Sanitäter de la 716.Infanterie-Division

This sub-officer, affiliated to a Sanitätskompanie (Sanitary Company), is responsible for providing first aid to his comrades on the battlefield.

He wears a chasuble and a red cross armband to identify his role as caregiver to soldiers in his division and to opposing forces.

He carries two 1-liter canteens for the wounded, as well as two leather saddlebags on his belt and a metal crate for carrying his first-aid supplies.

As in every Wehrmacht division, the organization of medical units was essential to ensure medical support for troops in the field.

These units were responsible for first aid, evacuation of the wounded and their initial treatment before any transfer to more distant field hospitals.

The general organization of these units is as follows:

1. Sanitätsdienst (Divisional Health Service)

Each Wehrmacht division has a Sanitätsdienst, headed by a Divisionsarzt (Divisional Medical Officer), a senior medical officer.

2. Sanitätskompanie (Sanitary Company)

Each division generally has two Sanitätskompanien, which are advanced care units responsible for :

Providing first aid to the wounded on the battlefield.

Set up advanced aid stations (Hauptverbandplätze) a few kilometers from the front.

organize evacuation of the wounded to rear medical facilities.

3. Krankenkraftwagenzüge (Ambulance sections)

These motorized units are equipped with Krankenkraftwagen (ambulances) to transport the wounded from aid stations to field hospitals or rail transfer points.

4. Feldlazarett (Field Hospital)

Located further back from the front for safety reasons, it is used to treat the seriously wounded and stabilize them before transfer to a permanent hospital.

Feldlazarett can be set up in tents or requisitioned buildings.

5. Krankensammelstellen (Casualty gathering points)

Areas where the lightly wounded can be rapidly treated and possibly returned to duty, while the seriously injured are sent to the rear.

6. Veterinärdienst (Veterinary Service)

Responsible for the care of horses, which are essential for transporting supplies, ammunition, etc. in the German army’s infantry and artillery units.

Includes a Tierarzt (military vet) and a Pferdelazarett (horse hospital).

Additional medical support

In addition to divisional medical units, evacuation hospitals (Evakuierungslazarette) and permanent military hospitals (Kriegslazarette) existed in the rear zone, often linked to rail networks for the evacuation of wounded to Germany.

This structure enabled the Wehrmacht to effectively manage the care of its wounded soldiers while maintaining its war effort.

References:

  “Handbook on German Military Forces” (TM-E 30-451, published by the US War Department in 1945) – This detailed handbook describes the organization and structure of German medical units during the Second World War.

  “Die deutsche Wehrmacht 1939-1945” by Wolfgang Fleischer – An analysis of the organization and functioning of the various branches of the Wehrmacht, including the medical services.

  “Sanitätsdienst der Wehrmacht” – Various documents and archives available in German military archives or via specialized military history sites such as Lexikon der Wehrmacht (www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de).

 “Kranken- und Verwundetentransport im Zweiten Weltkrieg” by Karl-Heinz Parschalk – An in-depth study of wounded transport in the German army.