German Grenadier Battalion, June 1944
Sources
Official Table of Organisation & Equipment following an
appeal on www.feldgrau.net a German Army
research and discussion forum. Cross referenced against the various lists
of the Nafziger Collection, from where the English translations are mostly taken
as my German does not extend beyond words like Panzer and Stuka. I have
now been able to add copies of the original German tables as well, namely Stab
eines Infanteriebataillons (n.A.), Nr 111n, dated 1st December 1943 and
Schutzenkompanie (n.A.), Nr 131n, datum 01.05.44 and schwere Kompanie eines
Jnfanteriebataillons (n.A.), Nr 151n, both
dated 1st May 1944.
Comments
The issue of 12 cm mortars is somewhat vexed, as units in the West seem to have been slower in receiving them than those in the East. Additional 8 cm mortars were substituted in some units as an interim measure.
The German rank structure has always confused me somewhat. Unlike the regulated versions used by the British and United States armies, the Wehrmacht system was very flexible. An officer or NCO of any one of several different grades of rank could occupy a particular position. The below is an extract from a mail sent to my on the subject, my thanks again to the author for providing an explanation.
Battalionskommandeur (Battalion Commander - Captain thru Lieutenant Colonel)
Kompaniechef (Company Commander) Lieutenant or Captain
Zugführer (Platoon commander) Lieutenant
Oberfeldwebel (Master Sergeant) Oberfeldwebel or Stabsfeldwebel
Gruppenführer (Squad Leader) Unteroffizier, Unterfeldwebel or Feldwebel
Mannschaft (Other Ranks)
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