Captured equipment. German Quatermaster and Maintenance nightmare

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

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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...

 

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

 

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...

 

And yet they kept designing more with out the abilty to really mass produce them.

 

This just from France,

"The French industries had also been mobilized by the German occupant:
Berliet
Various Berliet trucks were used by the German army (DGRA, GDC, GDM, VDCA etc.) and about 30 Berliet tank carriers were used by the Wehrmacht.
During 1943-1944 for example, 1262 trucks (5t) were produced for the German army. Bernard
A few Bernard trucks (fuel tank trucks etc.) were used by the German army. Citroën
Many booty cars, trucks and halftracks (Citroën Kégresse P14, P17, P19) were captured and used by the Germans. The Citroën-Kégresse P19 = Ci380(f) can for example be found in the Schnelle Brigade West. Many other vehicles were produced for the Germans between 1941 and 1944 like for example :
3700 type 23 trucks
6000 type 32U trucks
15300 type 45 trucks (the majority of the trucks of Schnelle Brigade West) Delahaye
About 1000 SdKfz-11 were produced for the Germans (ordered in 1942).
The Delahaye factory also produced spare parts for the Büssing-NAG 4500. ELMAG (in Mulhouse, Alsace)
Production of 1143 SdKfz-8 halftracks and spare parts for German halftracks between 1942 and 1944. Ford
At the beginning of WW2, the French Ford factories located at Poissy and Asnières were controlled by the Laffly company. They transformed 1000 Ford trucks in half-tracked trucks (Maultier) and produced spare parts for the Ford trucks captured in Europe. Gnôme-Rhône
Gnôme-Rhône in Gennevilliers (nowadays SNECMA) produced German engines for planes like the Henschel 129.
Gnôme-Rhône motorcycles and side-cars were also used by the Germans. Hotchkiss
During the occupation, Hotchkiss produced spare parts, engines and several chassis for the Germans from 1940 to 1944 . Some Laffly vehicles (R15R, S20TL, W15T etc.) and several Hotchkiss personal cars (PKW Typ680, 686 and 686 PNA) were also produced for the Germans. Isobloc
Numerous buses had been produced for the French army. Several W843M medical buses were used by the Germans. They could carry 30 lying wounded soldiers or a whole mobile chirurgical antenna. Laffly
Many Laffly V15R, S15R, S20TL, W15T etc. were captured and used by the Germans.
A small number of armored SPW based on the W15T were produced for the Schnelle Brigade West.
In 1942, 60 Renault R-40 tanks were transformed for snow milling. 119 Renault R-40 were modified for the Luftwaffe (towing vehicles ?) and 200 various German tracked vehicles were also modified for the Luftwaffe by the Laffly factory. Laffly transformed also 22 wheeled and 33 tracked vehicles in snow ploughs. Latil
Many Latil trucks and utility vehicles had been captured by the Wehrmacht. Some of the heavier trucks (Latil TAR H2) were again produced for the German forces. Lorraine
Many Lorraine 37L and 38L were captured and used or modified by the Germans. The Lorraine factory also produced 500 SdKfz-9 in 1942. Matford (in Strasbourg, Alsace)
Matford was born from the fusion between Ford and the French Mathis company. A few trucks were produced but mainly spare parts for the French booty Matford trucks like the Matford F917. Panhard & Levassor
About 2000 Panhard trucks were delivered to the Germans army and about 1000 couples of tracks for the SdKfz-7 have been produced. Peugeot
The factory is controlled by KDFWagen (future Volkswagen).
Many cars (Peugeot 202 and 402) and light trucks (Peugeot DMA, DK etc.) were captured and used but also produced. Between 1941 and 1944 Peugeot delivered to the Germans:
12500 Peugeot DK5
15300 Peugeot DMA
about 15000 Peugeot 202 and 402
That make about 28000 trucks delivered to the Germans.
The factory produced also spare parts for the Kübelwagen and a few Volkswagen type 82 and 166 were completed. 150 SdKfz-10 per month were also planned to be produced in 1942 but the delivered number is unknown. Renault
For Renault, most of the archives have disappeared during the allied bombings of 1944 but in François Vauvillier's book "l'automobile sous l'uniforme" it is indicated that about 28000 Renault trucks had been produced for the Germans during the occupation (AHS, AHN, AHR, AGC, ADK, ADH etc.). The Renault factories were administrated by Prinz Von Urach (who will later be the press attaché of Daimler-Benz after WW2). About 23000 Renault AHS trucks were used by the Germans (booty and new produced ones).
For example, from 1941 to 1944, 4000 Renault AHN and 2000 Renault AHR had been produced for the German army. In 1943, 704 AGC3 were deliverd.
Renault produced also spare parts for the SdKfz-7 and SdKfz-11. Saurer
Several trucks were still produced for the Germans, especially the Saurer type 3CT which was liked. For example between 1943 and 1944 some 1800 3CT trucks were delivered to the Germans. Simca
Simca produced personal cars for the German/Italian Army
1941/1942: 5983 Simca 5 (aka Fiat 500 Topolino) and 3960 Simca 8 (aka Fiat 1100)
1943: 122 Simca 8 and 19 Simca 5
1944: 180 Simca 8 and 23 Simca 5
Simca was intended to produce 2500 SdKfz-2 Kettenkraftrad but there seem not to have been produced. Tracks for the SdKfz-7, SdKfz-10 and SdKfz-11 were also produced. Somua
Beside the Somua S-35 tanks, many MCL named S303(f) and MCG named S307(f) halftracks were captured. Many of these halfracks have been armored. Talbot
From 1941 to 1944, Talbot produced tracks for the SdKfz-7, SdKfz-10 and SdKfz-11, braces for the Büssing-NAG S4500 and complete steering for the Panzer 38(t). Trippel
The factory was located at Molsheim (Alsace) in the former Bugatti factory. They produced the Trippel SG6 amphibious car. Unic
About 200 Unic TU1 U305(f) and 3000 Unic P107 U304(f) were used by the German army. Willeme
A few Willeme type DU10 (10t) heavy trucks were used by the German army.

