Military abbreviations
German Wehrpass and Soldbuch abbreviations
German military documents from the Second World War contain large numbers of abbreviations. In a Wehrpass or Soldbuch, even a short entry may combine an abbreviated rank, unit, duty position, location and administrative authority.
Some abbreviations were officially prescribed, while others were shortened locally by clerks, medical personnel or unit commanders. The same abbreviation can therefore have different meanings depending on its location and context.
This page provides a practical introduction to commonly encountered abbreviations in German Wehrpässe and Soldbücher. It concentrates mainly on documents of the German Army, or Heer, and is not intended to be exhaustive.
How abbreviations were written
Abbreviations may appear with or without full stops:
- Inf.Rgt. and Inf Rgt both mean Infanterie-Regiment;
- d.R. and d. R. both mean der Reserve;
- Uffz. may also appear as Uffz;
- capitalisation may vary between clerks;
- handwritten abbreviations may omit letters that appear in official printed forms.
A correct interpretation must consider:
- the page on which the abbreviation appears;
- the date of the entry;
- the military branch;
- the surrounding words;
- the unit stamp;
- the rank and known career of the document holder.
An abbreviation should not be expanded from its letters alone when several interpretations are possible.
Understanding unit notation
German units were often written using a combination of Arabic numerals, Roman numerals, full stops and slashes.
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1./Inf.Rgt. 134 | 1st Company of Infantry Regiment 134 |
| 5./G.R. 154 | 5th Company of Grenadier Regiment 154 |
| I./Inf.Rgt. 80 | 1st Battalion of Infantry Regiment 80 |
| II./G.R. 123 | 2nd Battalion of Grenadier Regiment 123 |
| Stab/Inf.Rgt. 80 | Regimental staff of Infantry Regiment 80 |
| Stab I./Inf.Rgt. 80 | Staff of the 1st Battalion of Infantry Regiment 80 |
| 3./Pi.Btl. 34 | 3rd Company of Engineer Battalion 34 |
| 2./Pz.Jg.Abt. 11 | 2nd Company of Panzerjäger Battalion 11 |
Arabic numerals placed before the slash usually indicate a company, battery, squadron or similar subunit. Roman numerals normally indicate a battalion or battalion-sized group.
The meaning of the number depends on the type of formation. For example, an artillery regiment was divided into Abteilungen, while an infantry regiment was normally divided into battalions.
Common rank abbreviations
Enlisted ranks and non-commissioned officers
| Abbreviation | German term | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Schtz. | Schütze | Rifleman or private |
| Gren. | Grenadier | Grenadier or infantry private |
| Jg. | Jäger | Jäger or light-infantry private |
| Kan. | Kanonier | Artilleryman |
| Pz.Schtz. | Panzerschütze | Armoured-troops private |
| Gefr. | Gefreiter | Senior private |
| Ob.Gefr. / O.Gefr. | Obergefreiter | Senior enlisted rank |
| St.Gefr. | Stabsgefreiter | Staff corporal or senior enlisted rank |
| Uffz. | Unteroffizier | Non-commissioned officer |
| Uffz.d.R. | Unteroffizier der Reserve | Reserve Unteroffizier |
| Fw. | Feldwebel | Sergeant-level NCO |
| Ob.Fw. / O.Fw. | Oberfeldwebel | Senior Feldwebel |
| St.Fw. | Stabsfeldwebel | Senior career NCO |
Officer ranks
| Abbreviation | German term | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Fhj. | Fahnenjunker | Officer candidate |
| Fähnr. | Fähnrich | Officer-candidate rank |
| O.A. | Offizieranwärter | Officer candidate |
| R.O.A. | Reserveoffizieranwärter | Reserve officer candidate |
| Lt. | Leutnant | Second lieutenant |
| Lt.d.R. | Leutnant der Reserve | Reserve lieutenant |
| Oblt. | Oberleutnant | First lieutenant |
| Oblt.d.R. | Oberleutnant der Reserve | Reserve Oberleutnant |
| Hptm. | Hauptmann | Captain |
| Hptm.d.R. | Hauptmann der Reserve | Reserve captain |
| Maj. | Major | Major |
| Obstlt. | Oberstleutnant | Lieutenant colonel |
| Obst. | Oberst | Colonel |
Rank and service-status additions
A rank was frequently followed by an abbreviation describing the serviceman's status.
| Abbreviation | German term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| d.R. | der Reserve | Of the Reserve |
| d.L. | der Landwehr | Of the Landwehr |
| z.V. | zur Verfügung | Available for assignment |
| a.D. | außer Dienst | Retired or no longer in active service |
| m.W.v. | mit Wirkung vom | With effect from |
| m.d.F.b. | mit der Führung beauftragt | Temporarily entrusted with command |
| i.V. | in Vertretung | Acting on behalf of, or in substitution |
| i.A. | im Auftrag | By order of |
| gez. | gezeichnet | Signed in the original |
For example:
- Oblt.d.R., m.d.F.b. 5./G.R. 154
means an Oberleutnant of the Reserve who was temporarily entrusted with command of the 5th Company of Grenadier Regiment 154.
