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Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: Rivera on 13 July 2021, 11:11:26 AM

Title: WWII German Unit Insignias.
Post by: Rivera on 13 July 2021, 11:11:26 AM

Hi All,

          I recently purchased the Warlord/Italeri 1/56 Stug III and am nearing completion.  However, there is no indication in the instructions as to which unit insignias are which on the transfer sheet and was hoping that someone might have encountered the same situation and enlighten me?  If not then could some kind person point out a source of Insignias so that I can find out for myself.  I'm specifically looking for units that were involved in the N.E. of France shortly after D-Day.  Many thanks in advance.

Title: Re: WWII German Unit Insignias.
Post by: von der Tann on 13 July 2021, 11:33:26 AM

Well, all I could find in a quick Google search was this:

(https://www.axels-modellbau-shop.de/katalog/images/product_images/popup_images/12441_3.jpg)

That would mean that the decal No. 4 would belong to a Sturmgeschütz unit of the 116. PzDiv.
They fought in Normandy, BUT as far as I know they did not have a Sturmgeschützabteilung, so unit insignias may belong to other units such as Panzerjäger or Panzer units.
According to Wiki (as reliable as that is) the order of battle of the 116. PzDiv was:

Panzer-Regiment 16
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 60
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 156
Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 116
Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 146
Heeres-Flak-Artillerie-Abteilung 281
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 228
Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 675
Panzer-Nachrichten-Abteilung 228
Feldersatz-Bataillon 146
Panzer-Nachschubtruppen 66

When I get home (in a few hours) I will take a look at my trusty books on StuGs and their units. Maybe I can come up with more information then.

Title: Re: WWII German Unit Insignias.
Post by: Etranger on 13 July 2021, 12:05:47 PM

Don't sweat on it too much. A lot of StuGs had minimal unit markings, and sometimes just the cross on each side.

Title: Re: WWII German Unit Insignias.
Post by: fred on 13 July 2021, 12:21:47 PM

Quote from: Etranger on 13 July 2021, 12:05:47 PM

Don't sweat on it too much. A lot of StuGs had minimal unit markings, and sometimes just the cross on each side.

This, for late war German AFVs small crosses, and perhaps a 2/3 digit number on the turret is usually it. Formation badges were often pretty small and hard to see - nothing like the ones on British AFVs.

Title: Re: WWII German Unit Insignias.
Post by: Rivera on 14 July 2021, 07:32:33 AM

Thanks for the input chaps - I've stumbled upon the solution.  After reading about the various divisions that were present I managed to link the stylised 'L' on the transfer sheet to the Panzer Lehr Division even though it doesn't have the black shield background.  Job, Jobbed.

A resource for the Divisional signs would still be handy though.

Title: Re: WWII German Unit Insignias.
Post by: von der Tann on 14 July 2021, 09:30:03 AM

Quote from: Rivera on 14 July 2021, 07:32:33 AM

A resource for the Divisional signs would still be handy though.

https://www.panzer-modell.de/referenz/abzeichen/abzeichen.htm (https://www.panzer-modell.de/referenz/abzeichen/abzeichen.htm)

If you need translation help (which I doubt) feel free to pm me.

Quote from: Rivera on 14 July 2021, 07:32:33 AM

After reading about the various divisions that were present I managed to link the stylised 'L' on the transfer sheet to the Panzer Lehr Division even though it doesn't have the black shield background.

If I remember correctly the PanzerLehrDivsion never had a black shield background. In fact I cannot really remember seeing any pictures of vehicles with a black shield unit badge. I think the wikipedia SS Div and PzLehrDiv shields just follow the rule of cool.

Title: Re: WWII German Unit Insignias.
Post by: Rivera on 15 July 2021, 09:50:52 AM

Hi von der Tann,

                     Many thanks for the divisional signs link - it's very handy to have. 

The reason that thee Black shield background confusion arose is that Wikipedia shows it as such - ah well, you can't trust everything on the internet :D

Title: Re: WWII German Unit Insignias.
Post by: von der Tann on 16 July 2021, 04:18:18 AM

You're welcome.  :)

Title: Re: WWII German Unit Insignias.
Post by: cahrn on 18 July 2021, 06:40:37 AM

Quote from: Rivera on 13 July 2021, 11:11:26 AM

I'm specifically looking for units that were involved in the N.E. of France shortly after D-Day.

Hi there Rivera,

Some divisions that had/would likely have had StuG's in their TO&E would include:

1. SS Panzer Division
12. SS Panzer Division
17. SS Panzergrenadier Division
Panzer Lehr Division (as you've noted yourself)
2. Panzer Division
9. Panzer Division
116. Panzer Division

The above were all involved in fighting in the Normandy area during June of 1944, though some did not arrive on the scene until later. In many cases StuG's may have been part of a separate attached assault gun regiment that could possibly have a differing insignia from the divisional. As others have mentioned it's not strictly necessary to have a unit insignia on your model, only if you want to include it. The above divisions all have divisional markings that are easily found via a quick google search, and a further look at a TO&E might reveal a particular assault gun regiment/unit you might like to base your model on.