german positions

[panzerfist]

this has nothing to do with spwaw, but i know this is a very active and smart board so...
i am looking for information regarding german titles like, what would a squad leader be called, a platoon sgt and so on or a place where i can find this information. i am kind of under the impression that these titles were not used and it was kept to ranks, but im not sure.
thanks
p/f/

[Voriax]

Hello

I think you'll find what you need from:http://www.feldgrau.com/ranks.html

And that site is pretty incredible and well worth exploring further.

Voriax

[panzerfist]

ive been there a lot and have seen the ranks, but im wondering if there are specific titles that squad leaders or platoon leaders went by.
thanks

[jwelch]

I think the terms you are looking for are "gruppenfuhrer" and "zugfuhrer." A gruppenfuhrer was a squad leader and zugfuhrer was a platoon leader coming from gruppe (squad) and zug (platoon) in German. However, in the Heer (Army) it was customary to refer to these people as "Herr [insert rank.]" That is, you might have Oberfeldwebel Steiner who was a zugfuhrer, but the men in his platoon would commonly refer to him as "herr oberfeldwebel" while they understood he was their "zugfuhrer."
To complicate things, I think the SS commonly referred to men by rank and then last name, meaning that in the SS the men would say "Hallo, Oberfeldwebel Steiner." Or, something like that.

[Larry Holt]

It is also customary to address a Oberfeldwebel as Oberfeld, at least it was when I was there in 1980's.

[Arralen]

Originally posted by Larry Holt:
It is also customary to address a Oberfeldwebel as Oberfeld, at least it was when I was there in 1980's.

Inofficial 'nickname'. You shouldn't have done that in the SS unless you wanted some real trouble

A.

[murx]

In the SS it would be more like 'Herr Sturmbannfuehrer' or 'Obersturmbannfuehrer', and no it was not a problem if one call him 'Herr Obersturm' - aslong as he is not a complete incapable blockhead and this only happens during 'hot' times - in combat, or the other 'hot' times - like in a French bar with some good looking ... but probably not back in some parade ground ...

murx

[Jacc]

... but it wasn't necessary to add "Herr" when talking to higher officers etc. Nicht "Herr Sturmoberst" (oder etwas), nur "Sturmoberst Porsch".

[murx]

James, right, in combat the 'Herr' would be dropped - but not as often as one would think, cause it would distract the speaking rythm so most of the time one would use it even in combat. Whereas the 'short form' of a rank would ehnace the sound or rythm of speaking. But that are small diferences in languages that aren't easily understood in a different language.
The shortform of seargent 'sarge' doesn't exist or better would not be used. The only 'short form' is the official abbrevation 'Uffz' - but is not used in talking cause there is a mean joke: What is the sound a pig makes when it runs against a wall ? 'Uffz' And what if he done it twice ? 'StUffz' (Stabsunteroffizier).

murx