Basic unit abbreviations
| Abbreviation | German term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Abt. | Abteilung | Battalion-sized detachment or department |
| Armee | Armee | Army |
| A.K. | Armeekorps | Army corps |
| Btl. | Bataillon | Battalion |
| Div. | Division | Division |
| Gr. | Gruppe | Group; meaning depends on context |
| H.Gr. | Heeresgruppe | Army group |
| Kp. | Kompanie | Company |
| Kdo. | Kommando | Command or detachment |
| Kdr. | Kommandeur | Commander |
| Rgt. | Regiment | Regiment |
| Stab | Stab | Headquarters or staff |
| St.Kp. | Stabskompanie | Headquarters company |
| Tr. | Truppe | Troop or branch; context dependent |
| Zg. / Zug | Zug | Platoon |
| Gruppe | Gruppe | Squad or group |
| Bttr. | Batterie | Artillery battery |
| Schw. | Schwadron | Squadron, usually cavalry or reconnaissance |
Abt. must be interpreted carefully. In an artillery regiment, an Abteilung was broadly comparable to a battalion. In an administrative context, however, it may simply mean a department.
Infantry and Jäger abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Full term |
|---|---|
| Inf. | Infanterie |
| I.R. / Inf.Rgt. | Infanterie-Regiment |
| Inf.Btl. | Infanterie-Bataillon |
| Inf.Ers.Btl. | Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon |
| Inf.Ausb.Btl. | Infanterie-Ausbildungs-Bataillon |
| G.R. / Gren.Rgt. | Grenadier-Regiment |
| Gren.Ers.Btl. | Grenadier-Ersatz-Bataillon |
| Jg. | Jäger |
| Jg.Btl. | Jäger-Bataillon |
| Jg.Rgt. | Jäger-Regiment |
| Geb.Jg. | Gebirgsjäger |
| Geb.Jg.Rgt. | Gebirgsjäger-Regiment |
| Füs. | Füsilier |
| Füs.Btl. | Füsilier-Bataillon |
| Fsch.Jg. | Fallschirmjäger |
The abbreviation Gren. may indicate either the rank Grenadier or the branch designation Grenadier. The position of the abbreviation normally makes the meaning clear.
Artillery abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Full term |
|---|---|
| Art. | Artillerie |
| A.R. / Art.Rgt. | Artillerie-Regiment |
| Art.Abt. | Artillerie-Abteilung |
| Art.Ers.Abt. | Artillerie-Ersatz-Abteilung |
| le.Art.Abt. | leichte Artillerie-Abteilung |
| s.Art.Abt. | schwere Artillerie-Abteilung |
| Beob.Abt. | Beobachtungs-Abteilung |
| St.Gesch.Abt. | Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung |
| Flak | Flugabwehrkanone or Flak artillery |
Armoured and anti-tank units
| Abbreviation | Full term |
|---|---|
| Pz. | Panzer |
| Pz.Rgt. | Panzer-Regiment |
| Pz.Abt. | Panzer-Abteilung |
| Pz.Gren. | Panzergrenadier |
| Pz.Gren.Rgt. | Panzergrenadier-Regiment |
| Pz.Jg. | Panzerjäger |
| Pz.Jg.Abt. | Panzerjäger-Abteilung |
| Pz.Aufkl.Abt. | Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung |
| Pz.Kpfw. | Panzerkampfwagen |
Engineers, signals and reconnaissance
| Abbreviation | Full term |
|---|---|
| Pi. | Pionier |
| Pi.Btl. | Pionier-Bataillon |
| Pi.Ers.Btl. | Pionier-Ersatz-Bataillon |
| Nachr. | Nachrichten |
| Nachr.Abt. | Nachrichten-Abteilung |
| Nachr.Ers.Abt. | Nachrichten-Ersatz-Abteilung |
| Aufkl. | Aufklärung |
| Aufkl.Abt. | Aufklärungs-Abteilung |
| Radf. | Radfahr- |
| Kradschtz. | Kradschützen |
Nachrichten in this context refers to military signals and communications rather than news reporting.
