heer.htm
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The German Heer was offically formed in 1935 with the passing of the "Law for the Reconstruction of the National Defense Forces". After World War I the Weimar Republic - the sucssesor of Imperial Germany - was allowed only a small defense force known as the Reichswehr (as stipulated by the Treaty of Versailles which the Germans were forced to sign after losing WWI). The Reichswehr was allowed a small standing army, the Reichsheer, and a small defensive navy, the Reichsmarine. In 1933, the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) came to power and the infamous Third Reich was formed. Two years later in 1935 under the complete control of the NSDAP, the Treaty of Versailles was renounced and the Reichsheer was renamed as the Heer and classified as being a part of the new defense force, the Wehrmacht - a collective term for all three branches of the German Armed Forces. Between 1939 and 1945, the Heer bore the majority of six years worth of fierce combat, some of which was so fierce - as on the Eastern Front - humankind will likely never again see such fighting. Many hundreds of Heer units were formed during the war, and nearly all these units served with distinction and bravery in the increasingly futile fight against the Allies.
Although not immune to the overtones of politics - especially in light of the era it was a part of - the Heer was not a political formation and it served with great distinction across many thousands of miles of battlefields. The Heer was defeated with the German capitulation on May 8th 1945, but amazingly, some units continued to fight for a few days longer in fits of sporadic resistance, mainly against the Soviets in the East. The Allied Control Council passed a law formally dissolving the Wehrmach on the 20th of August 1946, the offical "death" date of the German Heer.

Weapons and Vehicles of the German Wehrmacht:

Panzer Mk. II, Model F

Armor:   hull front 35 mm; hull sides 20 mm; turret front 35 mm; turret sides 15 mm
Armament:   one 20-mm Kw.K 30 cannon; one 7.92-mm MG 34 machine-gun
Engine:   one 140 hp Maybach 6-cylinder in-line gasoline engine
Dimensions:   length 14.75 feet; width 7.33 feet; height 6.48 feet
Max Speed:   34 m.p.h.
Max Range:   118 miles
Suspension:   5 bogie wheels each side; quarter-elliptic leaf springing; front drive sprocket; rear idler

                                                          Panzer Mk. III, Model L/M

Armor:   hull front 50 mm; hull sides 30 mm; turret front 57 mm; turret sides 10 mm
Armament:   one 5-cm Kw.K 39 gun in turret; one MG 34 machine-gun in turret; one MG 34 machine-gun in hull
Engine:   one 300 hp Maybach HL 120 TRM 12-cylinder gasoline engine
Dimensions:   length 17 feet, 8 inches; width 9 feet, 9 inches; height 8 feet, 3 inches
Max Speed:   25 m.p.h.
Max Range:   110 miles
Suspension:   6 bogie wheels each side; torsion-bar suspension

Panzer Mk. IV, Model G

Armor:   hull front 60 mm; hull sides 30 mm; hull rear 20 mm; turret front 40 mm; turret sides 30 mm
Armament:   one 7.5-cm Kw.K 40 gun in turret; one MG 34 machine-gun in turret; one MG 34 machine-gun in hull
Engine:   one 300 hp Maybach HL 120 TRM 12-cylinder gasoline engine
Dimensions:   length 19 feet, 4 inches; width 9 feet, 7 inches; height 8 feet, 6 inches
Max Speed:   25 m.p.h.
Max Range:   130 miles
Suspension:   four bogie assemblies per side, each carrying two rubber-tired bogie wheels; quarter-elliptic springing

Panzer Mk. V, Model G   --   "Panther"

Armor:   hull front 80 mm; hull sides 40 mm; hull rear 40 mm; turret front 110 mm; turret sides 45 mm
Armament:   one 75-mm Kw.K 42 gun in turret; one 7.92-mm MG 34 machine-gun in turret; one 7.92-mm MG 34 machine-gun in hull
Engine:   one 700 hp Maybach HL 230 P30 12-cylinder diesel engine
Dimensions:   length 21 feet, 11.5 inches; width 10 feet, 9.5 inches; height 9 feet, 4 inches
Max Speed:   30 m.p.h.
Max Range:   110 miles
Suspension:   eight axles each carrying two large interleaved rubber-tired bogie wheels; torsion-bar suspension

