German Translations for the novice

[mine_field]

I am very new to the game and one of my original complaints was that I couldn't read / figure out what the units were. After some research and an amusing chat with a German-speaking friend, we found some good resources for German military phrase translations. The amusing part comes when you find out that a type of anti-aircraft translates into "furniture van" or when you look up what an abbreviation means and you get the German phrase, "Gepanzerter Selbstfahrlafette für Sturmgeschütz 7.5 cm Kanone Ausf A" (StuG Aus A).

I have listed the most useful ones and then linked to two glossaries at the end.

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• (Ausf.) Ausführung -> Model as in the type or version. Came after the name as Aus A, Aus B, etc.
• Fallschirm -> parachute. Seen as a prefix for the German airborne troops.
• (FlaK) Fliegerabwehrkanone -> This one has entered into modern American warfare terminology, so most people know it is anti-aircraft. My friend translated it roughly as flier interceptor/strike back gun. The K is sometimes seen capitalized because Kanone is sometimes capitalized.
• Flammenwerfer ->Flamethrower (werfer is thrower or launcher roughly)
• Gepanzert -> Armoured
• Geschütz -> Gun
• (Kw.K.) Kampfwagenkanone -> Tank gun
• PaK (Panzer abwehr Kanone) -> Anti-Tank Gun
• Panzer -> armor (originally from old or middle French I believe), almost exclusively means tank
• (Pz.Jäg.) Panzerjäger or Jagdpanzer (also Jagdtiger) ->Tank destroyer
• (PzKpwf or PzKpw) Panzerkampfwagen -> Battle tanks, literally armored fighting vehicle
• (S.Ig) Schweres Infanteriegeschütz -> Heavy infantry gun
• (SPW) Schützenpanzerwagen -> Armored personnel carrier
• (SdKfz) Sonderkraftfahrzeug -> Special motor vehicle
• (SS) Schutzstaffel -> Protection squadron (elite troops)
• (StuG) Sturmgeschütz -> Assault Gun
• (StuH) Sturmhaubitze -> Assault Howitzer

Note about SdKfz: Sd.Kfz. is the abbrevation for Sonderkraftfahrzeug, which is German for special purpose vehicle. This number was given to almost all army vehicles (except conventional trucks, motorcycles and cars, but including Panzers) to assist the army when organising and issuing vehicles.

Note about PzKpwf: 'Pz.Kpfw.' is the abbrevation for Panzerkampfwagen, which us often also written as 'Panzer' (even though Panzer actually just means 'armour'). Panzerkampfwagen is the German word for tank, and was placed in front of the model number in Roman numbers, e.g. Pz.Kpfw. IV.
Panther, Tiger and Tiger II can be placed in front of Pz.Kpfw. without their model designation, respectively V and VI - the latter for both the Tiger and Tiger II.
The numbers range from I to VIII, not including Pz.Kpfw. VII 'Löwe', which was meant to replace the Tiger II but was never produced as the Pz.Kpfw. VIII 'Maus' replaced the 'Löwe' before production could be initiated. The numbers of the models didn't have a direct connection with when the different Panzers were produced, i.e. the Panther came after the Tiger, even though its number was V and the Tigers was VI.

Note about StuH and sIG: (Sturmgeschütz or Sturminfanteriegeschütz) -> Assault gun
The StuG was originally meant as a weapon to support the infantry when attacking fortified positions. Later, they were used to a wide extent as Panzerjägere. They had, like the Panzerjägere, no turret.

A little English help:
APCR -> Armour Piercing, Composite, Rigid
HEAT -> High Explosive, Anti Tank

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German Glossary I
German Glossary II
Both of these are worth looking around if you want to know more about German military equipment.

I don't intend to be an expert and this is coming from a monolingual American attempting to stretch his vocab. Sorry if I have posted something incorrect, spelled incorrectly (I'm not about to run this through a spell checker), or otherwise stepped on toes.

For an exercise, try to guess what these German units translate as (all animal names)
grille, wespe, brummbär, hummel, and elefant (lol had to put that one in there).

[stevemk1a]

I'm not sure on most of your post, but the AA unit in question Mobelwagen (sp?) was given it's nickname because it looked like a furniture movng van! Picture a big box on treads.

I'll try to find a link ... [:)

http://www.achtungpanzer.com/mobel.htm]

[mine_field]

Yes, I was referring to the Mobelwagen. I guess I left that out.
Err, when you say you aren't sure about most my post, I hope I haven't posted a bunch of stuff that is inaccurate. Good pic of that furniture van. Those sides fold up by the way. Of course, I wouldn't want that furniture delivered to my house. Especially since a lot of us use AA as anti-infantry weapons.

Haha, in that picture the German looks like he is lifting weights with that PanzerSchrek (armor fear / scare?) / PanzerFaust (armor fist / thump). Working on those biceps while the other guys move the furniture I guess.


edit reason: I always edit for spelling / grammar / lack of words like 'us' or minor updates at the bottom. Changes in content or opinion are in new posts. Also added that picture in last edit. Tell me if I should take it out. Don't know BB code to resize it.

