THE ORDER THE ORDER OF THINGSOF THINGSMILITARY COMMAND MILITARY COMMAND

STRUCTURE & STRUCTURE & WORDS YOU NEED TO WORDS YOU NEED TO

SURVIVE THE WARSURVIVE THE WAR

GERMAN WEHRMACHTGERMAN WEHRMACHT The ARMY=The ARMY=DAS HEERDAS HEER The NAVY= The NAVY= KRIEGSMARINEKRIEGSMARINE The AIR FORCE= The AIR FORCE= LUFTWAFFELUFTWAFFE

•WAFFEN-WAFFEN-SSSS ("armed SS") ("armed SS") and STURMABTEILUNG (SA) and STURMABTEILUNG (SA) units occasionally addedunits occasionally added

WEHRMACHTWEHRMACHT THEIR THEIR

COMMAND COMMAND STRUCTURE STRUCTURE WAS A MAJOR WAS A MAJOR FACTOR IN FACTOR IN THEIR THEIR SUCCESSSUCCESS

HITLER-HITLER-SUPREME SUPREME COMMANDERCOMMANDER

MARSHALL VON MARSHALL VON BRAUHITSCH-BRAUHITSCH-COMMANDER COMMANDER AND CHIEF OF AND CHIEF OF THE ARMY HIGH THE ARMY HIGH COMMANDCOMMAND

OKHOKH THREE ARMY THREE ARMY

GROUPS:GROUPS:• GROUP A-GROUP A-

RUNDSTEDTRUNDSTEDT• GROUP B- GROUP B-

BOCKBOCK• GROUP C-LEEBGROUP C-LEEB

LUFTWAFFELUFTWAFFE

(OKL)(OKL)

NAVYNAVY (OKM)(OKM)

BASCIALLY BASCIALLY THE SAME THE SAME

SET UPSET UP

THE ALLIES LACKED THE ALLIES LACKED COORDINATED COORDINATED

COMMAND COMMAND STRUCTURESTRUCTURE

EACH NATION EARLY IN EACH NATION EARLY IN THE WAR ACTED AS THE WAR ACTED AS

AN INDIVIDUALAN INDIVIDUAL

GERMAN MILITARY GERMAN MILITARY JARGONJARGON

AbteilungAbteilung (Abt.) (Abt.) -- detachment, -- detachment, section, section, battalion battalion

Alte HasenAlte Hasen -- -- Old Old hareshares; military ; military veterans who veterans who survived front-survived front-line hardshipsline hardships

AmiAmi -- slang for -- slang for an American an American Soldier Soldier

Armeekorps Armeekorps -- -- infantry corps infantry corps

AufklärungAufklärung -- --reconnaissancereconnaissance

Armeeoberkommando– Field Army Command

BlitzkriegBlitzkrieg -- -- lightning warlightning war• Erwin RommelErwin Rommel, ,

Heinz Heinz GuderianGuderian, , and and Erich von Erich von MansteinManstein

DeutschesDeutsches AfrikaAfrika KorpsKorps (DAK) (DAK) -- -- troops sent to troops sent to North AfricaNorth Africa under under the command of the command of Erwin RommelErwin Rommel

Eagle's NestEagle's Nest -- -- name given to name given to Hitler's mountain-Hitler's mountain-top home at top home at BerchtesgadenBerchtesgaden in in the the BavarianBavarian Alps Alps

EinheitEinheit -- -- detachment or detachment or unit unit

EinsatzEinsatz -- duty, -- duty, missionmission

EinsatzgruppenEinsatzgruppen -- battalion-sized, -- battalion-sized, mobile killing unitsmobile killing units

Enigma Enigma -- German -- German message encryption message encryption equipment. equipment.

FallschirmjägerFallschirmjäger -- -- paratroopersparatroopers; German ; German airborne troops airborne troops

FlaKFlaK ----air defense gunair defense gun

GestapoGestapo-- -- Geheime Geheime StaatspolizeiStaatspolizei, , secret secret state policestate police

GranatwerferGranatwerfer -- -- grenade throwergrenade thrower; ; mortar mortar

GrenadierGrenadier -- -- traditional term for traditional term for heavy infantry heavy infantry

IvanIvan -- German -- German slang for a Soviet slang for a Soviet soldier soldier

KampfgeistKampfgeist -- fighting spirit -- fighting spirit

Krieg-Krieg- -- wartime-, war -- wartime-, war MannschaftenMannschaften -- enlisted personnel -- enlisted personnel Oberbefehlshaber des HeeresOberbefehlshaber des Heeres (Ob.d.H.) -- (Ob.d.H.) --

Commander-in-Chief of the Army. Commander-in-Chief of the Army. OberkommandoOberkommando des des HeeresHeeres (OKH) -- Army (OKH) -- Army