Panzer Mk. VI, Model E   --   "Tiger"

Armor:   hull front 102 mm; hull sides 62 mm; hull rear 82 mm; turret front 100 mm; turret sides 82 mm
Armament:   one 88-mm Kw.K 36 gun in turret; one 7.92-mm MG 34 machine-gun in turret; one 7.92-mm MG 34 machine-gun in hull
Engine:   one 700 hp Maybach HL 230 P45 12-cylinder diesel engine
Dimensions:   length 20 feet, 8.5 inches; width 12 feet, 3 inches; height 9 feet, 4.75 inches
Max Speed:   25 m.p.h.
Max Range:   65 miles
Suspension:   front drive sprocket, rear idler; eight axles with three interleaved bogie wheels each; torsion-bar suspension

Panzer Mk. VI Tiger II   --   "Königstiger"

Armor:   hull front 150 mm; hull sides 80 mm; hull rear 80 mm; turret front 180 mm; turret sides 80 mm
Armament:   one 8.8 cm Kw.K 43 gun in turret; one MG 34 machine-gun in turret; one MG 34 machine-gun in hull
Engine:   one 590 hp. Maybach HL 230 P30 V-12 gasoline engine
Dimensions:   length 23 feet, 10 inches; width 11 feet, 11.5 inches; height 10 feet, 2 inches
Max Speed:   26 m.p.h.
Max Range:   106 miles
Suspension:   front driving sprocket, rear idler; nine axles each side, each carrying two overlapping bogie wheels; torsion-bar suspension

                    

                                                    German Panzers in the eastern Front

     

                                                                    Jagdpanther

Type:   tank destroyer
Weight:   50.7 tons
Crew:   5 men
Armor:   hull front 80 mm; hull sides 30 mm; hull rear 40 mm
Armament:   one 8.8-cm Pak 43/3 or 43/4 (L/71) gun; one 7.92-mm MG 34 machine-gun carried in hull

Jagdpanzer 38(t) für 7.5-cm Pak 39   --   "Hetzer"

Type:   tank destroyer
Weight:   17.65 tons
Crew:   4 men
Armor:   hull front 60 mm; hull sides 20 mm; hull rear 20 mm
Armament:   one 7.5-cm Pak 39 (L/48) gun; one remotely-controlled 7.92-mm MG 34 machine-gun on roof
Elevation:   -8° to +20°
Traverse:   10° each way
Muzzle Velocity:   2,300 feet per second
Engine:   one 150 hp Czech Praga AC/2800 six-cylinder gasoline engine

8.8-cm Pak 43/1 auf GW III/IV   --   "Nashorn"

Type:   tank destroyer
Weight:   26.9 tons
Crew:   5 men
Armor:   hull front 30 mm; hull sides 20 mm; hull rear 22 mm
Armament:   one 8.8-cm Pak 43/1 (L/71) gun; two 7.92-mm MG 34 machine-guns carried in hull
Elevation:   -5° to +20°
Traverse:   15° each way
Muzzle Velocity:   up to 3,280 feet per second (depending on ammunition type)
Engine:   one 265 hp Maybach HL 120 TRM 12-cylinder gasoline engine

Panzerjäger 38(t) Ausf H   --   "Marder III"

Type:   tank destroyer
Weight:   12.1 tons
Crew:   4 men
Armor:   hull front 60 mm; hull sides 20 mm; hull rear 20 mm
Armament:   one 7.5-cm Pak 40/3 gun
Muzzle Velocity:   2,300 feet per second
Engine:   one 150 hp Czech Praga AC/2800 six-cylinder gasoline engine
Dimensions:   length 20 feet; width 7 feet, 8.5 inches; height 8 feet, 2 inches
Max Speed:   24 mph
Max Range:   155 miles

Panzerjäger Tiger (P)  --   "Elefant"

