Wound care in the Armed Forces Organization of medical services Army medical corps Company Each train of the

infantry (including mountain, etc.) initially has a trained medical soldiers. In the company there was in the company of a medic squad and a medical officer, these two soldiers were in combat at the battalion medical aid station. When the armored military units often was an armored ambulance crew (SPW) with a sergeant and assigned to one or two medics from the battalion or the Department of the companies. The companies and batteries of other arms were usually also a medical officer and a medic. The medical staff was then grouped according to the application way of the troops at Bataillons-/Abteilungsarzt or remained at the Kpn / Bttrn. In the second half of the war were in many branches of service, whose battalions were usually used closed, a summary of the medical corps to battalion level. Battalion Each battalion had a medical department or group with troops doctor, two medical service levels and possibly some teams. That medical aid group set up in the battle aid station (TVPl) that the transport of the wounded from the fighting line to TVPl was carried out by the paramedics of the companies, possibly reinforced by auxiliary stretcher bearers. In a quiet location could be set up by the troops of local doctors sick rooms, which perceived the tasks of an infirmary. The tasks of the military physician were also pest and disease prevention (eg malaria prevention) and the monitoring of hygienic measures, especially the water supply at behelfsmger accommodation. Regiment The regiment had a regimental surgeon as technical supervisor of the medical corps of the regiment. He participated only in emergencies when immediate casualty care, his main duties were managerial in nature, primarily, he had to organize the evacuation of the wounded. He also took the stretcher bearers to use as an auxiliary regiment trained musician. Medical Corps Division Each division, whether infantry or armored division possessed when the war began more than two medical companies in the non-motorized troops was one of them a strung Company. Subsequent breakdown showed only a partial, but significantly greater medical unit on. Each medical unit was set up a dressing station (HVPl) with one to two groups of operations and nursing, the first train of the company was responsible for the transport of the wounded troops from the dressing stations to HVPl. Further, the medical unit had a pharmacy and a dental clinic. In addition, the Division had until about 1942, a field hospital (mot) with a capacity of 200 patients, later this army field hospital level as Army troops combined on. The field hospitals were set up in suspicion and isolation, in addition they had their own drinking water treatment plants and delousing. For the transport of the wounded had, the division initially two ambulances columns , each about 30 - 35 ambulances, since 1943 a company of road ambulances. These ambulances were wounded by the TVPl to HVPl HVPl as well as from further back are used for the transport of both. Were often close to the vehicle holding sites set up in TVPl.

Professional and direct manager of all the medical corps of the division was the doctor Division (IV b), the use of medical units also regulated. Corps The Army Corps had no organic to integrated medical troops. Only in the corps a corps staff physician was provided. Was a corps used largely independently, had to be assigned to Medical Corps of the Army. Army / Army Group. The army had mostly: 2 patient transport departments (mot) with three to four companies a military hospital department with 4 war military hospitals (mot). The military hospitals were approximately equivalent to field hospitals, however, had more extensive treatment. Some of these hospitals, two medical hospitals performed well as a lightweight an Army medical unit, medical unit with 2 (mot), 6 mobile clinics (mot) Six ambulances and trains a medical park. This army medical unit also had the supply of the right of the army to ensure subordinate units, eg the Army artillery, pioneers of the bridge, etc. The medical park ensured the supply of medical equipment. After the detachment of the field hospitals of the divisions of these armies have been set. The troops detoxification companies (MOT), which we expect today to the NBC defense forces were assigned to about 1941/42 the Army medical department. Next was the medical corps of the army alone Entseuchungszge and hygienic-bacteriological investigation agencies are assigned. Technical supervisor at army level, was the army doctor (IV b), supported by so-called "consulting physicians" (specialists with extensive specialized training, such as a psychiatrist, bacteriologist, etc.) and officers with specialized tasks, eg for the Wounded transport and water supply. The Army Group did not have its own medical corps. Reserve Army: Here the doctor was the deputy corps. General Command (Military District Command) also commander of the Medical Corps. Each military district had about an ambulance replacement and training department (recruit training, specialized courses) 1 or more Medical Officers Supplement departments in the university towns 2-3 medical departments for the medical care of the units of the Reserve Army Numerically, far more important was the military hospital organization of the reserve army. The reserve mobilization hospitals were set up with, existing Army field hospitals or medical areas could be used to it. The reserve hospitals were performed by medical officers, nursing staff, however, came mainly from the German Red Cross. Independently of the Red Crossoperated hospitals were, however - unlike the First World War - more hardly. Number and location of reserve military hospitals in the war changed frequently - due, inter alia, by the effects of the bombing. In addition to the reserve military hospitals are also so-called "special hospitals" in front, such as for members of foreign legions (for example, 250th (Spanish) Infantry Division). Against the war in the western part of Germany a few spas and resorts were to 'hospital locations "or" protection areas "declared and marked, which could reside only wounded and medical personnel. This important declaration of war under international law was notified to the Allies through the neutral countries, abuses or violations of this special status are not known.