High Command; Army General Staff. High Command; Army General Staff. OberkommandoOberkommando derder KriegsmarineKriegsmarine -- Navy -- Navy

High Command High Command OberkommandoOberkommando derder Luftwaffe Luftwaffe -- Supreme -- Supreme

Command of the Air Force Command of the Air Force OberkommandoOberkommando derder WehrmachtWehrmacht -- Armed -- Armed

Forces High Command Forces High Command

Allied WAR Allied WAR

termsterms

AA---Anti-AircraftAA---Anti-Aircraft AAC (Army Air AAC (Army Air

Corps)--Corps)-- name of name of the aviation the aviation branch of the U.S. branch of the U.S. Army until June Army until June 20, 1941 when it 20, 1941 when it was changed to was changed to AAFAAF

AbwehrAbwehr----intelligence and intelligence and counter-espionage counter-espionage service of the service of the German High German High CommandCommand

AceAce--a pilot who --a pilot who has shot down five has shot down five aircraft aircraft

AFVAFV--(Armored --(Armored Fighting Vehicle)Fighting Vehicle)

Anti-personnelAnti-personnel----designed to designed to primarily kill/wound primarily kill/wound peoplepeople

Amphibious ships—Amphibious ships—specialized ships specialized ships for amphibious for amphibious landings and landings and supporting troops supporting troops on hostile beacheson hostile beaches

AnzacAnzac--Australian --Australian and New Zealand and New Zealand Army CorpsArmy Corps

BangaloresBangalores -a -a metal tube packed metal tube packed with high with high explosives, used by explosives, used by the Allies for the Allies for cutting through cutting through barbed wire, barbed wire, blowing up railway blowing up railway tracks, detonating tracks, detonating buried mines, and buried mines, and as an element in as an element in booby traps.booby traps.

banzai attackbanzai attack-a -a wild suicide charge wild suicide charge conducted by conducted by Japanese troopsJapanese troops

BarrageBarrage--Fire which --Fire which is designed to fill a is designed to fill a volume of space or volume of space or area rather than area rather than aimed specifically aimed specifically at a given target.at a given target.

BatteryBattery-the basic -the basic unit of artillery: 4, unit of artillery: 4, 6 or 8 guns of the 6 or 8 guns of the same type grouped same type grouped togethertogether

BAR--Browning BAR--Browning Automatic Rifle.Automatic Rifle.

CAPCAP--(Combat Air --(Combat Air Patrol) - a Patrol) - a defensive screen of defensive screen of fighters over a ship fighters over a ship or other assetor other asset

CBICBI--(China-Burma---(China-Burma-India) theaterIndia) theater

CorvetteCorvette--small --small anti-submarine anti-submarine vessel based on a vessel based on a whale catcher whale catcher designdesign

CruiserCruiser--a fast ship --a fast ship equipped with a equipped with a powerful powerful armament of 6 or 8 armament of 6 or 8 inch gunsinch guns

Destroyer (DD)--Destroyer (DD)--the workhorse of the workhorse of the Navy. Initially the Navy. Initially tasked with fending tasked with fending off attacks by off attacks by torpedo boats, torpedo boats, World War II saw World War II saw their role and their role and importance expand importance expand greatly - they did greatly - they did everything.everything.

DivisionDivision--A major --A major administrative and administrative and tactical tactical unit/formation unit/formation which combines in which combines in itself the necessary itself the necessary arms and services arms and services required for required for sustained combat, sustained combat, larger than a larger than a regiment/brigade regiment/brigade and smaller than a and smaller than a corps.corps.

DUKW  'duck‘--DUKW  'duck‘--((Duplex Universal Duplex Universal Carrier, Wheeled) Carrier, Wheeled) 2½ ton amphibious 2½ ton amphibious truck.truck.

FlagshipFlagship--the ship --the ship in a fleet that the in a fleet that the highest ranking highest ranking commanding commanding officer chooses to officer chooses to command from command from accompanied by accompanied by his staffhis staff

GarandGarand-American -American M1 0.30in cal rifleM1 0.30in cal rifle

‘‘Grease Gun‘--Grease Gun‘--American American M3/M3A1 M3/M3A1 submachine gunsubmachine gun

Half-trackHalf-track----armored fighting armored fighting vehicle that uses vehicle that uses a combination of a combination of tracks and tracks and wheels.wheels.

HowitzeHowitzer-artillery r-artillery which lobes shells on which lobes shells on a parabolic trajectory a parabolic trajectory to plunge down on to plunge down on targets. barrel length targets. barrel length between 23 and 39 between 23 and 39 caliberscalibers

Liberty ship-Liberty ship--mass -mass produced cargo shipproduced cargo ship

LSTLST--landing ship, --landing ship, tanktank

LVTLVT--landing vehicle, --landing vehicle, tracked  'Buffalo' tracked  'Buffalo' amphibious tractor amphibious tractor (amtrac)(amtrac)

Machinengewehr Machinengewehr MG42--MG42--one of the one of the best machineguns best machineguns ever made.ever made.