[KG Erwin]

German terminology for their weapons/units is a fascinating subject--you have the Wespe( wasp) Hornisse (hornet) , Brummbaer (bumblebee) and many other designations that sound ominous to English-speaking ears but not so intimidating when translated. Another example could be the Aufklarungsabteilung, which is a reconnaissance unit, albeit heavily armed in the latter stages of the war.

[mine_field]

Wespe is correct, hornet is correct, but you confuse brummbar (grizzly bear) with hummel (bumble bee).
No doubt you had read up on the translations before but you just transposed in your mind because of the BB and BB in the names.

My German speaking friend made the same comment to me about the ominous sound. He mentioned how just saying the words sounded fearful. But you are right in saying some of them are very misleading.

Another one I like is funk, which is radio.

"Cut on the funk, I need artillery."

edit: I wasn't aware of hornet earlier. You taught that one to me.

[stevemk1a]

I believe the guy in the pic is actually holding a stereoscopic rangefinder rather than a panzershreck! I can see such an instrument being useful for artillery or such .... but why for an AA unit? One would think that aircraft move too quickly for such a device to be of any use ... [&:]

[KG Erwin]

ORIGINAL: mine_field

Wespe is correct, hornet is correct, but you confuse brummbar (grizzly bear) with hummel (bumble bee).
No doubt you had read up on the translations before but you just transposed in your mind because of the BB and BB in the names.

My German speaking friend made the same comment to me about the ominous sound. He mentioned how just saying the words sounded fearful. But you are right in saying some of them are very misleading.

Another one I like is funk, which is radio.

"Cut on the funk, I need artillery."

edit: I wasn't aware of hornet earlier. You taught that one to me.

Oops, my fault on the Brummbaer. Thanks for correcting me. German is just one of those languages that lends itself to commands and military terminology. My knowledge of the language is limited, but if someone said, "Wir gehen auf das Kino!" your automatic response would be to be taken aback or put your hands up! The actual line is " We're going to the movie theater!" [:D]

[mine_field]

I can't sleep so I'll post some more.
Erwin,
You certainly are right about the language. Each language seems to have its sound in the orchestra of human speech, and German is a very staccato, harsh, drumming language with its bold k's, ch's, etc.
Not sure what you called me in that quote [:)], but it shows your knowledge of the language is better than mine.

For the rest of you, grille is cricket.

In regards to the picture, willy, your observation makes 100 times more sense than mine. No; wait, I see what really is going on.
That is a giant, rigid sub (hero) sandwich container and he is taking his first bite right out of the middle.
No wait, it's some kind of double ended wind instrument and he is playing the secret German melody to call the AA from within its cozy furniture van nest.
Ok my humor is out there. I'm sure this picture could go for one of those, "create a funny caption" contests though.

Maybe he is using that range finder (if that is what it is) to see how high he is.

[robot]

Du haben blau oken loosely translated you have blue eyes. Also spelling may be wrong. Was in germany for a few yrs way back in the 40s. And as i habve stated several times. Memory is a tough thing to lose. Mire stuephen i think means lazy bones something my sgt called me a lot.

[kensey]

I am german, never heard of

Mire stuephen

I guess your german must be better than mine [:)]

[robot]

Proably not. Dont remember too much about it been almost 55 yrs ago. That just sticks in my mind is all.

[KG Erwin]

I think it's wonderful that we try to communicate in each others' languages. This is an international community, so kudos to those of you that try. It's funny , though, in how we mangle each others' attempts in writing our thoughts.

Ich spreche Deutsches, um miltary Terminologie nur zu übersetzen. Mein Unterhaltungsdeutsch ist sehr begrenzt.

The truth is, I use an online translator. This is a wonderful tool, but it has its limits.
Nevertheless, it benefits a multilingual community.

Here is the link I use :
http://www.worldlingo.com/products_serv ... lator.html

[kensey]

Maybe you have been to north germany. In the 40s they
were mostly speaking a dialect called 'Plattdeutsch'
which more resembles the language today spoken in
the netherlands than the common german.

To keep up with the development of the german language is
extremely difficult. When Mark Twain was once travelling to
germany he was told that it would be a great idea to put his
german into a museum (see link below) [:)]

http://www.crossmyt.com/hc/linghebr/awfgrmlg.html

[Frank W.]

yes, we have quite much dialects in germany.

quite different sounding form north to south.

but also in some parts single cities or
landscapes have their own dialect.

in siegen we have a dialect called "siegener platt"

but it´s spoken mostly by older people.

but i think that´s in other countries the
same: i remember a trip to GB, i spoke
to ppl. in south - east england ( around
ramsgate,margate ) and could quite good
understand them, but i also met a girl
there that was from birmingham ( or liverpool? )
which english sounded quite different and
was more difficult for me to understand..

[Svennemir]

Deutsch ist wirklich lustig zu sprechen, doch kann es etwas schwierig sein. Nur langweilig die Grammatik zu lernen.

Eigentlich sollte ich etwas wichtiges machen...

[Rune Iversen]

ORIGINAL: Svennemir

Deutsch ist wirklich lustig zu sprechen, doch kann es etwas schwierig sein. Nur langweilig die Grammatik zu lernen.

Eigentlich sollte ich etwas wichtiges machen...

Du auch[;)]