Beside the booty vehicles, the main companies (Renault, Peugeot, Citroën, Panhard, Berliet and Saurer ...) produced about 90,000 new trucks for the German army between 1941 and 1944. Especially for the Eastern front 200 French tanks were also converted to Mörserzugmittel / Artillerie-Schlepper / Bergeschlepper (tractors). "

Axis History Factbook: Captured & converted French vehicles in German service

 

And just look at the amount of just a couple of units at how much they had.

Examples of units issues with French vehicles in Normandy in 1944:
100. Panzer Abteilung (committed to 91. ID)
Panzerkampfwagen 35R 731(f)
Panzerkampfwagen 39H 735(f)
Panzerkampfwagen 35S 739(f)
Flammenwerferpanzer Renault B2 (f)
Panzerkampfwagen 17R 730c(f)

21. Panzer Division
Panzerkampfwagen 35S 739(f)
Panzerkampfwagen 39H 735(f)
Flammenwerferpanzer Renault B1/B2 (f)
Panzerbeobachtungswagen auf 35/38/39H(f)
Großer Funk- & Beobachtungspanzer Lorraine-S (f)
10,5cm leFH18/40 auf Geschützwagen 38H (f)
10,5cm leFH18 auf Geschützwagen Lorraine
15cm sFH13/1 auf Geschützwagen Lorraine
8cm Reihenwerfer auf SPW Somua S303/307 (f)
8cm Vielfachwerfer auf SPW Somua S303/307 (f)
7,5cm Pak40 auf PzKpfw 38H (f) "Marder I (SdKfz 135)"
7,5cm Pak40 auf PzKpfw 39H (f) "Marder I (SdKfz 135)"
7,5cm Pak40/1 auf Geschützwagen Lorraine "Marder I (SdKfz 135)"
7,5cm Pak40 (Sf) auf mSPW S307(f)
4,7cm Pak(t) auf PzKpfw 35R (f)
Zugkraftwagen P107 U304(f)
Zugkraftwagen Somua MCL S303 (f)
Zugkraftwagen Somua MCG S307(f)
leSPW U304(f)
leSPW U304(f) (Fkl)
leSPW U304(f) (FlaK 38)
leSPW U304(f) (PaK 36)
leSPW U304(f) (8cm GrW)
mSPW S303(f)
mSPW S303(f) (Pionier)
mSPW S307(f)
Softskins : over 50 different softskin types (mainly French, but also some Italian ones) including Citroën, Laffly and Renault trucks. Unic-Kégresse P107 and Somua MCL and MCG halftracks as well as Somua SPWs were very common.

Axis History Factbook: Captured & converted French vehicles in German service

 

Germany was actually rather good at assessing, cataloguing, testing (and even re-manufacturing) captured equipment before deploying as 'official' vehicles. Greatly assisted in this by capturing such large numbers of many types allowing them to concentrate vehicles into large formations, often still supplied by original factories on captured territory. Their spares/supply problem perhaps lay more in tardiness in facing up to the requirements of standardisation for their indigenous Tank designs.