Medical, veterinary and supply formations
| Abbreviation | Full term |
|---|---|
| San. | Sanitäts- |
| San.Kp. | Sanitäts-Kompanie |
| San.Abt. | Sanitäts-Abteilung |
| Krank.Kw.Zg. | Krankenkraftwagenzug |
| Vet. | Veterinär- |
| Vet.Kp. | Veterinär-Kompanie |
| Vers. | Versorgung |
| Vers.Kp. | Versorgungskompanie |
| Nachsch. | Nachschub |
| Nachsch.Kp. | Nachschub-Kompanie |
| Fahr. | Fahr- |
| Kraftf. | Kraftfahr- |
| Kf.Kp. | Kraftfahr-Kompanie |
| Bäck.Kp. | Bäckerei-Kompanie |
| Schlächt.Kp. | Schlächterei-Kompanie |
Replacement and training formations
Replacement-unit abbreviations are especially common in Wehrpässe and Soldbücher.
| Abbreviation | Full term |
|---|---|
| Ers. | Ersatz |
| Ers.Tr.Teil | Ersatztruppenteil |
| Ers.Btl. | Ersatz-Bataillon |
| Ausb. | Ausbildung |
| Ausb.Btl. | Ausbildungs-Bataillon |
| Ers.u.Ausb.Btl. | Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Bataillon |
| Genes.Kp. | Genesenden-Kompanie |
| Marsch.Kp. | Marsch-Kompanie |
| Stamm.Kp. | Stammkompanie |
| Rekr.Kp. | Rekruten-Kompanie |
| O.A.Lehrg. | Offizieranwärter-Lehrgang |
| Uffz.Lehrg. | Unteroffizier-Lehrgang |
A replacement unit recorded in a Soldbuch does not necessarily indicate where the soldier was fighting. The replacement formation often remained responsible for personnel administration while the serviceman was assigned to a field unit.
Construction and labour formations
| Abbreviation | Full term |
|---|---|
| Bau-Btl. | Bau-Bataillon |
| Bau-Ers.Btl. | Bau-Ersatz-Bataillon |
| Bau-Kp. | Bau-Kompanie |
| Eisb.Pi. | Eisenbahn-Pionier |
| Eisb.Pi.Rgt. | Eisenbahn-Pionier-Regiment |
| Br.Bau-Btl. | Brückenbau-Bataillon |
| RAD | Reichsarbeitsdienst |
Administrative abbreviations
| Abbreviation | German term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| W.Nr. / Wehr-Nr. | Wehrnummer | Military registration number |
| W.B.K. | Wehrbezirkskommando | Military district recruiting command |
| W.M.A. | Wehrmeldeamt | Military registration office |
| W.B.O. | Wehrbezirks-Offizier | Military district officer |
| W.K. | Wehrkreis | Military district |
| E.M. / Erk.M. | Erkennungsmarke | Identity disc |
| E.M.-Nr. | Erkennungsmarkennummer | Identity-disc number |
| F.P.N. / Fp.Nr. | Feldpostnummer | Military postal number |
| St.R.Nr. | Stammrollennummer | Personnel-roll number |
| Tr.Teil | Truppenteil | Military unit |
| D.St. | Dienststelle | Military office or duty station |
| Ers.Tr.Teil | Ersatztruppenteil | Replacement unit |
| K.St.N. | Kriegsstärkenachweisung | War-establishment table |
| K.A.N. | Kriegsausrüstungsnachweisung | War-equipment table |
| Mob. | Mobilmachung or mobil | Mobilisation or mobilised |
| Nr. | Nummer | Number |
| Bl. | Blatt | Sheet |
| S. | Seite | Page |
| Anl. | Anlage | Appendix or attachment |
Fitness and reserve classifications
| Abbreviation | German term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| k.v. | kriegsverwendungsfähig | Fit for wartime service |
| g.v.H. | garnisonverwendungsfähig Heimat | Fit for garrison service in the home area |
| a.v. | arbeitsverwendungsfähig | Fit for labour employment |
| u.k. | unabkömmlich | Indispensable in civilian employment |
| z.b.V. | zur besonderen Verwendung | For special employment |
| Landw. | Landwehr | Older reserve category |
| Erg.Res. | Ergänzungsreserve | Supplementary reserve |
| Res. | Reserve | Reserve status |
Fitness terminology and its application changed during the war. A classification should therefore be interpreted together with its date.