Type:   tank destroyer
Weight:   71.65 tons
Crew:   6 men
Armor:   hull front 200 mm; hull sides 80 mm; hull rear 80 mm
Armament:   one 8.8-cm Pak 43/1 (L/71) gun; two 7.92-mm MG 34 machine-guns carried in hull
Elevation:   -6° to +25°
Traverse:   12° each way
Muzzle Velocity:   up to 3,280 feet per second (depending on ammunition type)
Engine:   two 530 hp Maybach HL 120 TRM 12-cylinder gasoline engines, both driving a single Porsche/Siemens-Schuckert petrol-electric mot

Sturmpanzer 43 Brummbär

Type:   heavy assault howitzer
Weight:   30.4 tons
Crew:   5 men
Armor:   hull front 100 mm; hull sides 30 mm; hull rear 20 mm; superstructure front 101 mm; superstructure sides 50 mm
Armament:   one 15-cm Stu. H. 43 (L/12) howitzer; late models one or two 7.92-mm MG 34 machine-guns

                                                                           Heuschrecke IVB

Type:   self-propelled howitzer carrier
Weight:   18.75 tons
Crew:   5 men
Armament:   one 10.5-cm le. F. H. 18/1 howitzer mounted in removable turret
Engine:   one 188 hp Maybach gasoline engine
Dimensions:   length 19 feet, 4 inches; width 9 feet, 5 inches; height 7 feet, 5 inches
Max Speed:   28 mph
Max Road Range:   155 miles
Suspension:   front drive sprocket, rear idler; eight small rubber-tired bogie wheels per side

Sturmgeschütz III, Ausf E

Formal Designation:   Gepanzerte Selbstfahrlafette für Sturmgeschütz 7.5-cm Kanone SdKfz 142 Ausf E
Type:   assault gun
Weight:   26.345 tons
Crew:   4 men
Armor:   hull front 81 mm; hull sides 31 mm; hull rear 51 mm
Armament:   one 7.5-cm Stu. K. 40 (L/24) gun; two 7.92-mm MG 34 machine-guns carried in hull

Sturmgeschütz III, Ausf G

Formal Designation:   Gepanzerte Selbstfahrlafette für Sturmgeschütz 7.5-cm Kanone SdKfz 142 Ausf G
Type:   assault gun
Weight:   26.345 tons
Crew:   4 men
Armor:   hull front 81 mm; hull sides 31 mm; hull rear 51 mm
Armament:   one 7.5-cm Stu. K. 40 (L/48) gun; two 7.92-mm MG 34 machine-guns carried in hull
Elevation:   -6° to +17°
Traverse:   10° each way

                        

                                            Captured US Sherman tank used in Normandy

                                                      

                                                         SdKfz 7 mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 8t

Type:   halftrack prime mover
Weight:   12.7 tons
Armor:   none
Armament:   none
Engine:   one 140 hp Maybach HL 62 six-cylinder engine
Dimensions:   length 20 feet, 3 inches; width 7 feet, 10.5 inches; height 8 feet, 7 inches
Max Speed:   30 mph
Suspension:   bogies with leaf-springing in pairs; front drive sprocket, rear idler;
Payload:   12 passengers (including driver); towing capacity up to 8 tons

                                                 SdKfz 251/21 mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen

Type:   armored halftrack (anti-aircraft variant)
Weight:   8.6 tons
Armor:   6 to 14.5 mm
Armament:   one 2-cm Flak 36 anti-aircraft gun; usually two 7.92-mm MG 34 machine-guns
Engine:   one 100 hp Maybach HL 42 six-cylinder engine
Dimensions:   length 19 feet; width 6 feet, 10.5 inches; height 5 feet, 9 inches
Max Speed:   33 mph
Max Range:   185 miles
Suspension:   bogies with leaf-springing in pairs; front drive sprocket, rear idler

                                                         SdKfz 4/1 15-cm Panzerwerfer 42

Type:   armored rocket-launcher (based on the chassis of the Maultier halftrack)
Weight:   7.1 tons
Armor:   6 to 14.5 mm
Armament:   one 10-barrel 15-cm Panzerwerfer 42 rocket-launcher mounted on dorsal turntable
Traverse:   360°
Max Elevation   80°
Range:   7,500 yards
Engine:   one 75 hp Opel six-cylinder engine
Dimensions:   length 19 feet, 8 inches; width 7 feet, 2.5 inches; height 8 feet, 6 inches
Max Speed:   30 mph
Vehicle Range:   150 miles

                                                           Transport Truck

This captured Swiss made Berna truck was used by the SS unit in Italy in 1945. It was captured by the partisans at the Austrian border during the retreat to Germany on 27 April of 1945. Today, this truck is on display at the Liberation Museum at San Lazzaro in Bologna.

