Medical Services of WW2?

I honestly know little to nothing about this topic. How were medical units generally organized and how were they attached to military units?

Medical services quality in order:
US/UK, German, Soviet, Japanese

Is this correct?

 

[SIZE=+1]MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
UNITED STATES ARMY
IN WORLD WAR II[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION
IN WORLD WAR II [/SIZE]

Medical Department, United States Army, Organization and Administration in World War II

 

[SIZE=+3]THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+3]MEDICAL SERVICE IN THE[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+3]MEDITERRANEAN AND[/SIZE] [SIZE=+3]MINOR THEATERS[/SIZE]

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[SIZE=+1]MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, UNITED STATES ARMY[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]UNITED STATES ARMY
DENTAL SERVICE IN
WORLD WAR II[/SIZE]

OTSG History Division

 

Combat Medics

The World War II Combat Medic

 

"German Medical Services" from Tactical and Technical Trends

The following U.S. report on German army medical services was originally printed in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 35, October 7, 1943.

[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

GERMAN MEDICAL SERVICES ​

The efficiency of the medical services of an army is reflected in the morale and combat effectiveness of that army.
The following details concerning the organization, equipment, and supply system of the German army medical services are taken from an Allied source.
* * *
a. Organization

(1) Infantry Division
2 medical companies, motorized or partly motorized.
2 ambulance platoons, motorized.
1 field hospital, motorized or partly motorized.

(2) Mountain Division
2 medical companies, partly motorized.
2 ambulance platoons, motorized.
1 field hospital, partly motorized.

(3) Motorized Division
2 medical companies, motorized.
3 ambulance platoons, motorized.
1 field hospital, motorized.

(4) Armored Division.
2 medical companies, motorized and armored.
3 ambulance platoons, motorized and armored.

(5) Airborne Division.
3 paratroop medical companies.
1 field hospital (airlanding).


b. Equipment
(1) Of the Individual.
(a) The Combatant. One large and one small packet first field dressing wrapped separately in black, rubberized fabric 1 box anti-vesicant tablets


(b) The Stretcher Bearer.
In the combatant units - 2 stretcher-bearer's haversacks containing:
1 pair of scissors
1 pair of dissecting forceps
6 packets dressing
3 triangular bandages
3 strips of gauze 16 ft x 2 3/4 in
6 squares of gauze
1 roll of adhesive tape
1 waterproof bandage 18 x 20 in
1 tourniquet
20 safety pins.

In the medical units - in this case, the stretcher bearers are not all equipped with the haversack as above, but each group of four has a haversack (Verbandtasche) containing:
1 pair of cloth-cutting scissors (Kleiderschere)
1 tourniquet
12 strips of gauze
10 squares of absorbent cotton
6 triangular bandages
2 "Brandbinden" (absorbent gauze treated with bismuth for burns)
1 waterproof bandage 36 x 40 in
4 rolls rubberized adhesive tape
35 safety pins
4 small splints with cradle
2 slings, 12 x 5 in
Each stretcher bearer also carries a mug and a bottle with about a pint of cordial.


(c) The Medical Service N.C.Os. and Medical Orderlies. Each carries a bottle of cordial, a case of dressing material and two medical haversacks, the first containing medicines such as salicylic acid (2%), formaldehyde, ticture of iodine, cardiazol and opium; the second containing much the same dressing material as the stretcher bearers' haversack on a smaller scale.


(d) Officers of the Medical Services. Each carries the officer's haversack, the contents of which are extensive, including a number of surgical instruments such as probes, lancets, ligature forceps, cannulae, vaccinostyles and the like; a certain quantity of dressings; a tin plate case for tablets containing among others, pyramidone, veronal, acetylsalicylic acid, codein phosphate, tannalbin, opium, cocain chloride, atropinemannite and calomel; and also a box containing ampoules of, for example, caffein sodium salicylate, superarenine chloride and morphin hydrochloride.



