Captured equipment. German Quatermaster and Maintenance nightmare

JCFalkenbergIII · #1 (**permalink**) March 9th, 2008, 07:20 PM

It must have been a maintenance nightmare to service all the equipment the Germans used. I just find it amazing that the Germans were able to keep so much in working order. And to be able to modify or upgrade the equipment must have took alot of ingenuity and thought.

Since 1938, the German Army was using large number of captured equipment from handguns to tanks. During World War II, the German Army was equipped with large number of captured or produced under German supervision tanks. Beute Panzerkampfwagen (Booty Panzers) were gathered at special collection points, where they were examined and it was then decided if they can be of any use to its new owners. If possible, useful tanks were taken to factories where they were built (for example in France) and repaired, modified and painted in German colors and markings. Some of the foreign/captured tanks were put in the active service with special captured tank units (formed in May of 1940) of Panzer or Infantry Divisions in various roles such as reconnaissance. Interesting fact is that some units (e.g. Panzer Abteilung 216 in the Channel Islands) or even divisions (eg. 7th SS Freiwillingen Gebirgs Division "Prinz Eugen" in the Balkans) were totally equipped with captured equipment. Although most common practice was the conversion of foreign tanks into various weapon carriers. Some captured or foreign tanks were converted and armed with captured weapons such as Soviet 76.2mm ZIS-3 and F-22 guns (such as Marder series). Some number of tanks was converted into other supplementary vehicles such as artillery tractors. Some foreign tanks were used for training purposes, while some were used for internal policing duties in occupied territories (Polizei-Panzerkampfwagen). Many were briefly used by the Germans and were later on used for target practice or were handed over to the German Allies or even abandoned. Other captured tanks such as Soviet T-34's were pressed into service by Germans due to their superiority and simply because of the lack of tanks. Some examples of captured tanks were not pressed into service and were only used for tests (for example at Kummersdorf facility), target practice or were simply scraped.

Generally, Germans did not always factory-modify-captured equipment, field modifications were very common and totally non-standard. The most common modification to tanks was the replacement of original cupola top with split hatch covers. German Army was also using large number of other foreign equipment such as armored cars, trucks, guns and etc. The interesting fact was that Soviet built ZIS-5 trucks were manufactured under the license of the Ford company, just as those produced by Germany and France (2-ton or 3-ton Ford truck). That fact allowed Germans who were already familiar with those vehicles to use as many as possible. The usage of captured tanks for training and security duties allowed Germans to transfer more German made tanks to combat units. DAK was the most notable user of all kinds of Allied equipment which was captured and it was reported that sometimes the inventory consisted of more captured equipment than the German made one. Overall, captured or foreign equipment was very important to the German war effort due to the shortages and losses of their own equipment.

http://pedg.org/panzer/public/website/ct.htm

JCFalkenbergIII · #2 (**permalink**) March 11th, 2008, 01:52 AM

With the amount of AFVs,Tanks,Weapons,and other equipment it must have been hell to find parts, ammunition and other items for them.

Za Rodinu · #3 (**permalink**) March 11th, 2008, 02:28 PM

Exactly, that's the problem. Would you buy an used car with lots of mileage already, and no parts supplier within any useful range and 'on the other side of the hill' too?

Other guys also liked the idea:

But on their case it was easier after a while: just capture your own parts stockpile as you keep advancing

JCFalkenbergIII · #4 (**permalink**) March 16th, 2008, 07:35 PM

That worked for awhile of course LOL. But when retreating far away from the countries that originally made the parts and ammunition it certainly was more and more of a headache for the troops using them and needing the supplies to keep the weapons going and working. IIRC alot of the foriegn trucks were based on Ford designs so the interchangability of parts were somewhat easier.

JCFalkenbergIII · #5 (**permalink**) July 4th, 2008, 07:14 PM

IIIRC I saw a quote of over 210 different types of trucks being used by the Germans!!

MIguel B. · #6 (**permalink**) July 4th, 2008, 08:39 PM

Yup they tried to get a hand on any truck that could carry troops. By the begining of Barbarrossa, German inventory accounted for over a million diferent parts... This may prove they were trying to bring more divisions to a motorised status or at least creating better supply lines...

Cheers...

JCFalkenbergIII · #7 (**permalink**) July 9th, 2008, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCFalkenbergIII

IIIRC I saw a quote of over 210 different types of trucks being used by the Germans!!

And that was just on the Eastern Front. Just all the other Tanks,AFVs,weapons,Uniform equipment and other items must have been staggering.

MIguel B. · #8 (**permalink**) July 9th, 2008, 02:19 PM

Yup... Germans logistics was trully nightmare... Even their own equipement was too varied. For instance, they began the war with six diferent kinds of tanks wich with their own replacement parts and all.
Late in war they were learning tough and started to narrow the amount of variety. Imagine the lists required to maintain all those parts in perfect order... If I were a quartermaster in the German army I think I'd shoot anyone wh moved a part from place...

Cheers...