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Questions about Battalion and Regiment Adjutants

Discussion in 'WWII General' started by Jon, Mar 1, 2002.

  1. Jon

    Jon Member

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    Hey guys!
    I have a few questions about battalion and regiment adjutants. What would the usual rank be for a battalion adjutant and a regiment adjutant? What are the duties for a battalion and regiment adjutant? Are the duties for a battalion or regiment adjutant different than an adjutant for a division commander? From what I know so far, a division commander adjutant seems to have been a personal assistant, whereas a battalion or regiment adjutant seemed to be along the lines of an executive officer or operations officer. Is this right? Would the appropriate rank for, let's say, a battalion adjutant be a Hauptmann and a regiment adjutant a Major?
    Thanks in advance!
    Jon
     
  2. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    Great questions.

    From what I have read, adjutants were usually the unit "paper-shufflers".

    For instance--a Battalion Adj, could be a 1st Lt, or a Capt--with a Captain or a Major as commander.

    A Regimental Adj--could also be a Captain or a Major--(usually a Captain) with the same but on a larger scale uties as the Battalion Adj.

    Another example:

    A Company would send its daily reports to Btn HQ, where in ture they compile all the reports from the Btns Companies into a Btn daily report. Regiment sends it to Div--where all the reports from all the Btns--compiled by their respective Regiments and sent to Division. Divisions would send their copiliations to Corps HQ--corps HQ to Army HQ--Army HQ to Army Group HQ--then to the top command.

    Hope this helps give you an idea.
     
  3. Friedrich

    Friedrich Expert

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    Very fine. very nice questions and a very fine answers. I just would like to comment that you have to make things up in a war. The perfect example would be the 1st Panzerdivision in France in 1940. Leutnantgeneral Friedrich Kirchner lost a leg and had to pass the command to his adjutant/chief of staff Hauptmann Von Kielmansseg... So there was a Captain directing a division!

    Just that. Bye.
     
  4. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    Thanks for sharing that Friedrich--that is something I had not known. And I thought that Major Siegfried Knappe, (who very briefly commanded a Division--or was on his way to command a Division in the closing days of the war) had been the lowest ranking officer appointed by a General to command a Division--even if only a matter of a few hours.

    As they say: "I just wrinkled something new today" ;) [​IMG] :D
     
  5. Jon

    Jon Member

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    Thank you very much Carl and Friedrich!
    Jon
     
  6. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    Quite welcome and hope it helps you. :D
     

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