(2) Of a Combatant Unit.
The medical equipment of battalions and regiments is identical. It comprises:
(a) Box No. 1. This is the "Battlebox" (Gefechtskasten) and is marked with two white strokes the form of a cross. The contents are miscellaneous but include much dressing material, anti-tetanus serum, medicaments and two 6-in atomizers containing ethyl chloride.
(b) Box No. 2. Medicaments of all types (Arzneimittelkasten).
(c) Box No. 3. Dressing Equipment. (Verbandmittel).
(d) Box No. 4. Supplementary box. This is like No. 1, but on a smaller scale.
(e) Box No. 5. Contains 280 flasks of tetanus anti-toxin 3000 units per c.c.
(f) Two medical haversacks containing medicaments and dressings rather on the scale of the M.O's haversack. Two empty rucksacks are also included, with blocks of labels for wounded and for sick.
(g) One set of equipment for fractures, including cardboard splints, metal wire splints and aluminum splints.
(h) One unit medical outfit - like an M.O's haversack.
(i) One set of oxygen apparatus - the flask contains 275 quarts of oxygen.
(j) Four stretchers.
(k) Twelve woolen blankets.
(l) One filter apparatus. (m) Anti-vesicant, and gas protection caps for those with head wounds.



c. The Evacuation of Casualties
(1) Units under Divisional control. There are no medical units allotted to corps normally.
(a) Battalion aid station (Verwundetennetz) as close to the fighting line as possible. The station may or may not be under cover. Treatment is restricted to first aid. Occasional blood transfusions may be done. Evacuation is by stretcher bearer section of medical company.
(b) Ambulance Station (Wagenhalteplatz). This is established only if the ambulances cannot go forward to the battalion aid station.
(c) Field Clearing Station (Hauptverbandplatz) is established by the Medical company. It is intended for serious casualties requiring resuscitation, adjustment of dressings, splints etc, arrest of hemorrhage or blood transfusion before further evacuation. Emergency operations may be done here.
(d) Lightly Wounded Collecting Station (Leichtverwundetensammelplatz) for walking wounded and sitting or reclining cases requiring only minor treatment before evacuation. There is a skeleton staff from medical company. The remainder of the medical company is normally in reserve -- available to assist in handling a sudden rush of cases or assist in bombed areas, etc. (e) Division Field Hospital (Feldlazarett). Capacity 200 beds. It is intended for the reception and retention of casualties who require urgent operation or resuscitation and a few days rest before further evacuation. It has a surgical team and is fully equipped to handle any casualty.


(2) Hospitals at Home or in Occupied Countries. (Reservelazaretten)
(a) Casualty Collecting Station (Krankensammelstelle). It is established by an Army ambulance unit at a railhead or other traffic center, normally and is for the retention of casualties awaiting evacuation. Only minor treatment is possible.
(b) Army Field Hospital (Kriegslazarett). For more serious casualties. Capacity 500 beds. Fully equipped hospital with all specialist departments. (c) Army Field Hospital for lightly wounded cases. (Leichtkrankenkriegslazarett) Takes casualties who will be fit for duty in 3 or 4 weeks. Capacity 1,000 beds; fully equipped. Normally located in back areas of Army zone and away from all large towns.


(3) Capacity and time of erecting or dismantling of various units.
(a) Army Field Hospital. Capacity 500 beds, 24 hours to set up or dismantle. Set up by Army medical detachments.
(b) Army Field Hospital for slightly wounded cases. Capacity 1,000 beds. 24 hours to set up or dismantle. Set up by Army Field Hospital detachments.
(c) Field Hospital. Capacity 200 beds. 3 hours to set up or dismantle. Set up by Army Medical detachments.
(d) Casualty Collecting Station medical railhead. Capacity limited only by the available accommodation. 3 hours to set up or dismantle. Set up by motor transport ambulance company.
(e) Field Dressing Station. Unlimited capacity. 1/2 to 1 hour to set up or dismantle. Set up by Divisional medical company.
(f) Slightly Wounded Collection Station. Unlimited capacity. A few minutes to set up or dismantle.
(g) Motor Ambulance. Capacity of 4 lying and 10 sitting. Has four driving wheels and double differential for cross country performance. (h) Hospital Train. The 2- or 3-axled coach train with heating coach has 358 lying capacity, and 385 sitting capacity without heating coach. The 4-axled corridor coach train with or without heating coach has a 364 lying capacity. 2 to 6 hours to set up or dismantle. (i) Hospital Train for Slightly Wounded. 920 sitting capacity. 1 to 2 hours to set up or dismantle.





German Medical Services, WWII Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 35, October 7, 1943 (Lone Sentry)

 

"Notes on Japanese Medical Services" from Tactical and Technical Trends

A report on Japanese military medical services in WWII, from Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 36, October 21, 1943.

