Hi, I was wondering if any of you knew of any web sites with information on German pioneres. Specificaly I am after data on insignia, training, differences in regulations from other troops (such as being allowed facial hair) and the kind of jobs they did (preferably specific examples referring to their combat role). I need it to help with an idea I have had for re-enacting to creat a more interesting 'impression' so any information that you think would help would be great, Thanks in advance, Stefan
Pioneers could be used for anything even fighting. They mainly built or improved roadways, built bridges or destroyed them, mined roads built airfields etc, they were the Germans equilivent to our combat engineers and the USNs Seabees. A friend of mine in Germany's father was a medic attached to a Pioneer unit at Stalingrad. He was captured when they tried to escape from the encirclement. He spent 12 years suffering in some Russian Gulag. His "crime" was that he tried to save the lives of his comrades
its not much chris, but have a browse on the site below. it might have some interesting links. the web is full of info (at least via yahoo) use search criteria such as : Waffen SS pioniere Waffen SS combat engineers http://www.afn.org/~afn41941/43stp.html http://www.angelraybooks.com/books/europa/0015ne.htm http://www.skalman.nu/third-reich/books-review-combatengineers.htm http://etloh.8m.com/strategy/special.html hope to have been of help... Mart [ 20 September 2001: Message edited by: mart ]
You should find plenty here: http://www.feldgrau.com/ And a little more here: http://www.eliteforcesofthethirdreich.com/