Expiry of the wounded supply: Wounded Nest The nest was wounded medical personnel of the train or the company set up by, it should be possible to be covered. Here was the wounded man first life-saving measures, such as Stopping severe bleeding and a bandage and then became the aid station passed. Still capable of marching were wounded - possibly under the leadership of a suitable soldiers - even for TVPl no longer capable of marching were either transported to the rear of the company or by the medical personnel of the battalion or regiment picked up. Aid station (TVPl) The aid station was set up by the medical aid group of the battalion led by the battalion surgeon in the vicinity of the battalion staff, he should be out of reach directly facing enemy fire. Here were the wounded, the first medical treatment, the front part of Notverbnde been renewed, it was-if necessary - the shock combat and the administration of analgesics or tetanus serum. Surgical procedures were carried out as a life-saving measures or to make the patient ready for transport On the TVPl received the wounded, the sheet: Accompanying sheet for the wounded This accompanying note was visible on his uniform or even attached to the wounded. Then findings were first to wounding and to the measures taken, for example, medication or the time of applying a pressure bandage, or of setting a heavily bleeding wound. For quick identification labels were the different colored stripes on one side with: - Without streaks: Ambulatory - 1 red stripe: Transportable - 2 red strips : not fit - 1 green stripe: non-contagious disease - 1 yellow stripe: infectious disease From TVPl of soldiers were preparing to transport the ability to Federation Square (HVPl) brought the medical unit of the Division. In most cases, were close to the dressing stations troops "car stopping places" up in here were ambulances cars or horse carriages) to the medical unit or ambulances campaign for the further return ready (. In exceptional cases could the TVPl out a removal by air also take place. The regimental doctor sent a no aid station, he contributed in collaboration with the Division of moving the wounded and could do as well as the regimental musicians use as an auxiliary stretcher bearers. Federation Square (HVPl) The main dressing stations were the medical unit of the divisions about 6 - 10 km behind the front, often set up near a regimental command post. Here was the definitive medical care of the wounded, there were also major operations are performed under general anesthesia. Each HVPl had two surgical groups. Surgery group was about 25 seriously wounded on the day to supply 60 medium seriously injured and 120 slightly wounded. It was aimed HVPl in buildings for the arrangement of tent material, however, was also sufficient for an accommodation in the premises. A longer residence time of wounded on the HVPl should be avoided to keep its capacity free.

On the HVPl in demand could also be carried out by soldiers delousing. HVPl of the wounded were either transported to the field hospital of the division or the army, with longer duration of treatment was predicted by HVPl directly from a transfer to a military hospital outside the war zone.