Medical and hospital abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Full term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Laz. | Lazarett | Military hospital |
| Feldlaz. | Feldlazarett | Field hospital |
| Kr.Laz. | Kriegslazarett | War-zone hospital |
| Res.Laz. | Reservelazarett | Reserve hospital |
| Ortslaz. | Ortslazarett | Local military hospital |
| H.V.Pl. | Hauptverbandplatz | Main dressing station |
| Tr.Verb.Pl. | Truppenverbandplatz | Unit dressing station |
| San.Kp. | Sanitäts-Kompanie | Medical company |
| verw. | verwundet | Wounded |
| erkr. | erkrankt | Became ill |
| dienstf. | dienstfähig | Fit for duty |
| z.Tr. | zur Truppe | Returned or released to the unit |
| Zahnbeh. | Zahnbehandlung | Dental treatment |
Medical personnel frequently used local or handwritten shorthand. A short medical abbreviation may therefore require comparison with hospital stamps, casualty records and later entries.
Casualty and status abbreviations
| Abbreviation | German term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| gef. | gefallen | Killed in action |
| verm. | vermisst | Missing |
| Kgf. | Kriegsgefangener or Kriegsgefangenschaft | Prisoner of war or captivity |
| verw. | verwundet | Wounded |
| gest. | gestorben | Died |
| gefgt. | gefangen | Captured |
| n.V. | nach Verwundung | Following a wound; context dependent |
The abbreviation gef. must not be confused with Gefr., which means Gefreiter.
Weapons and equipment abbreviations
| Abbreviation | German term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| G.98 | Gewehr 98 | Rifle 98 |
| K.98k / Kar.98k | Karabiner 98 kurz | Karabiner 98k rifle |
| P.08 | Pistole 08 | Luger pistol |
| P.38 | Pistole 38 | Walther P38 pistol |
| M.P. / MP | Maschinenpistole | Submachine gun |
| M.G. / MG | Maschinengewehr | Machine gun |
| le.M.G. | leichtes Maschinengewehr | Light machine gun |
| s.M.G. | schweres Maschinengewehr | Heavy machine gun |
| I.G. | Infanteriegeschütz | Infantry gun |
| le.I.G. | leichtes Infanteriegeschütz | Light infantry gun |
| s.I.G. | schweres Infanteriegeschütz | Heavy infantry gun |
| Pak | Panzerabwehrkanone | Anti-tank gun |
| Kw.K. | Kampfwagenkanone | Tank gun |
| le.F.H. | leichte Feldhaubitze | Light field howitzer |
| s.F.H. | schwere Feldhaubitze | Heavy field howitzer |
| Gr.W. | Granatwerfer | Mortar |
| Pz.Faust | Panzerfaust | Anti-tank weapon |
The same weapon may be written in several ways. For example, K98k, K.98 k, Kar.98k and Karab. 98 k may all refer to the same rifle.
Decorations and awards
| Abbreviation | German term |
|---|---|
| E.K. I | Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse |
| E.K. II | Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse |
| K.V.K. I | Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse |
| K.V.K. II | Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse |
| m.S. | mit Schwertern |
| o.S. | ohne Schwerter |
| Vw.Abz. | Verwundetenabzeichen |
| Vw.Abz. schw. | Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz |
| Vw.Abz. silb. | Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber |
| Vw.Abz. gold | Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold |
| I.A.B. | Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen |
| A.S.A. | Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen |
| Pz.Kpf.Abz. | Panzerkampfabzeichen |
| Ostmed. | Medaille „Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42“ |
| N.K.Sp. | Nahkampfspange |
Award entries may be abbreviated only by the clerk's handwriting. For example, the Infantry Assault Badge may appear as Inf.Sturmabz., Inf.-Sturm-Abz. or simply I.A.B.
