pionierfahrzeug – Engineer Vehicle
• Pi. - Pionier – Engineer
• (R) - Raupen – Tracks
• R/R - Räder/Raupenantrieb – ruotato/cingolato
• S - Standard – Standard
• schg. - schienengängig – can be driven on railroads
• schwf. o schf. - schwimmfähig – amphibious
• Tr. - Truppe – Arm of Service
• Tp. - Tropenausführung – Desert Variant
• Vw.Kw. - Vorwarner Kw. (Artillerie) – Forward Observer Vehicle (artiglieria)
• wg. - wassergängig – suitable for water crossing

Armament

• FH - Feldhaubitze – Field Howitzer
• Fl - Flammenwerfer – Flamethrower
• FlaK - Fliegerabwehrkanone – cannone contraerei
• FK - Feldkanone – Field Gun
• Gew - Gewehr – Rifle
• FG42 - Fallschirmjägergewehr – Paratroop Automatic Rifle
• Gr - Granate – Shell/Grenade
• GrW - Granatwerfer – Mortar
• lGrW - leichter Granatwerfer
• mGrW – mittlerer Granatwerfer
• sGrW - schwerer Granatwerfer
• IG - Infanteriegeschütz – cannone da fanteria
• K - Kanone – Cannon
• KwK - Kraftwagenkanone – Tank Gun
• LG - Leichtgeschütz – Recoilless Gun
• sWG - schweres Wurfgerät – Heavy Rocket Launcher
• Kar - Karabiner – Carbine
• MG - Maschinengewehr – mitragliatrice
• FlaMG - Flugabwehr-Maschinengewehr – mitragliatrice contraerei
• lMG - leichtes Maschinengewehr – mitragliatrice leggera
• sMG - schweres Maschinengewehr – mitragliatrice pesante
• SmK - Spitzgeschoss mit Kern – Pointed Bullet con (Steel) Core
• MP - Maschinenpistole – pistola mitragliatrice
• MW - Minenwerfer – Mortar
• NbW - Nebelwerfer – Multiple Rocket Launcher
• PaK - Panzerabwehrkanone – Anti-Tank Gun
• Tak - Tankabwehrkanone – Anti-Tank Gun (pre-war denominazione)
• PWK - Panzerabwehrwurfkanone PWK 8H63 – Anti-Tank Launcher
• PzB - Panzerbüchse – Anti-Tank Rifle
• PzSprgrPatr - Panzer-Sprenggranat-Patrone Armour Piercing High-Explosive Ammo
• PzGr - Panzergranate – Armour Piercing Shell
• PzGrPatr - Panzergranatpatrone – Armour Piercing Ammunition
• RaW - Raketenwerfer – Rocket Launcher
• SprgrPatr - Sprenggranat-Patrone High-Explosive Ammunition
• StG - Sturmgewehr – Assault Rifle
• ZF - Zielfernrohr – Telescopic Sight
• ZG - Zielgerät – Infrared Sight

