WAR DEPARTMENT TECHNICAL MANUAL
TM-E 30-451

HANDBOOK ON GERMAN MILITARY FORCES

WAR DEPARTMENT • 15 MARCH 1945

RESTRICTED. DISSEMINATION OF RESTRICTED MATTER.--The information contained in restricted documents and the essential characteristics of restricted material may be given to any person known to be in the service of the United States and to persons of undoubted loyalty and discretion who are cooperating in Government work, but will not be communicated to the public or to the press except by authorized military public relations agencies. (See also par. 23b, AR 380-5, 15 Mar 1944.)

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I. THE GERMAN MILITARY SYSTEM  
Section I. Introduction I-1
II. The German Soldier I-2
III. The High Command I-15
IV. Organization of the Army for War I-41
V. Functions of the Corps Area I-45
VI. Conscription, Replacement, and Training I-54
CHAPTER II. ORGANIZATION OF THE FIELD FORCES  
Section I. Over-all Field Organization II-1
II. High Command in the Field II-1
III. Organization of Higher Headquarters II-4
IV. Principles and Trends in Unit Organization and Equipment II-7
V. Divisions II-7
VI. Combat Troops II-33
VII. Service Troops II-98
CHAPTER III. OTHER MILITARY AND AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS  
Section I. SS and Police III-1
II. Auxiliary Organizations III-24
III. Other Party Organizations III-27
IV. Emergency Defense of German Soil III-28
CHAPTER IV. TACTICS  
Section I. General Tactical Doctrines IV-1
II. Reconnaissance IV-2
III. Marches IV-4
IV. Offensive IV-5
V. Defensive IV-20
VI. Retrograde Movements IV-31
VII. Minefields IV-35
VIII. Special Operations IV-45
CHAPTER V. FORTIFICATIONS AND DEFENSES  
Section I. Doctrine of Fortifications V-1
II. Characteristics of Fortifications V-2
CHAPTER VI. SUPPLY, EVACUATION, AND MOVEMENTS  
Section I. Higher Organization of Supply VI-1
II. System of Supply within Germany VI-2
III. System of Supply of the Field Army VI-11
IV. Maintenance Requirements VI-18
V. Evacuation VI-21
VI. Troop Movements VI-25
CHAPTER VII. WEAPONS  
Section I. Introduction VII-1
II. Small Arms VII-1
III. Mortars VII-13
IV. Artillery VII-19
V. Self-propelled Artillery VII-57
VI. Armored Vehicles VII-76
VII. Rocket Weapons VII-88
VIII. Grenades VII-95
IX. Other Weapons VII-104
CHAPTER VIII. EQUIPMENT  
Section I. Introduction VIII-1
II. Automotive Equipment VIII-2
III. Artillery Fire Control Equipment VIII-10
IV. Signal Equipment VIII-19
V. Engineer Equipment VIII-63
VI. Chemical Warfare Equipment VIII-103
VII. Field Ranges and Cooking Equipment VIII-122
CHAPTER IX. UNIFORMS, INSIGNIA AND INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT  
Section I. Army Uniforms IX-1
II. German Army Insignia IX-13
III. German Air Force Uniforms and Insignia IX-14
IV. Armed Elite Guard Uniforms and Insignia IX-16
V. German Decorations IX-17
VI. Auxiliary Forces and Semi-Military Organizations IX-19
VII. Individual Equipment IX-21
CHAPTER X. GERMAN AIR FORCE  
Section I. Air Force High Command X-1
II. Chain of Command X-1
III. Air Force Arms and Services X-6
IV. Army and Navy Cooperation X-12
V. Equipment X-13
VI. Training X-29
VII. Tactics X-30
  INDEX  

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Transcribed and formatted by Patrick Clancey & Larry Jewell, HyperWar Foundation