Soldbuch-specific administrative terms
The Soldbuch was carried by the serviceman and was used for identification, pay and everyday military administration. Its abbreviations often concern clothing, pay, leave, equipment and medical treatment.
| Abbreviation | German term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| W.Gr. | Wehrsoldgruppe | Military pay group |
| Bes.Gr. | Besoldungsgruppe | Salary group |
| Geb. | Gebührnisse | Pay or financial entitlement |
| Zahlm. | Zahlmeister | Paymaster |
| Zahlst. | Zahlstelle | Pay office |
| Bekl. | Bekleidung | Clothing |
| Ausr. | Ausrüstung | Equipment |
| Verpfl. | Verpflegung | Rations or subsistence |
| Url. | Urlaub | Leave |
| Heim.Url. | Heimaturlaub | Home leave |
| D.U. | Diensturlaub | Official leave; context dependent |
| Marschgeb. | Marschgebührnisse | Travel or marching allowance |
| Vfg. | Verfügung | Order or directive |
Common general abbreviations
| Abbreviation | German term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| u. | und | And |
| od. | oder | Or |
| bzw. | beziehungsweise | Respectively or alternatively |
| einschl. | einschließlich | Including |
| ausschl. | ausschließlich | Excluding or exclusively |
| gem. | gemäß | According to |
| lt. | laut | According to |
| betr. | betreffend | Concerning |
| v. | von | From |
| b. / bis | bis | Until |
| vom | vom | Dated or effective from |
| z. | zum or zur | To or for |
| d. | der, die, das or den | Meaning depends on the sentence |
| Nr. | Nummer | Number |
| usw. | und so weiter | And so forth |
Commonly confused abbreviations
Gef. and Gefr.
- Gef. may mean gefallen, or killed in action.
- Gefr. means Gefreiter, a military rank.
Gr.
Depending on context, Gr. may mean:
- Gruppe;
- Grenadier;
- Granate;
- groß or große;
- a locally shortened unit designation.
Kp. and Kdr.
- Kp. means Kompanie.
- Kp.Fhr. means Kompanieführer.
- Kp.Chef means Kompaniechef.
- Kdr. means Kommandeur.
- Kdo. means Kommando.
Res.
Res. may refer to:
- Reserve;
- Reservelazarett;
- Reserve unit;
- reserve status attached to a rank.
San.
San. normally refers to the medical service, but the complete meaning depends on what follows:
- San.Kp. — Sanitäts-Kompanie;
- San.Abt. — Sanitäts-Abteilung;
- San.Uffz. — Sanitätsunteroffizier;
- San.Ers.Abt. — Sanitäts-Ersatz-Abteilung.
A worked example
The entry:
- 1.3.42 Oblt.d.R., 5./G.R. 154, z.Zt. Res.Laz. München
can be expanded as:
- With effect from 1 March 1942, Oberleutnant der Reserve, 5th Company of Grenadier Regiment 154, at present in the reserve hospital at Munich.
The abbreviation should be broken into separate parts:
| Part | Expansion |
|---|---|
| Oblt. | Oberleutnant |
| d.R. | der Reserve |
| 5./G.R. 154 | 5th Company of Grenadier Regiment 154 |
| z.Zt. | zur Zeit |
| Res.Laz. | Reservelazarett |
Research method
When interpreting an unfamiliar abbreviation:
- transcribe it exactly as written;
- note the page and printed heading;
- identify the date of the entry;
- compare the handwriting with known words elsewhere in the document;
- examine nearby stamps and signatures;
- determine whether the entry concerns a rank, unit, weapon, hospital or administrative office;
- compare the abbreviation with other entries in the same Wehrpass or Soldbuch;
- avoid presenting an uncertain expansion as a confirmed fact.
A unit abbreviation can sometimes be reconstructed through the Feldpostnummer, identity-disc inscription or replacement-unit entry. However, no single entry should automatically be assumed to describe the holder's complete wartime service.
Limitations
There was no single universal form of every abbreviation. Changes in unit names, military branches, clerical habits and wartime conditions produced many variations.
The following should therefore be clearly identified in biographical articles:
- confirmed readings;
- probable readings;
- uncertain readings;
- later corrections;
- entries copied retrospectively;
- differences between the Wehrpass and Soldbuch.
A question mark may be used in a transcription when a letter or word cannot be read with confidence. It is preferable to leave an abbreviation unresolved rather than assign the serviceman to the wrong unit or give him an incorrect rank.
See also
- Wehrpass
- Soldbuch
- Understanding the Wehrpass
- Understanding the Soldbuch
- German military ranks of the Second World War
- German military units
- German military medical terminology
- Research guide
Sources and further reading
- Bundesarchiv, information concerning personal documents of military provenance.
- Contemporary German Wehrpass and Soldbuch forms and instructions.
- Contemporary unit stamps, casualty records and identity-disc registers.
- German Army regulations concerning military abbreviations.
- Surviving Wehrpässe and Soldbücher in the WW2Archive.de collection.