Units e Organisations

• KG - Kampfgruppe – Combat Command
• Abt. - Abteilung – Detachment
• Aufkl.Abt. - Aufklärungsabteilung – Reconaissance Detachment
• Pz.Abt.300 (FL) - Panzerabteilung 300 Fernlenktruppe – Remote Control Tank Unit
• Artl.B.St. – Artillerie Beobachtungsstelle – artiglieria Observation Position
• Gef.St. - Gefechtsstand – Command Post
• AR – Artillerie-Regiment – reggimento artiglieria
• Frw. - Freiwillige – Volunteer
• Füs.Rgt. - Füsilier-Regiment – reggimento fucilieri
• FP - Feldposten – Picket
• RFP - Reiter-Feldposten – cavalleria Picket
• verst.FP - verstärkter Feldposten (mit MG) – Reinforced Picket (with MG)
• FW - Feldwache (ca. Zugstärke) – Outpost (approx. Platoon)
• Vorp.-Res. - Vorposten-Reserve – Outpost Reserve
• Widerstandslinie – Line of Resistance
• HKL - Hauptkampflinie – Main Defense Line
• HWA - Heereswaffenamt – Army Ordnance Department
• WaPrüf - Waffenprüfamt – Ordnance Testing Department
• Reichspostforschungsanstalt – Postal Research Laboratory
• RLM - Reichsluftfahrtministerium – Air Ministry
• Nachr.Tr. - Nachrichtentruppe – Signal Troops
• Gef.Vorp. - Gefechtsvorposten – Combat Outpost
• Schw.MG - Schweige-MG – mitragliatrice Silent (in ambush position)
• Vw. - Vorwarner (Artillerie) – artiglieria Forward Observer
• Tr. - Trupp(e) – Squad (Truppe = Troop Type)
• Sch.-Tr. - Schützentrupp – Rifle Squad
• Gr. - Gruppe – Section
• Zug – Platoon
• Kp. o Komp. - Compagnia – Company
• Kp.Tr. o Kp.Trupp - Kompanietrupp – Company HQ Section
• Btl. o Batl. – Bataillon – Battalion
• Rgt. o Regt. - Regiment – reggimento
• Inf. - Infanterie – fanteria
• Radf. - Radfahrer – Cyclist
• LwFD - Luftwaffe-Feld-Division – Luftwaffe Fanteria Division until novembre 1943
• FD(L) - Felddivision (Luftwaffe) – Fanteria Division (Luftwaffe) from novembre 1943
• ID - Infanterie-Division – Fanteria Division
• GD - Gebirgs-Division – Mountain Division
• JR - Jäger-Regiment – reggimento fanteria leggera
• Füs.Rgt. - Füsilier-Regiment – reggimento fucilieri
• Pz.Gren.Regt. - Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment – Armoured reggimento fanteria
• Pz.Pi.Btl. - Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon – Armoured Engineer Battalion
• GJR - Gebirgs-Jäger-Regiment – Mountain Regiment
• GArtR - Gebirgs-Artillerie-Regiment – Mountain Artiglieria Regiment
• LwFK - Luftwaffe Feldkorps – Luftwaffe Fanteria Corps
• FJD - Fallschirm-Jäger-Division – Paratroop Division
• FJR - Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment – Paratroop Regiment
• FJStR - Fallschirm-Jäger-Sturmregiment – Paratroop Assault Regiment (1940)
• LLStR - Luftlande-Sturmregiment – Air-Landing Assault Regiment (1941)
• LLD - Luftlande-Division – Air-Landing Division
• FR der Lw. - Feld-Regiment der Luftwaffe – Luftwaffe reggimento fanteria
• PD - Panzer-Division – Armoured Division
• Späher (2 Mann) – Scouts
• Spähtr. - Spähtrupp (Spähtrupp-Führer e 3-6 Men) – Patrol
• verst. - verstärkt – reinforced
• Res. - Reserve – Reserve
• fdl. o feindl. - feindlich – hostile
• zbV - zur besonderen Verwendung – for special action/deployment
• g. - geheim – Secret
• g.Kdos - geheime Kommandosache – Top Secret
• g.RS - geheime Reichssache – State Secret

Other

• kg - Kilogramm
• t o to - Tonne - ton
• Verl.Kl. - Verladeklasse – Vehicle Load Class (for rail transport)
• HM - Heeresmitteilung – Army Communiqué

License Plates

• LC - Legion Condor (Guerra Civile Spagnola, 1936-1939)
• Pol - Polizei – Police
• RW - Reichswehr – German Army before 1935
• WH - Wehrmacht Heer – Army
• WL - Wehrmacht Lufwaffe – Airforce
• WM - Wehrmacht Kriegsmarine – Navy
• OT (later WT) - Organisation Todt
• RAD - Reichsarbeitsdienst (1943-1945)

An enormous variety of veicoli stranieri served nella Wehrmacht, many of them captured during the early campaigns, particularly in Francia, confiscated from civilians o produced in occupied Europe. American sedans e pick-up trucks made by Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, Mercury e Opel (GM) were confiscated in large numbers, they served as troop transports, command, recon e radio veicoli in many theaters of operation. During the North African campaign, Rommel issued a directive that captured autocarri britannici e Canadian were to be used on recon e patrol duty, because they had larger tires than equivalent veicoli della Wehrmacht, e they did not get stuck in the sand as often.

Domande più frequenti

Per ulteriori informazioni, per favore contatta la redazione di Rivista Military Miniatures nel Miniatures Forum.

Soldatini Tedeschi della Seconda Guerra Mondiale

– Pubblicato: 1996 – Aggiornato: 27.10.1997
© 1996-2011 by IDL Software GmbH, Darmstadt, Germania. Tutti diritti reservati.