Spare a thought for the Bulgarian Quartermaster.
French, Italian, British, German, Soviet & Czech vehicles, nearly all obtained in poor condition with limited parts, not even as direct captures - usually 'third hand'. Combined with not one fraction of Germany's industrial infrastructure, and often not enough of each vehicle to form units equipped with one type.

I imagine very worried looking men.

Cheers,
Adam.

 

True LOL. And as the war went on and the Germans retreated Logistics started to break down even more and the situation became worse and worse.

 

The Germans were smart to far to ambitious for their time and place in the war. It is a wonder how they managed that even for awhile.

 

But then again they were relying more and more on the Horse for transportation too.

 

Bump for Miguel Again.

 

One of the German's biggest logistical mistakes was starting a modern war of maneuver using heavily mechanized forces while not having enough motorized transport. Looking at all the tanks, subs, ships and aircraft the Germans had at the beginning of the war it was clear where their priorities were since obviously medium and heavy truck manufacture was neglected in the short term, in favor of building weapons. The Germans were well aware of their shortcomings before the war and the German high command had repeatedly warned Hitler that the armed forces would not be ready for war until 1943 (and the Kriegsmarine stated they needed until 1950 to finish their shipbuilding program.). Of course, Hitler ignored them and the Germans went to war with "the army they had" as Mr Rumsfeld would say.

 

Funny how even with all these vehicles the Germans still had to rely on over 2,800,000 horses and still wound up less mechanized as the war ground on. Fuel being one of the problems. You can produce all you want but without the POL they are useless.

The French industries had also been mobilized by the German occupant:
Berliet
Various Berliet trucks were used by the German army (DGRA, GDC, GDM, VDCA etc.) and about 30 Berliet tank carriers were used by the Wehrmacht.
During 1943-1944 for example, 1262 trucks (5t) were produced for the German army. Bernard
A few Bernard trucks (fuel tank trucks etc.) were used by the German army.
Citroën
Many booty cars, trucks and halftracks (Citroën Kégresse P14, P17, P19) were captured and used by the Germans. The Citroën-Kégresse P19 = Ci380(f) can for example be found in the Schnelle Brigade West. Many other vehicles were produced for the Germans between 1941 and 1944 like for example :
3700 type 23 trucks
6000 type 32U trucks
15300 type 45 trucks (the majority of the trucks of Schnelle Brigade West)
Delahaye
About 1000 SdKfz-11 were produced for the Germans (ordered in 1942).
The Delahaye factory also produced spare parts for the Büssing-NAG 4500.
ELMAG (in Mulhouse, Alsace)
Production of 1143 SdKfz-8 halftracks and spare parts for German halftracks between 1942 and 1944.
Ford
At the beginning of WW2, the French Ford factories located at Poissy and Asnières were controlled by the Laffly company. They transformed 1000 Ford trucks in half-tracked trucks (Maultier) and produced spare parts for the Ford trucks captured in Europe.
Gnôme-Rhône
Gnôme-Rhône in Gennevilliers (nowadays SNECMA) produced German engines for planes like the Henschel 129.
Gnôme-Rhône motorcycles and side-cars were also used by the Germans. Hotchkiss
During the occupation, Hotchkiss produced spare parts, engines and several chassis for the Germans from 1940 to 1944 . Some Laffly vehicles (R15R, S20TL, W15T etc.) and several Hotchkiss personal cars (PKW Typ680, 686 and 686 PNA) were also produced for the Germans.
Isobloc
Numerous buses had been produced for the French army. Several W843M medical buses were used by the Germans. They could carry 30 lying wounded soldiers or a whole mobile chirurgical antenna.
Laffly
Many Laffly V15R, S15R, S20TL, W15T etc. were captured and used by the Germans.
A small number of armored SPW based on the W15T were produced for the Schnelle Brigade West.
In 1942, 60 Renault R-40 tanks were transformed for snow milling. 119 Renault R-40 were modified for the Luftwaffe (towing vehicles ?) and 200 various German tracked vehicles were also modified for the Luftwaffe by the Laffly factory. Laffly transformed also 22 wheeled and 33 tracked vehicles in snow ploughs.
Latil
Many Latil trucks and utility vehicles had been captured by the Wehrmacht. Some of the heavier trucks (Latil TAR H2) were again produced for the German forces. Lorraine
Many Lorraine 37L and 38L were captured and used or modified by the Germans. The Lorraine factory also produced 500 SdKfz-9 in 1942.
Matford (in Strasbourg, Alsace)
Matford was born from the fusion between Ford and the French Mathis company. A few trucks were produced but mainly spare parts for the French booty Matford trucks like the Matford F917.
Panhard & Levassor
About 2000 Panhard trucks were delivered to the Germans army and about 1000 couples of tracks for the SdKfz-7 have been produced.
Peugeot
The factory is controlled by KDFWagen (future Volkswagen).
Many cars (Peugeot 202 and 402) and light trucks (Peugeot DMA, DK etc.) were captured and used but also produced. Between 1941 and 1944 Peugeot delivered to the Germans:
12500 Peugeot DK5
15300 Peugeot DMA
about 15000 Peugeot 202 and 402
That make about 28000 trucks delivered to the Germans.
The factory produced also spare parts for the Kübelwagen and a few Volkswagen type 82 and 166 were completed. 150 SdKfz-10 per month were also planned to be produced in 1942 but the delivered number is unknown.
Renault
For Renault, most of the archives have disappeared during the allied bombings of 1944 but in François Vauvillier's book "l'automobile sous l'uniforme" it is indicated that about 28000 Renault trucks had been produced for the Germans during the occupation (AHS, AHN, AHR, AGC, ADK, ADH etc.). The Renault factories were administrated by Prinz Von Urach (who will later be the press attaché of Daimler-Benz after WW2). About 23000 Renault AHS trucks were used by the Germans (booty and new produced ones).
For example, from 1941 to 1944, 4000 Renault AHN and 2000 Renault AHR had been produced for the German army. In 1943, 704 AGC3 were deliverd.
Renault produced also spare parts for the SdKfz-7 and SdKfz-11.
Saurer
Several trucks were still produced for the Germans, especially the Saurer type 3CT which was liked. For example between 1943 and 1944 some 1800 3CT trucks were delivered to the Germans
. Simca
Simca produced personal cars for the German/Italian Army
1941/1942: 5983 Simca 5 (aka Fiat 500 Topolino) and 3960 Simca 8 (aka Fiat 1100)
1943: 122 Simca 8 and 19 Simca 5
1944: 180 Simca 8 and 23 Simca 5
Simca was intended to produce 2500 SdKfz-2 Kettenkraftrad but there seem not to have been produced. Tracks for the SdKfz-7, SdKfz-10 and SdKfz-11 were also produced.
Somua
Beside the Somua S-35 tanks, many MCL named S303(f) and MCG named S307(f) halftracks were captured. Many of these halfracks have been armored.
Talbot
From 1941 to 1944, Talbot produced tracks for the SdKfz-7, SdKfz-10 and SdKfz-11, braces for the Büssing-NAG S4500 and complete steering for the Panzer 38(t). Trippel
The factory was located at Molsheim (Alsace) in the former Bugatti factory. They produced the Trippel SG6 amphibious car.
Unic
About 200 Unic TU1 U305(f) and 3000 Unic P107 U304(f) were used by the German army.
Willeme
A few Willeme type DU10 (10t) heavy trucks were used by the German army.