 

              German Infantry in Russia                German engineers in the Ardennes

75-mm le. I.G. 18

Type:   light infantry gun
Caliber:   75-mm (2.95 inches)
Weight:   880 lbs
Muzzle Velocity:   725 feet per second
Traverse:   12°
Elevation:   -10° to +73°
Max Range:   3,900 yards
Ammunition:   13.2 or 12.13 lb high explosive or hollow-charge shells

150-mm s. I.G. 33

Type:   heavy infantry gun
Caliber:   150-mm (4.57 inches)
Weight:   3,360 lbs
Muzzle Velocity:   787 feet per second
Traverse:   11° 15'
Elevation:   0 to 73°
Max Range:   5,140 yards
Ammunition:   84 lb high-explosive shells; 85 lb smoke shells; 197 lb stick bombs

75-mm Geb. G. 36

Type:   light mountain howitzer
Caliber:   75-mm (2.95 inches)
Weight:   1,650 lbs
Muzzle Velocity:   1,558 feet per second
Traverse:   40°
Elevation:   -8° to +70°
Max Range:   10,100 yards
Ammunition:   12.6 or 12.81 lb high-explosive shells; 9.75 lb hollow-charge projectiles

105-mm Geb. H. 40

Type:   heavy mountain howitzer
Caliber:   105-mm (4.14 inches)
Weight:   3,660 lbs
Muzzle Velocity:   1,870 feet per second
Traverse:   50° 40'
Elevation:   -4° 47' to +70°
Max Range:   13,810 yards
Ammunition:   32.6 lb high-explosive shells; various smoke, star and hollow-charge projectiles

                                                                     105-mm L.G. 40 

Type:   airborne recoilless gun
Caliber:   105-mm (4.14 inches)
Weight:   855 lbs
Muzzle Velocity:   1,099 feet per second
Traverse:   80°
Elevation:   -15° to +40° 30'
Max Range:   8,694 yards
Ammunition:   32.63 lb high-explosive shells; 25.88 lb hollow-charge shells

                                                                 105-mm Leichte Feld Haubitze 18    

Type:   light field howitzer
Caliber:   105-mm (4.14 inches)
Weight:   4,320 lbs
Muzzle Velocity:   1,750 feet per second
Traverse:   60°
Elevation:   -5° to +40°
Max Range:   13,480 yards
Ammunition:   32.7 lb high-explosive shells; various smoke, incendiary, star, propaganda, hollow-charge and armor-piercing shells

                                                                 150-mm Schwerer Feld Haubitze 18 

Type:   medium field howitzer
Caliber:   150-mm (5.866 inches)
Weight:   12,096 lbs
Muzzle Velocity:   1,705 feet per second
Traverse:   60°
Elevation:   -1° 30' to +45°
Max Range:   14,630 yards
Ammunition:   95.7 lb high-explosive, concrete-piercing, armor-piercing and smoke projectiles

                                                         105-mm Schwerer Kanone 18

Type:   medium gun
Caliber:   105-mm (4.14 inches)
Weight:   11,424 lbs
Muzzle Velocity:   2,740 feet per second
Traverse:   60°
Elevation:   -1° 30' to +45°
Max Range:   20,850 yards
Ammunition:   33.5 lb high-explosive or 31.25 lb armor-piercing shells

                                                   88mm FLAK (FlugzeugAbwehrKannone)

The 88mm FLAK (FlugzeugAbwehrKannone) was originally intended exclusively for anti-aircraft defense. But at its very first use by the Legion Kondor volunteer unit in the Spanish Civil War, the Flak gun was also used on the front lines to attack bunkers and pinpoint targets with anti-tank shells, or against enemy troops, using time-fuze shells with high exploding points. The 88mm Flak gun stood out on all fronts because of its mobility, rapid rate of fire (15 to 25 rounds per minute, depending on the crew's level of training) and number of possible uses.