Milk run-Milk run--a relatively -a relatively safe combat missionsafe combat mission

NapalmNapalm--mixture of --mixture of gasoline and a gasoline and a thickening agent. thickening agent. Aluminum salts of Aluminum salts of napathenic acid and napathenic acid and palmitic acid used for palmitic acid used for this purpose gave us this purpose gave us the term napalm. The the term napalm. The thick jelly-like thick jelly-like material burns at up material burns at up to 1830° F. (1000° to 1830° F. (1000° C.) and clings to C.) and clings to anything it touches.anything it touches.

NKVDNKVD (Narodnyy (Narodnyy Komisariat Komisariat Vnutrennikh Del)-- Vnutrennikh Del)-- Soviet secret police, Soviet secret police, predecessor to the predecessor to the KGB.KGB.

PillboxPillbox--a small low --a small low concrete concrete emplacement for emplacement for machine guns and machine guns and antitank weaponsantitank weapons

SeabeesSeabees--nickname --nickname for naval for naval construction construction battalions (CBs)battalions (CBs)

SNLFSNLF--Japanese --Japanese navy ground forces navy ground forces (Japanese marines)(Japanese marines)

GERMAN GERMAN MILITARY MILITARY

RANKS WITH RANKS WITH AMERICAN AMERICAN

EQUIVALENTSEQUIVALENTS

GeneralfeldmarscGeneralfeldmarschallhall – General of the – General of the Army Army

GeneraloberstGeneraloberst – – General General

General-General-LeutnantLeutnant – Major-General – Major-General

GeneralmajorGeneralmajor – – Brigadier-General Brigadier-General

OberstOberst – Colonel – Colonel Oberstleutnant – Oberstleutnant –

Lieutenant Lieutenant Colonel Colonel

Major – Major Major – Major

Hauptmann – Captain Hauptmann – Captain Oberleutnant – First Oberleutnant – First

Lieutenant Lieutenant Leutnant – Second Leutnant – Second

Lieutenant Lieutenant Hauptfeldwebel – Hauptfeldwebel –

Sergeant-Major Sergeant-Major Feldwebel – Staff Feldwebel – Staff

Sergeant Sergeant Unteroffizier – Unteroffizier –

Sergeant Sergeant Obergefreiter – Obergefreiter –

Corporal Corporal Gefreiter – Private Gefreiter – Private

First Class First Class Grenadier/Schütze – Grenadier/Schütze –

Private Private

MILITARY MILITARY COMMAND SET COMMAND SET UP START BIG UP START BIG

AND END SMALLAND END SMALL

US ARMYUS ARMY

COMPANY: typically the smallest Army element to be given a designation and affiliation with higher headquarters at battalion and brigade level. This alphanumeric and branch designation causes an "element" to become a "unit."

Squad - Squad - 9 to 10 soldiers. 9 to 10 soldiers. Typically commanded by a Typically commanded by a sergeant or staff sergeant, a sergeant or staff sergeant, a squad or section is the smallest squad or section is the smallest element in the Army structure, element in the Army structure, and its size is dependent on its and its size is dependent on its function.function.

Platoon - Platoon - 16 to 44 soldiers. A 16 to 44 soldiers. A platoon is led by a lieutenant platoon is led by a lieutenant with an NCO as second in with an NCO as second in command, and consists of two to command, and consists of two to four squads or sections. four squads or sections.

CompanyCompany - - 62 to 190 soldiers. 62 to 190 soldiers. Three to five platoons form a Three to five platoons form a company, which is commanded by company, which is commanded by a captain with a first sergeant as a captain with a first sergeant as the commander's principle NCO the commander's principle NCO assistant. An artillery unit of assistant. An artillery unit of equivalent size is called a battery, equivalent size is called a battery, and a comparable armored or air and a comparable armored or air cavalry unit is called a troop.cavalry unit is called a troop.

Battalion - 300 to 1,000 soldiers. Four to six companies make up a battalion, which is normally commanded by a lieutenant colonel with a command sergeant major as principle NCO assistant. A battalion is capable of independent operations of limited duration and scope. An armored or air cavalry unit of equivalent size is called a squadron.

Brigade - 3,000 to 5,000 solders. A brigade headquarters commands the tactical operation of two to five organic or attached combat battalions. Normally commanded by a colonel with a command sergeant major as senior NCO, brigades are employed on independent or semi-independent operations. Armored cavalry, ranger and special forces units this size are categorized as regiments or groups.

DivisionDivision - - 10,000 to 15,000 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers. Usually consisting soldiers. Usually consisting of three brigade-sized of three brigade-sized elements and elements and commanded commanded by a major generalby a major general, divisions , divisions are numbered and are numbered and assigned missions based assigned missions based on their structures. The on their structures. The division performs major division performs major tactical operations for the tactical operations for the corps and can conduct corps and can conduct sustained battles and sustained battles and engagements. engagements.

