The K.St.N. charts illustrate the organization and composition of the standard units. Each standard unit is listed using the Artikel Nummer unit code, the Bezeichnung unit denomination and the Datum date, see right for an example of the contents summary of Sammelband 4. The unit code is the unique identifier, the unit denomination describes the principal function of the unit and the date allows proper management of updates. On the right 2nd picture, the 1st page of a specific K.St.N. folder is given, indicating the unit code, unit denomination and the date.

Unit code

The unit code is a 3 or 4 digid unique number. The unit codes are grouped into the different services, see the list further down on this website. Several additions to the code can be observed and are explained below:

• Different variants of the same unit had typically the same number, but a lower case letter was added, starting with "a". Naturally, also the name would then be slightly different. The variation could due to e.g. the use of different types of vehicles.

• Trop. indicated that the unit was especially intended for deployment in tropic regions.

• (f.G.) freie Gliederung, indicating that the personnel of this non-combat unit could also directly be transferred to the associated combat unit in case it was found necessary. This additional flexibility was especially important towards the end of the war, when it was becoming more and more difficult to sufficiently cover the personnel needs..

• (gek.), gekürtz, lean version of the unit.

• (W) Wehrmacht, meaning that this standard unit was not specific for the Heer, but could serve as well in the Luftwaffe and the Kriegsmarine.

• (K), (Kos), Kosakken unit.

• (T), Turkisch unit.

• (L), units for the Luftwaffe.

• B, unknown addition.

• F, Bodenständig, indicating the unit was not mobile. This typically was the case for fortified artillery units.

• (V), teilbeweglich/motorisiert. units with limited mobility.

• (gp.), gepanzert, armoured.

• (G), Grenzschutz, boarder troops.

• (Lw), Landwehr, home troops.

• (Sd.), Sonderausführung, special forces.

Unit denomination

The name of the unit describes its principal function. The name was first spelled out fully, followed by its abbreviation.

Date

To keep track of changes, the date was indicated in the bottom right corner of every page. As the war progressed, the organizational occurred that led to modification of units. Moreover, it proved increasingly difficult to man the units according to the Stärkenachweisungen, and leaner versions were defined later in the war. Large changes were indicated by the addition Kriegsetat in the name field.

Explanation of the Kriegsstärkenachweisungen charts

The  Friedensstärkenachweisungen had a different structure from the Kriegsstärkenachweisungen in a sense that the Friedensstärkenachweisungen only listed the personnel and the amount of horses, while the Kriegsstärkenachweisungen also listed the amount of weapons and motorized vehicles. The structure of the Kriegsstärkenachweisung is explained here, see also the chart to the right.

The K.St.N. chart illustrates the organization and composition of the unit in terms of Kopfzahl personnel, Teire animals, Waffen weapons and Kraftfahrzeuge vehicles. For the latter 3 categories only the numbers of the overall types were given. Further detailing of the equipment (Waffen and Kraftfahrzeugen) was done in the Kriegsausrüstungsnachweisungen (K.A.N.) wartime equipment specifications. The KAN charts were similarly identified with their unit code, unit denomination and date. 

The personnel was further specified by means of the Stellungsgruppe indication of each line in the table where personnel is listed. The Stellungsgruppe represents the ranking of the personnel involved, and the following code was followed:

• A - Oberbefehlshaber - Army and army group level officers

• F - Kommandierender General - Army corps level officers

• D - Divisionskommandeur - Division command level officers

• J - Infanterie-, Atrillerie-, Brigadekommandeur - Brigade command level officers

• R - Regimentskommandeur - Regiment command level officers

• B - Bataillonskommandeur - Batallion command level officers

• K- Kompanieführer - Company command level officers

• Z - Zugführer - Platoon command level officers

• O - Oberfeldwebel - Higher non-commissioned officers

• G -  Gruppenführer - Lower non-commissioned officers

• M - Mannschaft - Enlisted

Lastly, as the war progressed, the strength of units was often adapted and downgraded, as it became more and more difficult to meet the original specifications. This was indicated by the Kriegsetat war-strength indication in the unit denomitator field.

Kriegsstärkenachweisungen (Heeres) (NfD)

Sammelband Nr. 5

Nebeltruppe

Kriegsstärkenachweisungen (Heeres) (NfD)

Sammelband Nr. 6

Pioniere, Eisenbahnpioniere, Eisenbahneinheiten, Baueinheiten, Grenzwacht-Pioniere, Festungspioniereinheiten

Kriegsstärkenachweisungen (Heeres) (NfD)

Sammelband Nr. 7

Nachrichtentruppe, Grenzwacht-Nachrichtentruppe

Kriegsstärkenachweisungen (Heeres) (NfD)

Sammelband Nr. 8

Schnelle Truppen, Kraftfahreinheiten, Panzereinheiten, Panzerabwehreinheiten, Schützeneinheiten

Kriegsstärkenachweisungen (Heeres) (NfD)

Sammelband Nr. 9

Nachschubeinheiten, Verpflegungseinheiten, Verwaltungseinheiten, Feldwerkstatteinheiten, Kraftfahreinheiten

Kriegsstärkenachweisungen (Heeres) (NfD)

Sammelband Nr. 10

Sanitätseinheiten, Vertinäreinheiten

Kriegsstärkenachweisungen (Heeres) (NfD)

Sammelband Nr. 12

Mil.-Verwärder besetzten Gebiete, Kommandobehörden und höhere Stäbe, Verwaltungseinheiten, Besatzungstruppen

Kriegsstärkenachweisungen (Heeres) (NfD)

Sammelband Nr. 14

Schulen, Lehreinheiten, Wehrwirtschaftsdienstellen

Kriegsstärkenachweisungen (Heeres) (NfD)

Sonderband

Schulen, Lehreinheiten

Kriegsstärkenachweisungen (Heeres) (NfD)

 Stabsheft Inf.Div. (bodenstg.)

Kriegsstärkenachweisungen (Heeres) (NfD)

 Stabsheft Inf. 24

Kriegsstärkenachweisungen (Luftwaffe) (Geheime Kommandosache)