Field Hospital (Flaz) The field hospitals of the divisions were about 20 - set up 25 km from the front in suitable solid buildings, if possible, by enemy artillery can not be achieved. A field hospital had a capacity of 200 beds, if necessary, could be quickly absorbed up to 300 wounded or sick. This could also extensive treatment in a hospital are performed, there were specialists, x-ray facilities, a dentist and a well-stocked pharmacy. From there, the wounded were with hospital trains or airplanes to the military hospital to be transported outside the war zone. In the field hospitals soldiers were treated, the time could be restored in a shorter expected. If necessary, medical hospitals were light by the light field hospitals and hospital trains and set up at the outbreak of epidemics or infectious disease isolation facilities and disinfection facilities were provided. Finally, here were also effective drinking water treatment plants. The field hospitals of the divisions were fully motorized, on army level there was also some motorized field hospitals. End of 1941, with many divisions, the field hospitals deducted at army level, summarized as Army troops assigned to the subordinate divisions and corps, as needed. From 1942, the nursing staff of field hospitals above the division level has been increasingly replaced by Red Cross nurses. Reserve Hospital (ResLaz) The reserve hospitals were fixed equipment of the medical service outside the war zone. They were often set up in existing hospitals, schools and factories closed, the staff consisted mostly of members of the Red Cross. In the peace existing Wehrmacht or location hospitals were more often operated as a reserve military hospitals. The size of the reserve hospitals varied according to the available buildings, but also aspired to here about 150 to 200 beds to keep administrative costs in check.

In the military hospital wounded with predict a longer duration of treatment were moved from the field hospitals, this could also extensive therapeutic measures are carried out. The reserve hospitals were under the departments of the Reserve Army, so as the Military District Command (Deputy Commanding General). Medical supplies Medical supplies of the company: Each trained paramedics had a set of medical bags. These were the shape, undivided pouches of similar, but slightly larger. The left pocket contained bandages, scissors, tweezers, and the right number of drugs such as iodine, zinc ointment, ointment formaldehyde (for disinfecting), cardiovascular agents, as well as 20 tablets a weak opium preparation and further dressings Medical support staff (medical support) contributed only tampons in their medical bags.

The medical bags. The medical personnel of mounted troops had worn at the belt instead of two at the Medical Bags horse saddle mounted saddlebags.

Medical Case Cavalry In addition, each company on a medical pack, filled with dressing material, some metal bars and drugs . In each car there was a first aid kit, this still came in every patient transport vehicle at least one first aid pack. Companies or batteries were used independently, so they got a first aid kit. This gave first aid kit is also available in a version split into four loads of mountain troops and as a four-part medical bag for the cavalry. The contents of the box corresponding to about 1 out of the army medical equipment: Instruments, medicines, bandages, ventilator sheet. This medication was also included, which should normally be administered by a doctor.

The first aid kit

Medical equipment of the Battalion / Division Each troop physician of a battalion or a department had a " set a troop medical equipment " Armored units of battalion strength had a " light sentence troops medical equipment ", such as the law of a for the accommodation in armored vehicles have been adapted content was similar in The mountain battalions , and the medical unit of the Air Force used the "set i mountain troops medical equipment" . He also corresponded largely to the content of a sentence, but was the transport of pack animals or by other sources and loads for packaged together in. Sentence a military aid kits contained: Box 1: "battle box" for emergency treatment. Instruments, medicines, bandages, the accompanying note Box 2: Drugs, the accompanying note Box 3: dressings Box 4: instruments, bandages, Losantin in powder and tablet form (detoxification remedy for blister agents), the accompanying note Box 5: tetanus serum, transport rails, 2 ambulances and 2 Medical Backpack Backpacks each filled with medical supplies and some drugs, shock, combat record, 2 oxygen treatment devices, 2 field wearing 2 bearing blocks carrying box, 12 blankets, 1 Red Cross Flag A knapsack-filter device: water purification

The knapsack-filter unit For the transport of medical material, a two-horse ambulance trolley was provided with a driver from the box, motorized troops in a serious car or light truck for armored troops were mostly next two San-SPW (SdKfz 251 / 8) provided for each division / battalion. http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Soldat/Sanitatsversorgung.htm