CorpsCorps - - 20,000 to 45,000 20,000 to 45,000 soldiers. Two to five divisions soldiers. Two to five divisions constitute a corps, which is constitute a corps, which is typically commanded by a typically commanded by a lieutenant general. As the lieutenant general. As the deployable level of command deployable level of command required to synchronize and required to synchronize and sustain combat operations, the sustain combat operations, the corps provides the framework corps provides the framework for multi-national operations.for multi-national operations.

ArmyArmy - - 50,000 + soldiers. Typically 50,000 + soldiers. Typically commanded by a lieutenant general or commanded by a lieutenant general or higher, an army combines two or more higher, an army combines two or more corps. A theater army is the ranking Army corps. A theater army is the ranking Army component in a unified command, and it component in a unified command, and it has operational and support has operational and support responsibilities that are assigned by the responsibilities that are assigned by the theater commander in chief. The theater commander in chief. The commander in chief and theater army commander in chief and theater army commander may order formation of a field commander may order formation of a field army to direct operations of assigned army to direct operations of assigned corps and divisions. An army group plans corps and divisions. An army group plans and directs campaigns in a theater, and is and directs campaigns in a theater, and is composed of two or more field armies composed of two or more field armies under a designated commander. Army under a designated commander. Army groups have not been employed by the groups have not been employed by the Army since World War II. Army since World War II.

There is not set number of There is not set number of troops for any elementtroops for any element

Usually size is determined by Usually size is determined by missionmission

Aviation Comp. would be larger Aviation Comp. would be larger than infantry Comp.than infantry Comp.

US ARMY HAD TRIANGULAR US ARMY HAD TRIANGULAR DIVISIONS—IT CUT OUT DIVISIONS—IT CUT OUT REGIMENTAL LEVELSREGIMENTAL LEVELS

CALVARY---IS AN EXCEPTIONCALVARY---IS AN EXCEPTION THEY HAVE SQUARDRONS & TROOPSTHEY HAVE SQUARDRONS & TROOPS

PrivatePrivate--lowest rank of lowest rank of enlisted men enlisted men

Private First Class-Private First Class-Grade above Grade above private. private.

CorporalCorporal--Lowest non-Lowest non-commissioned commissioned officer, often officer, often commands a squad.commands a squad.

SergeantSergeant--

Non Commissioned Non Commissioned Officer above a Officer above a Corporal.Corporal.

Master SergeantMaster Sergeant-The lead non--The lead non-commissioned commissioned officer at the officer at the battalion and battalion and sometimes higher sometimes higher levels.levels.

Sergeant Major-Sergeant Major--The key enlisted -The key enlisted member of a member of a battalion. battalion.

Command SergeantCommand Sergeant--Carries out --Carries out standards, standards, performances, performances, training, and training, and conduct to soldiers. conduct to soldiers.

Sergeant Major-Sergeant Major- of of the Armythe ArmyHighest rank for a Highest rank for a soldiersoldier..

Second Lieutenant-Second Lieutenant---Lowest ranking Lowest ranking commissioned commissioned officer. officer.

First LieutenantFirst Lieutenant--May command May command platoons or platoons or companies.companies.

CaptainCaptain--A captain usually A captain usually commands a commands a company with a company with a battalion. battalion.

MajorMajor- - Serves as a staff Serves as a staff officer to a officer to a regiment or regiment or division division commander commander

Lieutenant Colonel-Lieutenant Colonel-Usually commands Usually commands a battalion made a battalion made up of 300 to 1,000 up of 300 to 1,000 soldiers. A soldiers. A battalion is within a battalion is within a regiment. regiment.

CColonelolonel-Usually -Usually commands a commands a regiment within regiment within a division. a division.

Brigadier Brigadier General-General-Commands a Commands a brigade within a brigade within a division. division.

Major General-Major General-Commands a Commands a division which is division which is 10,000 to 15,000 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers.soldiers.

Three Star General-Three Star General-An officer in the An officer in the Army, Air Force, or Army, Air Force, or Marines who is above Marines who is above the rank of Major is a the rank of Major is a Three Star General Three Star General

Four Star General-Four Star General-Only officers who Only officers who show great leadership show great leadership and loyalty become and loyalty become four-star generals.four-star generals.

The Five Star GeneralThe Five Star General

rank was first created rank was first created on December 14, on December 14, 1944. Only four Army 1944. Only four Army Generals have held Generals have held this position. this position. George C. MarshalGeorge C. MarshalDouglas MacArthurDouglas MacArthurDwight D. Eisenhower Dwight D. Eisenhower

Omar N. BradleyOmar N. Bradley