Beside the booty vehicles, the main companies (Renault, Peugeot, Citroën, Panhard, Berliet and Saurer ...) produced about 90,000 new trucks for the German army between 1941 and 1944. Especially for the Eastern front 200 French tanks were also converted to Mörserzugmittel / Artillerie-Schlepper / Bergeschlepper (tractors). "

Axis History Factbook: Captured & converted French vehicles in German service

 

Compare this with the US military. And those above were just the French vehicles!

 

"In August 1940, Hitler already decided that in further enlargement of the Army, the possibility of a campaign against Soviet Russia had to be considered. By the time this campaign began in June 1941, 84 more divisions were created. Just before Barbarossa, 88 infantry divisions, 3 motorized infantry divisions and 1 Panzerdivision were largely equipped with French vehicles. Without the extensive booty from the western campaign of 1940, these units would have remained without weapons and vehicles. Motor vehicles in particular played an important role in the motorization the divisions. The 18.PzD was equipped with strictly stock French motor vehicles until the end of May 1941. Among the trucks, the 4.5-ton Citroën Type 45 attained a certain significance. The 1-ton Peugeot was also seen often. The same was true for the French halftrack (Somua MCL and MCG, Unic P107 etc.) towing vehicles, which were used as tractors in the Panzerjäger units, infantry gun companies and motorized artillery units.

Most of the motor vehicles (German, French or other booty trucks) massively used for various transports were not to have long lives under the rough conditions of the Eastern theatre of war. The progressive deterioration of the German army's motor vehicle situation already in the autumn of 1941 led to numerous use and new production of French trucks and also to the transformation of about 200 French tanks into towing vehicles/tractors (Renault and Hotchkiss Mörserzugmittel / Artillerie-Schlepper).

Axis History Factbook: Captured & converted French vehicles in German service