[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

NOTES ON JAPANESE MEDICAL SERVICES​

Information from Allied Headquarters in India indicates that the organization and general standard of Japanese medical services for the evacuation and treatment of casualties are similar to our own. The strict attention paid to precautions for the prevention of diseases likely to be contracted by troops in a theater of war shows that the Japanese do not overlook the damage which the incidence of such diseases can inflict on the morale and efficiency of an army in the field.
In addition to units of the army medical corps there are detachments of medical officers and men assigned to all regiments. These men are distributed so that there is a medical man with each platoon as well as a small medical section with the regiment. The duties of the platoon medical men include preliminary treatment of the wounded, in most cases amounting to the application of the first field dressing carried by every man, and the continuation of treatment of cases returned from hospital. It is also apparent that they are to insure that very strict prophylactic discipline is observed to counter epidemics and other avoidable diseases.
One medical orderly attached to a platoon in the Buna area, in addition to his personal belongings, carried an ordinary soldiers' knapsack containing the following:
Peptic tablets (for stomach trouble) Adhesive plasterAspirin tabletsBandageMorphine solutionGauzeTincture of iodineScissorsIodoform (an antiseptic)ThermometerZinc oxideBoric acidAtabrinRivanol solution (a disinfectant)Quinine sulphateSyringeBenzoinSodium bicarbonateKnife, saw, etc., (to make a stretcher)Absorbent cotton
In Burma malaria has been the greatest problem of the medical services. The Japanese have used mosquito nets large enough for a whole squad, antimosquito cream and spray being available for sentries and others who have to be outside the net. Atabrin or quinine are also taken every day by all who have not had malaria. In spite of these precautions every man in one Japanese regiment had had malaria at least once.
Apart from malaria the Japanese have taken great care to prevent epidemics from impure drinking water. The platoon medical orderly is responsible for water hygiene and whenever the army medical authorities have not been able to lay in a supply of pure water, recourse is had to the water purification outfit (chlorinating vials) carried by every man.
In addition to anti-malaria and water precautions, pills are taken by every man however healthy, one type every ten days while five of another type containing vitamin B are taken every day, presumably to maintain general health.
Incidence of venereal disease which is low is kept to a minimum by the establishment of army organized houses, entrance to which involves first obtaining a medical certificate. However, no punishments are inflicted on those who become infected.
The Japanese are strict about inoculation and vaccination. Every time a patient is about to leave a hospital he is inoculated and battalions are inoculated en masse. The most forward army medical unit for the treatment and evacuation of casualties is the advance dressing station of the divisional medical unit. There the patients are classified and their preliminary dressings checked. They are then evacuated by means of the ambulance company of the same unit to one of the division field hospitals. There is usually one of these with each first line regiment and they are equipped to perform reasonably extensive surgical treatment. From the division field hospitals patients are further evacuated to line of communication hospitals, reserve hospitals or base hospitals in the home areas or are released to rejoin their units. Evacuation is effected by combination of stretcher, horse-cart ambulance, motor ambulance, ambulance trains, river craft and by hospital ships.


Lone Sentry: Notes on Japanese Medical Services (WWII Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 36, October 21, 1943)

 

hi, does anyone know any details of what an airborne medic would have carried? and does anyone have any info on the "181 Airlanding Field Ambulance?

 

181 Airlanding Field Ambulance, RAMC 181 info...

http://med-dept.com/kits.php medics kits..

 

cheer, do you have a link or any info for british airborne medics kit?

 

hi, does anyone know were i can find a ww2 stretcher?

 

heres one, good for re-enacting..might suit you..ends 2 aug...

Gerard folding stretcher - suit wwii reinactor on eBay (end time 02-Aug-10 20:55:56 BST)

 

cheers! if you see any more, could you post them up on here?

 

will keep my eye open, pte...

 

hi, does anyone know were or do you have any ww2 British radio transitions "military chatter" for our display?

 

hi, does anyone know what a plasma bottle looks like? I've tried looking on Google with no success can anyone help?

 

http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwii/blood/chapter7.htm

http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwii/blood/ch07fig38.jpg

http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwii/blood/ch07fig39.jpg

 

cheers mate great help

 

does anyone know about or the names or places of aid stations in Arnhem?

 

WW2 Streetview: St Elizabeth Hospital - Arnhem